Cochlear Connection
A Newsletter of the Speech-Language Pathology Program
Volume 5, Issue 1
Inside this issue:
Fall 2013
Dr. Molrine Teaches Abroad
Dr. Molrine’s
Sabbatical
Experience
1
Program
2
Director's Corner
NSSLHA Chapter 3
Update
ASHA
Convention 2013
4
Department Gift
5
New Faculty
6
2013 Scholarship
Recipients
7
Opportunity for
Alumni to give back
8
Editor: Elizabeth Marra
Why did you choose to go to Trinidad and
Tobago during your sabbatical?
I had the privilege to comprise a delegation of speech
-language pathology professionals who traveled to
Vietnam and Cambodia in September of 2009 to
observe and discuss speech-language and hearing
service delivery in these countries. Led by pastASHA president Alex Johnson and organized by the
People to People Ambassadors Program, I had the
opportunity to visit a number of professional and
cultural program sites. One of our professional visits
took place with the faculty of the Special Education
Department at the National College of Education in
Ho Chi Minh City. The faculty were looking to
Dr. Molrine with her students
develop a curriculum and training program for speech
-language therapy and they wanted help with creating a new college degree track in the discipline. I came
back the US excited to collaborate with my Vietnamese colleagues on developing an undergraduate
curriculum. Over many months, we worked back and forth on shaping the curriculum, but the language
barrier was daunting. Everything I sent to them had to be translated into Vietnamese and the time lag in
our communications increased. I decided to apply for a sabbatical in the hopes of being able to travel
back to Vietnam and help them out from a shorter distance.
My sabbatical was approved but the communication with members of the Special Education faculty
became very sporadic. The only speech-language pathologist in Vietnam, who was also the Vice Dean of
the Faculty of Special Education, had left Vietnam to work on her doctorate. Without her leadership,
there was no longer a push for the curriculum. Around the same time, I received an email
announcement of a Fulbright Teaching Scholar opportunity in Trinidad and Tobago at the University of
the West Indies. Specifically, the State Department was looking to fund a nine-month appointment to
the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics to help them launch a master’s program in speechlanguage pathology. Given that I had been awarded a sabbatical year, was looking for an opportunity to
advocate for global service outreach in the discipline, and had 10 years of experience coordinating a
graduate speech-language pathology program, I decided to apply. I was fortunate to receive the
appointment.
What parts of their culture surprised you? What parts did not?
Trinidad and Tobago’s colonial history is reflected in the ethnic, religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity
of its people. With a population of just over 1,300,000 people, the two largest ethnic groups of this
English-speaking country consist of persons of East Indian (40%) and African (37.5%) descents, followed
by those of mixed heritage (20.5%). There were lots of aspects of their culture that surprised me. One
thing I never got used to was the amount of litter. I have been to several poor countries where people
live a hardscrabble existence, with no utilities or public services, but in Trinidad, the extent of the litter
spoke of a disregard for the environment. Beautiful beaches were spoiled by the amount of human
detritus that washed up from the ocean to join the carelessly discarded waste from picnics and
inadvertent dumps. Another aspect of the culture that surprised me was the “compound” mentality.
Walls that reached above your head surrounded all the houses and apartments, and these were topped
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Cochlear Connection
with spikes or glass shards over which barbed or concertina wire was extended to discourage entry. All the compounds had locked
gates with remote entry. All the doors and the grates on the doors were locked. Even the faculty woman’s restroom in my
department was locked. Everyone drove (at great speeds with little regard for traffic conventions and signage) in their locked cars
out of their locked compounds into parking lots staffed with armed guards to their locked offices. I got a sense of what it must be
like to be a caged animal in a zoo. I later learned that all this “protection” was necessary to have some semblance of assurance that
you or your property would not be violated in some way. One aspect of the
culture that did not surprise me was the collegiality of the faculty and students.
