NIU Today

The NIU Autism Caregiver Group welcomed caregivers and children to the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic on March 24 where Jessica Wexell and Autumn Gabriel, of DeKalb-based RAMP Center for Independent Living (CIL), were the guest speakers. “I really appreciated the engaging conversation between the caregivers and the RAMP representatives,” said Allison Gladfelter, associate professor of Speech-Language Pathology...

Iris Espinoza was recently awarded the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ISHA) John Consalvi Service Scholarship award. The NIU student is one of two students from across the state of Illinois to earn the annual award. “This award makes me feel very honored and humbled,” said Espinoza. “I would not have been able to receive this award...

Stephanie Good moved to the United States from Mexico at age 16. While learning English, she also set a goal of becoming a speech-language pathologist. Now in her first year of NIU’s master’s program, she’s on a mission to let others know that the speech-language pathology field will be even better when it’s more diverse....

Gracie Strohm helped in the crafting department, filling penguin water bottles, gluing paper wreaths and sealing winter sensory bags. The senior and fellow Huskies from the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders welcomed community members and their children to the Autism Caregiver Group Holiday event at NIU’s Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic on Dec. 1. “It is...

Megan Nordstrom wears many hats. Whether leading a group of Northern Ambassadors, running a Communicative Disorders Student Association (COMDSA) or Music and Memory organization meeting, or directing hundreds of Huskie Marching Band members during a performance, she wears them well. Described by faculty and peers as enthusiastic, hard-working, and a leader who leads by supporting...

NIU alum, Abby Jeppson, was awarded the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Distinguished Early Career Professional (ECP) certificate. The certificate was created to recognize and identify early career professionals in the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology who are making an impact in the areas of leadership, volunteering, or advocacy at the local, state, and/or national...

Each year NIU recognizes and honors outstanding undergraduate teaching. Tenured faculty members are honored with the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award and full-time instructors are honored with the Excellence in Undergraduate Instruction Award. Undergraduate students take the lead in the nominating process and student advisory committees in each college nominate faculty members by assembling student...

April is Autism Acceptance Month, an opportunity to spread awareness, promote acceptance and ignite change. For Rai Nihei, proud mother of Clark and a member of NIU’s Autism Caregiver group, it’s also an opportunity to address a number of misconceptions that people may have about autism. “Autism is not uncommon and it’s not an illness to...

Emma Colby doesn’t shy away from a friendly competition. So when the Speech-Language Pathology grad student was asked to be part of NIU’s College Bowl team, she didn’t hesitate. “I love a good trivia event, so this was right up my alley,” said Colby, who is pursuing a master’s degree in Communicative Disorders. “Our team...

A team of students from the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders took top honors in the first-ever Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ISHA) ethics video contest. Madelynn Parrott, Megan Nordstrom, Emily Atchison, Tiffany Jacob and Gracie Strohm are executive board members of NIU’s Communicative Disorders Student Association (COMDSA), and the creative team behind the winning...

If you suspect your toddler may be having trouble saying words or phrases or may be having a hard time understanding what you say, an NIU research study may be able to assist. The NIU Speech-Language Pathology program is studying the effectiveness of two language treatments and they are looking for research participants. Children under...

Engaged learning is music to ears. Associate Professor Jamie Mayer knows first-hand that students and the broader community benefit from partnerships and that’s why her colleagues from the Department of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders nominated her to be recognized as an engaged learning exemplar for her outstanding commitment to engaged learning, teaching and scholarship. “Engaged learning is a...