Misericordia University Speech-Language Pathology Newsletter Articulator www.misericordia.edu/slp Fall 2016 Letter FROM THE Editor ’19 D’MANDA PRICE I would like to thank you will face in the field. Following my time Tia Spagnuolo ’16 for taking the time to spent speaking with other students, it AWARDED Von Drach read the Fall 2016 edition is evident that each student holds his of the Misericordia or her experience in the department Scholarship Speech-Language with high regard. I am confident that ’20 JESSICA HANLY Pathology Department’s this edition of the Articulator will assist Tia Spagnuolo annual Articulator. In in reporting about the opportunities, is a recent this edition, you will read articles about education, and accomplishments that are graduate of our exceptional faculty, alumni, and present in our department. Misericordia current students. All of the articles in this University’s 10 th edition of the Articulator have been Incorporated in this newsletter are Speech- written by our existing students, ranging updates about Misericordia’s chapter Language from freshmen to students currently in of the National Student Speech- Pathology their fifth year. I am honored to be given Language-Hearing Association as well as Department. the opportunity to highlight and share with accomplishments of professors, alumni, She is also the recipient of the 2016 you some of the breathtaking life stories and students. There is also information Von Drach Memorial Scholarship from and achievements of the individuals in the about Operation Smile and other the Pennsylvania Speech-Language Speech-Language Pathology Department featured stories. I would like to thank Hearing Association (PSHA). This at Misericordia University. everyone who has contributed to this newsletter, including our students who scholarship is awarded annually, at the When asking for the perspectives of started writing articles last summer. I state convention, to an exceptionally students concerning the program, each hope that this edition helps you to gain qualified student enrolled in an student agreed that the education an understanding of our exceptional institution, full time, pursuing a career received in this department is unlike program, students, alumni, and faculty in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) any other. Faculty members have noted members. My wish is that you will realize or Audiology. Before the convention, that the experiences and education why I am proud to be associated with she had been conducting research in received in our department are rare such a wonderful department. the fields of voice and fluency with and hard to come by. The personal and both Dr. Cari Tellis and Dr. Glen Tellis, Sincerely, professional growth that our students and had submitted her master’s thesis receive when going through the program for presentation at the convention. prepares them for the challenges they D’manda Price, Class of 2019 In receiving the award, Tia notes that she is humbled to be chosen In This Issue: because of the other well-deserving candidates who also applied. After • LETTER FROM THE EDITOR, P.1 • NSSLHA UPDATE, P.6 being announced as the recipient at • TIA SPAGNUOLO ’16 AWARDED • OPERATION SMILE ANNUAL PART OF the 2016 PSHA Convention, Tia was SCHOLARSHIP, P.1, 3 NSSLHA’S MISSION, P.7 allowed the opportunity to thank all • AN INTERVIEW WITH DENIS ANSON, P.2 • A MODEL OF COURAGE - THERESA of the people who have supported JACOPETTI, P.8 • ERIN ROBERTS POSTER CONFERENCE her throughout her pre-professional WINNER, P.3 • AN INTERVIEW WITH VICTORIA journey. She took this occasion to FLORMAN, P.9 • GRADUATE WOMEN SHOW SKILLS thank those people for their kind ON FIELD, P.4 • NEW TEXTBOOK, P.10 support and for allowing her the • ALUMNI - FIRST YEAR PROFESSOR • LETTER FROM THE CHAIR, P.11 continued on page 3 DR. NICHOLAS BARONE, P.5 AN Interview WITH Denis Anson ’19 D’MANDA PRICE What new projects are you currently explain the concepts in a language that working on? the students will understand. It is most I am in the middle of the development definitely not about “dumbing down” of the Global Public Inclusive the answer, as we have some very Infrastructure (GPII) Shopping and bright students, but is about finding Alerting Aid. This tool will help people language that will match the concepts who need information or consumer and linkages that a student will be able electronics that will accommodate their to follow. limitations. The Aid works by allowing individuals to specify what features What do you enjoy most about your or needs they have, and selecting work? only those products that meet those As I frequently tell my research needs. In the fall, we will begin two students, there is a period, near the additional studies. One is examining end of a research project, after the voice strain of using speaker phones data