Once on campus, I felt the same sense of belonging I feel here--the human
connection sparked by a shared interest in new learning and discovery. That
same collegiality extended to the small group of in-country speech-language
pathologists (SLP). I registered as an SLP while in the country and participated in
their Speech Language Audiology Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SLAATT)
meetings and activities.
What kinds of classes did you teach?
I taught a 6-credit Anatomy & Physiology class that spanned the academic year.
This course is one of the courses required for the two-year Certificate in
Speech-Language Pathology or the Speech-Language Pathology minor in the
broader Linguistics curriculum. In the Spring semester of 2013, I taught a
graduate course entitled Neural Bases of Communication Disorders. Four
Dr. Molrine with SLAATT members
students who were pursuing a master’s degree in Linguistics took the course
as an elective course requirement. Most of the work that I undertook for the
Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics was administrative. The purpose of my Fulbright appointment was to help them
administratively to launch the first MA SLP program in the Caribbean.
What experiences did you take from your sabbatical that impact your view of education now? Do you incorporate
them in your classes at Edinboro?
I am grateful for our educational system and the rigor with which we grade our students and the accountability we expect. My A &
P class was scheduled from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Students would begin drifting in between 4:00 and 4:30, even though I would start the
class at 4:00. One student was taking pilot lessons at the same time the class was scheduled, so he would arrive an hour late, and
then leave after an hour. I had to learn to accept “island” time. The students who were serious were very good students, and I am
hopeful that the MA SLP program that accepted its first cohort this fall will be successful in educating competent SLPs to expand
service delivery in the country. I keep in close touch with my Trini colleagues to provide ongoing support!
Program Director’s Corner
into a new building located in the heart of
the campus, and the graduate program
was re-accredited earlier this year. Even
the campus looks strikingly different than
it did just a few years ago. We also
welcomed three new faculty members to
our department this year. You can read
more about them in this newsletter, but
I’m excited about the experiences,
expertise, and perspectives that each
brings to Edinboro University.
Despite these significant changes, our
mission, objectives, and expectations for
graduate education remain very similar to
One of the challenges of adjusting to
what it was 40 years ago when the
change is finding ways to retain important program was first established and Sal
elements of our past traditions and
DeMarco and Bonnie Rose became its
values. Our program has certainly
inaugural graduates in 1975. Believing that
undergone many significant changes over a small, state college with limited
the past few years. We became an
resources could create a professional
independent department in the College of graduate program and deliver outcomes
Science and Health Professions, moved
comparable to other nationally recognized
programs, took vision, courage, and
dedication.
The current generation of Edinboro
University faculty and students have
inherited a rich tradition of becoming
the very best version of themselves and
then using that to improve the lives of
others. Becoming a speech-language
pathologist is rewarding work, but there
are no shortcuts to acquiring the
knowledge and skills needed to practice
independently and competently. Our
building is busy most hours of the day
and evening with classes, clinics,
meetings, and study groups and our
most recent outcomes include 100%
pass rates on the national examination
and 100% employment rates. Some
things never change.
Dr. Roy Shinn
Program Director
Volume 5, Issue 1
NSSLHA Chapter Update
Our club’s mission is to support students academically, socially, and emotionally as well as to
provide opportunities for professional and personal development. Both within Edinboro
University of Pennsylvania, as well as the surrounding communities, the Speech and Hearing
Department is well renowned for our astute standard of higher education alongside our efforts
to give back. Although there are many charitable and community events to come, throughout
the fall 2013 semester, our club has been busy with the following
“The graduate
endeavors:
1. Participating in the 2013 Memory Walk in Erie to combat
program here at
Alzheimer’s disease
2. Participating in the 2013 Autism Walk in Erie
Edinboro University
3. Attending the 2013 PSHA Convention and we had several
of Pennsylvania is not
students who did poster presentations
4. Inviting local professionals to speak during our “Pizza and
only strong in a sense
Professional” nights
5. Participating in annual EUP community service projects
of educational
6. Fundraising for some of our platform charities, such as the
standards, but we are
ASHA foundation and Smile Train
7. Attending the 2013 ASHA Convention in Chicago
further committed to
8. Participating in the University College Bowl
The graduate program here at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania providing unwavering
is not only strong in a sense of educational standards, but we are
support to our
further committed to providing unwavering support to our clients,
clients, their families,
their families, and to our outreaching communities. Our graduate
students are exceedingly dedicated to our studies and clinical work
and to our
as beginning clinicians. Despite our busy schedules, we are always
outreaching
looking for more ways to give back to the community by providing
support, hope, and smiles to those in need. For those who are
communities.”
