ESU’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Participates in Conference and Community Events

Communication Sciences and Disorders Girl Power STEM

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on June 6, 2025, No Comments

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at East Stroudsburg University ended the 2024-2025 academic year by participating in conferences and community events.

Faculty and students presented research during the Pennsylvania Speech Hearing Language Association Convention held March 20-21 in Pittsburgh. Rachel Wolf, Ph.D, professor and chair and Akila Rajappa, Ph.D., associate professor, presented Cocktail Education Generation: Implementing Effective Cultural Support to CSD Students in a Diverse World.

Dr. Rajappa also presented Dysphagia Care Case Studies Through the Lens of ICF Framework. Dr. Dillmuth-Miller presented Understanding APD through cABR with two students, Erin Griffin, a junior from Douglassville, Pa., and Skyler Sislin, a junior from Rockaway, N.J.

On April 8, Susan Dillmuth-Miller, Au.D., associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, along with communication sciences and disorders majors Emily Levering, a senior from Bethlehem, Pa., and Helene Yerger, a junior from Leesport, Pa., represented ESU’s communications sciences and disorders program and audiology and speech-language pathology professions at the Girl Power in STEM Symposium held at Penn State Hazleton. The half-day event brought together women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and introduced the fields to middle and high-school girls who may aspire to have a career in STEM. Through conversation, networking, and other engaging activities, students had the opportunity to develop a better understanding of career, and educational pathways as they connect with like-minded professionals. Dr. Dillmuth-Miller and the students hosted a round table where they answered questions about audiology and speech-language pathology and shared information about ESU’s programs. Almost 300 from surrounding middle and high schools attended the 7th annual Girl Power in STEM Symposium hosted by the Greater Hazleton Partners in Education.

Graduate students studying communication sciences and disorders finished the 2024-2025 academic year with 445 community service hours of speech/language and hearing screenings. The ESU Speech and Hearing Clinic is committed to improving the lives of at-risk children by screening hearing and speech delays as early as possible and has been conducting hearing screenings in the community for over 15 years. If undetected, hearing and speech problems can lead to communication, reading, social, and academic issues throughout a child’s life. Screenings were performed at local Head Starts, preschools, daycares, public elementary schools, and in the community. Graduate students acquired hearing and speech/language evaluation hours from completing these screenings. Graduate students worked under the supervision of Dr. Wolf, Dr. Dillmuth-Miller, and Katherine Lazzara, instructor and clinic director.

To learn more about studying communication sciences and disorders at ESU visit www.esu.edu/communication_sciences_disorders.