Rockville, Maryland, November 2, 2006 - Constance Dean Qualls, Ph.D, CCC-SLP, will become vice president for research and technology (2007-2009) for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Executive Board January 1, 2007. Dr. Qualls is professor and chair of the department of speech-language pathology at Buffalo State College-State University of New York and adjunct professor of communication sciences and disorders at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.She is a certified speech-language pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist and a fourteen-year ASHA member.
"I plan to use my term to help ASHA stay on the leading edge of the field of human communication disorders both globally and technologically," Dr. Qualls says. In countries around the world, services are limited to individuals with communication and swallowing disorders. I plan to develop programs that promote global exchange of professional knowledge and educational and certification standards to ensure that more and better services will reach these individuals. Also, ASHA has implemented some excellent programming to support new and emerging researchers in an effort to increase the numbers of individuals who pursue their doctorate in communication sciences and disorders. "There are many talented individuals who cannot afford to set aside work and home for full-time doctoral study, yet they have the desire and the capability to become future academicians. I hope to be able to work to identify and create opportunities and innovative programs for working clinicians and individuals who are bound geographically and by family obligations to obtain their doctoral degree."
Dr. Qualls has held serveral positions as an ASHA volunteer leader, including ones on the Legislative Council, Multicultural Issues Board, Special Interest Divisions, and an assortment of committees. She was elected to the Executive Board of the National Black Association for Speech-Language Hearing (NBASLH) in 2002 and served as the financial officer to the Board of Directors from 2002-04. Dr. Qualls has won several awards, including the NSSLHA Editor's award. She was inducted into the NBASLH Hall of Fame in 2000.
Dr. Qualls also works as a principal investigator in the Neurophysiologic and Cognitive-Linguistic Aging laboratory (NCLAL) at Buffalo State College. She holds a M.S. from the University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC and a Ph.D. from The University of Memphis.
South Carolina State University Professor, Department Chair To Become Board VP Of American Speech-Language Hearing AssociationRockville, Maryland, October 31, 2006 - Gwendolyn D. Wilson, Ed.D, CCC-A, Chair of the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at South Carolina State University, will become vice president of professional practices in audiology (2007-09) for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Executive Board January 1, 2007.
Dr. Wilson is an ASHA-certified audiologist and has been an ASHA member for 33 years.
"Audiology and speech language pathology need to be on the radar screen for children when they think about their future," Dr. Wilson says. "I would like to help push forward the professions so that when fifth grade students are asked what they want to be, they'll say they want to be audiologists or speech language pathologists,"
As ASHA vice president of professional practices in audiology she will have the opportunity to help identify issues, trends and needs unique to ASHA members.
Dr. Wilson has served in a number of roles as an ASHA volunteer leader serving on the Association's Board of Ethics, and the Council on Academic Accreditation and the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language. The Governor of South Carolina appointed her vice chair to the state licensing board of examiners for speech and audiology in 2000 and reappointed her in 2004. She was honored as an ASHA Fellow in 2005, one of the highest honors bestowed by the association.
Dr. Wilson holds a B.A. from South Carolina State University in speech pathology, an M.S. in clinical audiology, a M.Ed in geriatric audiology and Ed.D. in audiology from Columbia University Teachers College.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 123,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
For more information, log on to ASHA's Web site at www.asha.org or call the Action Center at 1-800-638-8255.