natural caregivers, this notion is easy to resonate with. No matter
-Casey Grimm
how busy our day, there is always time enough to give back for
that is what makes it all worthwhile. With the framework of an
incredibly encouraging faculty, our department’s graduate students go above and beyond, achieve
success, and turn goals and dreams into reality. We strive to be our best selves, for the good of
our profession, but even more so for our clients.
Casey R. Grimm
Edinboro Graduate Student & NSSLHA Chapter President
Page 3
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Cochlear Connection
ASHA Convention 2013
This year, the annual America Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) convention was in Chicago, Illinois. The ASHA convention is a good
way for students to meet and connect with other professionals in the field. The speech-language pathology graduate students are very thankful
for the financial support of Graduate Professional Development Program (GPDP), which allowed students the opportunity to attend the
convention at a lower cost.
How did you handle the financial logistics of the trip?
Overall, the cost of the trip with travel expenses, hotel costs, food, and conference registration was about
$700. Luckily, with the help of GPDP funds, about $580 of my trip was reimbursed. Without the financial
support of GPDP, I would not have been able to afford going to the ASHA conference and have such a great
“Thousands of learning experience.
-Angela Capra, MASLP Student
people who share
the same passion
gather together
to share their
experiences and
gain more
knowledge.”
-Lauren Marucci
What was the best part of the ASHA convention for you?
My favorite session was titled “The Voice Grand Rounds.” It was really cool to integrate what we learned in
the classroom and apply it to situations out of the classroom. Even though a lot of sessions went over my
head, I felt like I was learning a lot and can relate it to the classroom and future therapy.
- Kayla Wilson, MASLP Student
Are you glad you attended the ASHA convention?
Going to ASHA was an amazing experience. I had no idea what to expect, but it was nothing like I imagined.
Thousands of people who share the same passion gather together to share their experiences and gain more
knowledge. I was able to talk to to people who have been in the field for years and they explained how it
has changed over the years, which was so interesting to hear. Four days was not enough to soak up all the
information, but I can honestly say I learned so much. This was an experience I will never forget and I am
already looking forward to next year!
-Lauren Marucci, MASLP student
What advice would you give to someone who has never been to ASHA about how to make the most
of the convention?
Make sure you look at the planner ahead of time so you have an idea of a few seminars you would want to go to in case one is full so
you have a back up plan. Also schedule yourself time to get to the room because it can be a long walk, and remember to pack
healthy filling snacks the food can be expensive and it can be a long day until dinnertime!
-Kaiti Lawrence, MASLP Student
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 5
NSSLHA Attendance Award @ ASHA 2012
First Year Graduate Students Ride the Megabus
There were many benefits to taking
the Megabus. Megan Lund, a firstyear graduate student said, “Price
was a large determining factor on
my choice to take the bus. The
luggage was free to take on the bus,
unlike flying. It was nice to ride with
a lot of my classmates that I don’t
normally see outside of class. It was
comforting to not have to worry
about navigating and driving to
Chicago.”
(L-R) Lauren Marucci, Angela Capra, Laura
Gregory, and Kayla Wilson
Natalie Smith, a first-year graduate
student, said, “I would ride it again.
It’s nice that it is so cheap and that
you don’t have to worry about
driving. It was really windy driving
home, so that was kind of scary,
but I didn’t mind the ride at
all.”
