UMD HESP is proud to congratulate Dr. Courtney Overton on her well-deserved recognition in The Daily Record, named one of Maryland's Most Admired CEOs!

As Director of the LEAP Preschool, Dr. Overton has created a community built on trust, collaboration and professional growth. She invests in her team, mentors future clinicians and makes LEAP a place where children and students thrive.

She also tackles some of the toughest challenges in early childhood and clinical education head-on, from workforce shortages to rising operational costs. Her solutions are thoughtful and practical: expanding training opportunities, strengthening community partnerships and diversifying support for families and students.

What sets Dr. Overton apart is her commitment to equity. Her work with programs like the Maryland Initiative for Literacy and Equity, Research Equity and Access in Communication and Hearing, DiverCity SLP and the Speech of Cake Foundation reflects her belief that access matters and representation matters. She lives by the idea of lifting others as she rises, and it shows.

We’re grateful for her leadership, her vision and the impact she makes every day in the HESP community. Congratulations, Dr. Overton!

Read the full feature: https://lnkd.in/eGmhJBPC

Dr. Courtney Overton in a gray checkered suit sits at a round table, smiling while holding a clear crystal award. She has long locs and is seated in front of a large projected screen that reads “Maryland’s Most Admired CEOs 2025.” The room appears to be a formal event setting with programs and papers on the table.