Fall 2025 newsletter
Dear CSD Alumni and Friends,
As we close out 2025, this season invites us to reflect on where we’ve been and to look ahead with excitement to what’s next.
This year has been especially meaningful for our field as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) marked its 100th anniversary with a return to its roots here in Iowa. Their visit to the house on Summit Street, where a small gathering of Midwest professionals first planted the seeds of what would become ASHA, was a powerful reminder of Iowa’s role in shaping the discipline. Experiencing that milestone while moving into our own new academic home underscored both our rich heritage and our bold vision for the future.
Throughout this newsletter, you’ll see how that same spirit of growth and leadership continues today. Our two new tenure-track faculty searches represent true expansion and a strong investment in the future of Communication Sciences and Disorders. These hires will help us deepen our research impact, broaden student opportunities, and strengthen the reputation that all of you helped build.
We also honored the legacy of the Wendell Johnson Speech & Hearing Center, a beloved home for nearly six decades. Our new facilities in the Health Sciences and Academic Building (HSAB) are already elevating discovery, clinical education and patient care—made possible in no small part by the support of the State of Iowa, the University of Iowa, our alumni, and our broader community.
You’ll also read about the many accomplishments of our faculty, students, and alumni: national recognitions at ASHA, leadership roles in NSSLHA, and pioneering efforts in AI and clinical innovation that continue to put Iowa at the forefront of the profession.
The holiday season reminds us how connected we are—to our history, to one another, and to the communities we serve. As we celebrate the successes of 2025 and look ahead to the possibilities of 2026, please know how grateful we are for you. Your support, your involvement, and your belief in our mission make everything we do possible.
Stay connected with us on Instagram and Facebook, visit the news section on our website to explore the latest stories.
Warm wishes for a joyful holiday season and a bright new year!
Eric Hunter
Chair, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Harriet B. and Harold S. Brady Chair in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Applications open for two tenure-track faculty positions
As part of our ongoing investment in research, education, and innovation, CSD is searching for two new tenure-track faculty. These positions–one in speech-language pathology and one in hearing science–will help expand our nationally-recognized department.
Stay connected
No matter where you are, you're always a Hawkeye. Learn how you can stay connected to CSD and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Read the stories of fellow alumni and find out how you can volunteer and hire students. Please also update your contact information so we have your most recent mail and email address so we can stay in touch!
CSD personnel attend 2025 ASHA convention
CSD students and faculty attended the annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) convention from Nov. 20-22 in Washington, D.C. They shared research and heard presentations from researchers across the country. Two CSD faculty members–Jennifer Brodell and Philip Combiths–were recognized by ASHA for their distinguished achievements in research, teaching, and clinical activity.
ASHA marks 100-year anniversary with visit to its hometown of Iowa City
2025 marked the 100-year anniversary of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). ASHA was founded in the spring of 1925 at the Iowa City home of Lee E. Travis, a former University of Iowa professor who is considered one of the founding fathers of speech-language pathology. Members of the ASHA board of directors visited Iowa City to commemorate the anniversary, hosting a panel discussion and an open professional development seminar.
Graduate students serve on NSSLHA executive council
Two CSD graduate students–Katie Kingsbury and Ashley Schultheis–are currently serving two-year terms on the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) executive council. Kingsbury serves as the vice president of programming for audiology, and Schultheis serves as the vice president for student state officers in the central region.
Where education meets patient care
Our Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic provides services in audiology and speech-language pathology while providing world-class clinical education to students. Learn more about the clinic and its mission through this Q&A with Kellsie Busho, clinical assistant professor and director of clinical programs – audiology.
New walls, same heart: CSD’s clinic moves to HSAB
Along with the department, the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic moved to its new space in the Health Sciences Academic Building in August. The state-of-the-art facility offers new opportunities for students, staff, and faculty, where they look forward to continuing to provide high quality patient care.
CSD researcher leading AI certificate course
Mark Berardi, assistant research scientist, will lead a course as part of the University of Iowa’s new artificial intelligence (AI) certificate program. Berardi is one of ten provost AI fellows that were selected to create pilot courses. His course, titled “Human Voice and AI Technologies: Accessibility, Security, and Health Care,” will focus on the intersection of speech science and AI technology.
Video series highlights new CSD spaces in HSAB
A three-part video series recently spotlighted CSD’s new clinical and academic spaces in the Health Sciences Academic Building (HSAB). Featuring interviews with a range of CSD personnel, the videos give a glimpse into how different people have come to appreciate HSAB, from its state-of-the-art facilities to its bright, open spaces.
Commemorating the Wendell Johnson Speech & Hearing Center
Alumni, faculty, students, staff, and friends of CSD came together on Aug. 2, 2025, to celebrate the legacy of the Wendell Johnson Speech & Hearing Center. WenJo housed CSD for nearly 60 years, and the commemorative event brought generations together to celebrate its impact. We’re proud to call the Health Sciences Academic Building our new home, but WenJo will forever be part of our story.
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