To keep conference costs low, many
speech and hearing students
chose the mega bus as
their
mode
of
“Price was
transportation. The
Megabus is a low
Although there are many
a large
cost
express
benefits to taking the
service that has
determining
factor
Megabus, Brittany Komora,
many
routes
throughout
the
a first-year graduate
on my choice to
United
States.
student, highlighted some
Tickets can be as
take the bus.”
disadvantages to taking this
low as a few dollars
bus. “The bus was really
-Megan Lund
and most buses are
crowded
and there isn’t one
equipped with Wi-Fi
that
leaves
from
Erie and goes
and outlets for electronics.
directly to Chicago. We had to
Department Gift
drive to a stop and Cleveland to take it
to Chicago, which meant we had to
worry about parking. I would
recommend buying two seats if you
can so you can have more room to
yourself. The Wi-Fi isn’t guaranteed
either and I was hoping to do
homework.”
All the students that took the Megabus
can agree that it was a cost efficient
and easy way to get to Chicago, Illinois
for the convention.
FACTOID
100% of Edinboro
graduates from the
last three years
(2011-13)
passed
their
national
exam i nati o n
in
speech-language
pathology.
Thank you to the MASLP class of 2013
for presenting the Speech, Language,
and Hearing department with a canvas
gift. The canvas has a picture of a
bridge, with the words “SpeechLanguage Pathology: Bridging the
Communication Gap,” and can be seen
as you enter the department.
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Cochlear Connection
New Department Faculty
Dr. Catherine Krival, CCC-SLP
Dr. Krival became interested in speechlanguage pathology after majoring in
psychology during her undergraduate
studies. Her mother is a PhD in speech-
Dr. Skye Raupp, CCC-SLP
Dr. Raupp became interested in speechlanguage pathology after watching her
grandmother’s best friend suffer from a
stroke and receive a diagnosis of aphasia.
She also witnessed her cousin’s daughter
begin to talk at the age of four. In both
of these instances, a speech-language
pathologist helped her loved ones gain
their ability to communicate. Her
undergraduate degree in linguistics
language pathology and she
also has an uncle who was a
speech-language pathologist.
Dr. Krival enjoyed
neuroscience and decided to
pursue a master’s degree and
eventually a PhD in speechlanguage pathology.
Dr. Krival enjoys the
clinical training that Edinboro
has, as well as the faculty.
“Working among people that
have so much expertise in
teaching and clinical work is a
lot of fun. Everyone is very
hard working.” She likes that
class sizes are small and that
there is funding for graduate
students to attend
conferences. “Instead of
one or two students
having those experiences,
everyone can have that
experience which
influences everyone’s
thinking. I don’t want to
be the only expert in my
area you see.”
When she isn’t
teaching, Dr. Krival likes
to be outdoors. She
enjoys being with her
dogs, kayaking, and hiking.
helped prepare her for the field
of speech-language pathology.
When asked what
makes her most excited about
teaching at Edinboro, Dr.
Raupp replied, “One of the
aspects of the program that
struck me when I was
considering Edinboro was the
strength of the clinical training
of the graduate students.
Having the academic faculty be
directly involved in clinical
education, I believe, is ideal and
seems to be a way to ensure
that our diagnostic and
intervention choices reflect
best practices with respect to
current research.”
American bulldog. They
are enjoying getting to
know Pennsylvania
through festivals and local
attractions. They like to
read, cycle and run,
watch Apple TV, and
train in tae kwon do.
In her free time, Dr.
Raupp likes to spend time with
her husband, son, and
“One of the aspects
of the program that
struck me when I
was considering Edinboro was the
strength of the clinical training of the
graduate students.”
