Four seniors, Kelsey Patton, Madison Davis, Kalianna Brooks, and Hadrian Reeves were offered and accepted therapy assistant positions in the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic this semester. They were offered the position because of their hard work and excellence in the undergraduate COSD courses. As a therapy assistant, they collaborate with a clinical supervisor and a graduate clinician during weekly therapy sessions.

Kelsey is from Fort Chiswell, VA and states that she helps prepare materials with a graduate clinician and model social behaviors for the client that she sees. She plans to attend graduate school in SLP at Radford in the fall. Madison is from Honaker, VA and wishes to continue her education at Radford to receive her Master’s degree in SLP and return to her hometown to work with adults in the medical setting. She says, “Being in the clinic room has been so rewarding. My understanding of the material that I have learned is so much deeper, and I really enjoy seeing things that I have learned about first-hand.” Kalianna is from Clintwood, VA and plans to begin graduate school in the fall and is open to working with both children and adults after graduate school. She states, “I learned that sometimes a session may not always go as planned and it is important to have other ideas in mind and be able to think on the spot when needed.” Hadrian participates in the clinical process by helping prepare for the session, being involved in session activities, and collecting data. Hadrian is from Tazewell, VA and enjoys birdwatching and painting in her free time. 

Shelby Sowers attended Radford University for her undergraduate and graduate coursework. She graduated with her master's of science in communication sciences and disorders in 2020 and has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for three years. Since graduation, Shelby has worked in the public-school setting, serving ages 2.5-22 years old with a variety of diagnoses, including but not limited to, expressive/receptive language disorders, articulation disorders, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, metabolic encephalopathy, and Rett’s syndrome. Currently, she works in elementary schools. She states, “I really enjoy working in the school setting because it allows me, as the therapist, to develop a working relationship with each student I serve, as well as their families, and other professionals in their immediate environment. I believe that building strong rapport with the students that you work with is a key part of productive therapy.”

Shelby serves as externship supervisor, serving two graduate students this past academic year and reports it being a phenomenal experience. She has a passion for passing knowledge between professionals and this includes graduate students. “It has been wonderful to see the graduate students grow from week one to their last week of externship. Giving them experiences and information to increase their confidence in the work they do has been extremely rewarding.” Shelby will supervise graduate students in the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic this summer. She is looking forward to a summer of growth and success, not only for the client’s attending, but the graduate students serving the clients.