is analyzed, but before it is versus using video phones. The second presented, when you know something is a nationwide study about the use that nobody else knows. That is very of service learning in college and cool. Additionally, in this job, I get paid to play with my toys. It’s just that most Denis with one of his inventions. university health science programs. folks don’t recognize my toys as toys. Could you describe one of your In a creative job, there is very little typical workdays? drudgery, and lots of excitement! Denis is the Director of Research I’m not sure I have a typical workday. and Development of the Assistive But an unremarkable workday might What could we look forward to Technology Research Institute (ATRI) of include working on organizing seeing from you in the future? Misericordia University and a member complex information in ways that That is really hard to say. You can of the Speech-Language Pathology are addressable systematically. For never tell where lightning is going Department. The mission of the example, I was involved in developing a to strike next. In general, I look for institute is to develop new knowledge tool to determine whether “accessible “hard” problems, and try to find about how assistive technology can signs” meet the requirements of the good, and not hard solutions. I’m enhance the lives of people who are ADA-ABA guidelines. This requires constantly working on new ways to aging or who have functional needs. comparing many features of the use information technology to collect Denis collaborates with the Speech- characters to the height of the letters data for research projects. Expect Language Pathology Department to to determine proportions. The solution more, and more elegant means of data aid in both developing new assistive to this problem required combining collection for ATRI supported projects. technologies and analyzing data from knowledge of geometry, drafting, and several research teams. slide-rules. Most commonly, however, The Speech-Language Pathology I assist other faculty members on the Department would like to thank Denis Following is a short interview with Denis design and implementation of research for taking the time to enlighten the to gain further insight into his career. projects, especially providing assistance readers about his career. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors! What is Assistive Technology? in their statistical analysis. An Assistive Technology is any What parts of your job do you find technology that is used to allow a most challenging? person with a functional limitation to do When I start on a project, I seldom the things that an able-bodied person know what is going to be required can do without that technology. Where to complete it. I often forget that I an able-bodied person might use a don’t think like other people, and am remote control because it is easier, for a sometimes reminded that a “Denis” person with a functional limitation, the solution is not an everyman solution. remote control, or a device that acts Sometimes when I am working with like the remote, might be the only way students, I pause to think about how to to perform the task. 2 Roberts shined on the soccer field, she WINS of Speech Erin Roberts performed even brighter academically. Language Best Poster At the end of Erin’s sophomore year, Pathology. AT THE FALL Dr. Cari Tellis invited her to join the Looking voice research team. The voice team toward the Voice Conference conducted advanced and innovative future, Roberts ’18 ALEXANDRA IRR research that they presented across the explained that country and even abroad at the Estill she would like Pat Riley, the legendary American Conference in Melbourne, Australia. to start a clinical basketball coach, once said, “Each Warrior Roberts also presented with the fluency fellowship in wants to leave the mark of his will, his research team in July 2015 at the a medical setting and would love to th signature, on important acts he touches. International Fluency Association’s 8 treat clients with voice or neurological This is not the voice of ego but of the World Congress in Lisbon, Portugal. disorders. Roberts also added that she human spirit, rising up and declaring is interested in continuing her research. More recently, Roberts won Best Poster that it has something to contribute to at the Fall Voice Conference held in the solution of the hardest problems, no Expressing her gratitude towards all Pittsburgh in October 2015. Many matter how vexing!” Erin Roberts has those she encountered during her time well-known professionals in the field certainly left her mark at Misericordia in at Misericordia, Roberts stated, “I am were impressed with her presentation. various dimensions throughout her five so thankful that I chose to come to Said Roberts, “It was a great weekend years at the university.