What year (years) did you graduate and which program(s) did you complete?
I earned a master’s of arts degree in Speech Pathology in 1977 and my Ph.D. in Speech Pathology in 1984.

What were some of your biggest challenges after graduating that shaped your career? The biggest challenge for me after finishing each of my degrees was relocating to cities where I had not previously lived, and in which I did not already have family or friends residing. My experiences at KSU and the experiences that I had in establishing myself personally and professionally in different communities helped to shape my career by providing opportunities for me to contribute to each community and to the field of speech-language pathology. I also developed strong lifelong friendships and professional networks that have been important to my growth as a person and a professional. All of these experiences were important to my decision to pursue a career in academia, where I felt that I could further make important differences in the lives of children with speech and language impairments and their families through my research and my role as a university professor in preparing of students majoring in speech-language pathology.

What has been your most significant professional accomplishment since

graduating?

My most significant professional accomplishment since graduating is being elected a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association because this honor recognizes contributions that I have made to the field of speech-language pathology at the local, state, and national levels. I am humbled by this award and believe that I share the honor with many people that helped me over the years to become involved and make important differences in speech-language pathology.

Are you currently employed, and if so, where?
I am the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research in the College of Health Sciences and a Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.