Hearing and Speech Sciences Commencement
Each year on the day following the main University Commencement Ceremony, the HESP Department holds a graduation ceremony for all graduating HESP students, both undergraduate and graduate.

2012 HESP Graduation Ceremony

Location: Memorial Chapel

Date: Monday, May 21, 2012

Time: 12:00 PM

PLEASE NOTE: Students need to report to the Chapel to line up for the ceremony by 11:15 am, faculty by 11:30.

HESP Reception for Graduates

A reception for HESP graduates and their family and friends will be held following to the graduation ceremony. Light refreshments will be provided.

Location: East Portico of Lefrak Hall (side across from Shoemaker Bldg)

Time: 9:30-11:00 AM (prior to the ceremony)

Commencement Speaker

Diane Paul PhD, CCC-SLP, CAE

Diane Paul, PhD, CCC-SLP, CAE is Director of Clinical Issues in Speech-Language Pathology for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Dr. Paul is an ASHA Fellow and has worked at ASHA for 23 years. In 2010 she was conferred as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) by the American Society of Association Executives. She received her PhD from the University of Maryland, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a combined BA-MA from Ohio State University in speech-language pathology.

Dr. Paul provides professional consultation, tracks trends, develops education programs and products, and creates resources for ASHA members and consumers in a wide range of clinical areas. She has served on 25 ASHA committees or boards that produced more than 50 policy documents, evidence-based systematic reviews, and peer-reviewed articles covering diverse topics including auditory processing disorders, autism, cognitive communication, clinical voice assessment, early intervention, intellectual disabilities, interdisciplinary issues with clinical neuropsychology, learning disabilities, literacy, memory assessment, prevention of communication disorders, the role of the speech-language pathologist in the neonatal intensive care unit, scope of practice in speech-language pathology, severe communication disabilities, speech generating devices, social communication, and speech-language pathology assistants. She also has served as an ASHA liaison to 25 different coalitions, workgroups, and external committees.

Dr. Paul has authored or co-authored more than 100 articles, books, book chapters, assessment instruments, and columns. These include the ASHA Quality of Communication Life Scale , an assessment tool for adults with neurogenic communication disorders; Talking on the Go , a book for caregivers to enhance speech and language development; and RTI in Action , which provides oral language activities for speech-language pathologists and teachers to use in K-2 classrooms. She is working on a sequel for grades 3-5. She has given more than 150 presentations at professional conferences on issues such as inclusive practices, alternative service delivery models, and pragmatic language use. She has been principal investigator or researcher on 12 grants/contracts. Dr. Paul's research has focused on communication interactions among preschool children at different developmental levels.

She serves on the Professional Advisory Boards of the National Center for Learning Disabilities and the Educational Testing Service, Speech-Language Pathology Praxis Exam and on the Executive Boards of the Division for Communication Disabilities and Deafness of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Fair Access Coalition on Testing.

Commencement Awards

Each year at graduation, four awards are presented at the graduation ceremony to outstanding HESP students:

Allyn & Bacon Awards for Scholarly Excellence:

Undergraduate Award: This award is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated academic excellence as measured by cumulative grade point average in coursework and, as applicable, his/her performance in other academically-related activities such as research.

Congratulations to the 2012 winners: Justine Dombroski and Anna Martin

Masters of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology Award: This award is given to a graduating student in Speech-Language Pathology who has demonstrated academic excellence as measured by cumulative grade point average in coursework and clinical practicum, his/her performance on comprehensive exams, and, as applicable, his/her performance in other academically-related activities such as research.

Congratulations to the 2012 winners: Erica Levinson and Megan Janssen

Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology Award: This award is given to a graduating student in the Au.D. or Clinical Ph.D. program who has demonstrated academic excellence as measured by cumulative grade point average in coursework and clinical practicum and his/her performance on comprehensive exams and Capstone or dissertation research.

Congratulations to the 2012 winner: Julia Rainsford

The Department would like to thank long-time prior Allyn and Bacon representative Jerry Higgins for starting the Undergraduate, Speech-Language Pathology, and Audiology awards, which have graciously been continued through sponsorship by Allyn and Bacon Pearson.

Rao Family Award in honor of Carol Frattali:

Carol Frattali

This award is given each year to a student graduating from the Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology program who has dehttp://test1.drupal-test.bsos.umd.edu/node/818/editmonstrated academic and clinical excellence and who has shown a commitment to the understanding and treatment of individuals with acquired neurological conditions. This award is made in honor of Carol Frattali, a HESP adjunct professor; it is funded in large part through the generous donations of the Rao family (Paul, Martina and Angie), her friends, and her colleagues.

Congratulations to the 2012 winner: Kaitlyn Fratantoni

HESP Commencement Awards Archive