Professor Ratner has now worked with one father-daughter, and two mother-daughter duos at the University of Maryland

Cheryl Wilkie, B.A. ’97, always knew that she wanted to work with kids. 

“I came to Maryland knowing that I wanted to work with kids, but wasn’t sure how. Then my mom met a speech therapist and suggested speech therapy. She said it’d be perfect for me,” recalled Cheryl.

Cheryl took her mother’s advice, switched her major to speech-language pathology (SLP), and after graduating with her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland's Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences (HESP) and her master’s degree from the University of the District of Columbia, wound up opening her own Frederick, Md.-based private practice, Way to Grow.   

It was here that Cheryl’s daughter, Peyton, would likewise draw career inspiration from her mother. 

“I started to work in my mom's private practice and see her in action, and then when COVID hit, I got to listen in on her therapy sessions, and I knew I also wanted to become a speech therapist,” Peyton, who is on track to graduate with her HESP B.A. In 2024, said.  

Cheryl is ecstatic that her daughter wants to follow in her footsteps. 

“I adore being a speech pathologist,” Cheryl said. “I just know that this is the right career path for her.”  

In at least one way, Peyton is quite literally following in her mom’s exact footsteps: Both mother and daughter have spent time learning in HESP Professor Nan Bernstein Ratner’s classroom. 

“I remember Dr. Ratner being a tough teacher who definitely helped me to become a better student and person from how hard I had to work in her class,” recalled Cheryl. “She was really good at mentoring us outside of class, and helped us by saying ‘This is what you need to do …’” 

Though she has only been in Professor Ratner’s class since the start of the spring 2023 semester, Peyton agrees that the rigor of Professor Ratner’s curriculum will better her career. 

“She pushes us because she knows we can do it. She’s really knowledgeable and I know she’ll push me to my fullest potential,” said Peyton. 

This isn’t the first time that Professor Ratner has taught multiple generations of HESP Terp relatives: Betty Bahadori, HESP B.A. '00, and her daughter, Susan Bahadori, HESP B.A. '07, M.A. '09 both had Ratner as a professor. Paul Rao, HESP Ph.D. '85, got to know Professor Ratner while pursuing his graduate degree, while his daughter Angela "Angie" McLean, HESP B.A. '93, got to know Professor Ratner in the classroom, through her undergraduate studies. 

"We both remember Dr. Ratner's door always being open to us, her sense of humor, and her impactful contributions to the field of speech-language pathology," said Susan. "We stopped by her office unannounced a few years ago. Though she was busy—as always!—she said, 'It's not everyday you have two Bahadoris in your office!' and made time for us, just as she did when we were students." 

Professor Ratner’s intelligence and kindness is what also stands out to the Rao family. 

“Dr. Nan Bernstein-Ratner lives on Mount Olympus; a giant in heart and mind," said Rao, a longtime supporter of the department who, with his wife Martina, established in 2010 the Paul and Martina Rao Graduate Student Fellowship for Hearing and Speech Sciences. "Our son died in a motor vehicle accident on Dec. 7, 1990. Angie, our daughter, was a junior in HESP and was slammed by finals. Dr. Ratner took Angie off the grid and let her grieve, and personally arranged with each professor either a postponement of the exam or credit for the course and waiving the exam. At a time when the Rao family needed to grieve without distraction, Nan proved to be a savior.” 

In addition to recalling and appreciating Professor Ratner’s compassion, McLean remembers standout elements of her character. 

“Dr. Ratner was my voice when I couldn't even find the next step forward,” she said. “Since my time at the University of Maryland almost 30 years ago, Nan has remained a part of my journey as an SLP and family friend. Her laugh fills the room with glory and her dedication and work ethic is like none other, [and] I admire her so for her brilliance and bravery to forge ahead in times of uncertainty in our field, and lead with light and energy to engage others and lead by example ... she's truly priceless." 

Professor Ratner has mixed emotions whenever she hears that a former HESP student’s child is now a part of her class.  

“It first makes you feel old,” Professor Ratner said laughingly. “As a college student myself, I remember the look on a University of Vermont debate coach's face when I told him my mom had been his student; it was a bit wistful. But it's nice to know that the parents actually remember ME after so many years—I can't remember most of my undergrad professors unless they made some impression on me, thankfully almost all good.” 

Class with Professor Ratner is one of many positive experiences Cheryl is excited for Peyton to have on campus. 

“I have very fond memories of being in college,” recalled Cheryl. “I hope that Peyton stays focused on her academics, but I also want her to have that fun experience as well.”

This article originally appeared on BSOS was written by Sofia Appolonio, JOUR '26, and Rachael Grahame, '17