(ROCKVILLE, MD) Glenda Ochsner, Ph.D., David Ross Boyd Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Oklahoma-Norman, began her term as president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) on January 1, 2003. A member of ASHA for 33 years, Ochsner has served the Association in numerous capacities including, most recently, as vice president for quality of service in speech-language pathology.
Ochsner sees several challenges confronting the discipline and professions at present. The most important are
Having learned the importance of applying one's time and skills to ensure the growth and stability of the professions, she communicates to others that volunteerism is a professional responsibility. During her year as president, Ochsner says she would like to develop programs to attract and develop new volunteer leaders for ASHA, the discipline, and professions. She would like to see ASHA work collaboratively with state and local associations, organizations, and universities to identify potential future leaders and opportunities that best fit their talents and interests. During her 35-year career in communication science and disorders, Ochsner has had many professional roles, including educator, mentor, researcher, clinician, and administrator. She has served as Chairperson of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Dean, College of Health, Social Sciences and Human Behavior. She served as Director of the John W. Keys Speech and Hearing Center for 20 years and as Director of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Cleft Palate Clinic for 25 years.
She is past President of the Oklahoma Speech-Language-Hearing Association and holds Honors from that Association. She has twice served as Chair of the Oklahoma Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Also, she has served on the Executive Board of the Council of Academic Programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
She has received many awards for excellence in teaching including the Regents' Award for Superior Teaching and the College of Health and College of Allied Health Superior Teaching Award. She has provided many workshops on non-lecture instructional techniques and the development of critical reasoning and problem solving skills in undergraduate and graduate students.
Presently, Ochsner continues with an early interest of developing speech and language skills in hard-of-hearing children through service on Oklahoma State Department of Health Committees and on the Board of a non-for-profit agency which provides hearing aids to children.
Ochsner's current teaching assignments include technical writing and leadership classes for upper level undergraduate and graduate students. She maintains a small consulting practice for Oklahoma-area public and private schools and head starts.
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 108,000 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 Action Center at 1-800-638-8255.