-Dr. Raupp
Volume 5, Issue 1
Dr. Amitava Biswas
Dr. Biswas received a PhD in speech
and neural science after completing a
bachelor’s degree in mechanical
engineering and a master’s degree in
computer science. When asked how
Page 7
he became interested in
the field of speech and
neural science, Dr. Biswas
stated, “Several years ago,
when I was about to
complete a master’s
degree in computer
science, I was looking for
a job as a computer
programmer. Dr. Steven
Barlow, one of the top
speech physiologists in the
nation was looking for an
expert in digital signal
processing or DSP and
selected me. He was
impressed by my
performance and I saw a
great new challenging
opportunity. While working
under Dr. Barlow, I was
directly involved in several
research projects in speech
and neural science. It was a
perfect setting for me to
pursue a PhD in speech and
neural science in the
following years.”
In his free time, Dr.
Biswas likes to exercise,
swim, bowl, dance socially,
golf, and play billiards. He
also likes to design, build,
and repair different kinds of
electronic and computer
based instruments.
2013 Alumni Conference Scholarship Winners
At the October Alumni Conference
luncheon, scholarships were awarded to
several SLP graduate students. First year
students receiving awards included Elizabeth
Marra (Glenshaw, PA, California U.),
the $500 Brock Tropea Citizenship Award ,
Angela Capra (Allegany, NY, Edinboro U),
the $500 Dennis Ranalli Award, and Natalie
Smith (Johnstown, PA, Edinboro U), the $600
Dr. Frank Johnson Scholarship. Second year
students were Chantal Haase (Conneaut
Lake, PA, Edinboro U), the $400 Dr. Richard
Forcucci Scholarship, Kim Hilderbrandt
(Grove City, PA, Roger Williams U), the
$500 Dr. Randy Rodak Award, and Kim
Kerstetter (Austintown, OH, Messiah
College), the $600 Dr. Frank Johnson
Scholarship. The awards were presented by
Grace Johnson, granddaughter of Dr. Frank
Johnson. The Department is grateful for the
very generous support of these scholarships
from the family of Dr. Frank Johnson, Dr.
David Potoker, Dr. Richard Forcucci, Dr.
Char Molrine, Hal Blount, Dennis Ranalli, and
many alumni and friends of the program.
L-R: Natalie Smith, Chantal Haase, Kim Hilderbrandt,
Angela Capra, Kim Kerstetter, Elizabeth Marra
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Cochlear Connection
Giving Back
A belief in the importance of an Edinboro graduate education in Speech-Language Pathology
through support of current students or clients is an extraordinary act of generosity. You can increase the funds available in an existing scholarship or establish a new award. As alumni, you are
important players in the continued success of our students -- your gift will help current students
complete their degree successfully. You can become a benefactor of our program’s legacy by
providing a gift to support student or client scholarships.
☐ Dr. Frank Johnson Scholarship (1st and 2nd year graduate students eligible)
☐ Dr. Richard Forcucci Scholarship (2nd year graduate student)
☐ Brock Tropea Award (for students with exceptional community service)
☐ Dennis Ranalli Award (merit award to 1st year graduate students)
☐ Dr. Randy Rodak Memorial Award (for 1st year graduate student)
☐ Client Assistance Fund (offsets costs for financially needy clients at the Gov. Leader Speech
& Hearing Center)
☐ Student Assistance Fund (assist financially needy students with clearances and other requirements for clinical practicum, or travel to a conference)
☐ Please designate my gift to a new fund for ___________________________________
Gifts can be made by:
☐ Check: University Advancement, 210 Meadville St., Edinboro, PA 16444
☐ Online: http://www.edinboro.edu/departments/development/gift.dot (specify Other Event
and describe)
☐ Credit card: ☐ Visa ☐ MC ☐ AmEx ☐ Discover
☐ Amount: ________ ☐ Annually ☐ One-time
Name______________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________
City __________________________________ State_____________ Zip__________
Home Phone ____________________________ Cell Phone____________________
e-mail address________________________________________________________
Phone: 814-732-2433
Fax: 814-732-2612
Governor George Leader Speech and Hearing Center
215 Scotland Road
Edinboro, PA 16444