WTAMU Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences

11/26/2025

🎓💛 Help Us Change Lives Through Communication
�Every day in the WTAMU Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, our students and faculty work to ensure that individuals of all ages can find their voices, understand the world around them, and connect with others.
This year, we’re raising funds to support student scholarships, clinical training, community outreach, and innovative programs that directly impact families across the Texas Panhandle and beyond.

🌟 Why Your Gift Matters�A donation of any size helps:
* Provide scholarships that keep passionate, hardworking students in school
* Support hands-on learning through our Speech and Hearing Clinic
* Expand essential community programs that serve children and adults with communication disorders
* Equip our students with the tools and experience they need to become exceptional speech-language pathologists and audiologists

✨ You Can Make an Immediate Difference. �If our program has touched your life, or if you simply believe in helping people communicate, connect, and thrive—we would be honored to have your support.

💛 Thank you for believing in this work.�Thank you for investing in our students.�And thank you for helping WTAMU continue its mission of empowering communication for all.

Join me and make a gift to WT Speech and Hearing Sciences

11/19/2025

🌟 Heading to the ASHA Conference this week? Don’t miss one of the sessions everyone will be talking about! 🌟

Join our rockstar presnter, Dr. Kori Clements for her powerful presentation: “BETTER TOGETHER: Elevating /r/ Treatment through Research-Clinical Partnerships”
�📅 Thursday, November 20�⏰ 1:00–2:00 PM

If you’re passionate about evidence-based practice, stronger clinical outcomes, and bridging the gap between research and real-world therapy, this is a must-attend session.

👉 Add it to your conference schedule now and tag a colleague who should join you!�Let’s learn, connect, and grow—together. 💬✨

11/14/2025

🎉 A Huge Success! Interprofessional Education in Action 🎉

This week, our department had the privilege of partnering with the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing to host an outstanding Interprofessional Education (IPE) event—bringing students together across disciplines to build the communication, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving skills that define exceptional leaders in healthcare.

A heartfelt thank you to the visionaries who made this experience possible:�👏 Val Parker�👏 Azra Barakovic�👏 Lisa Robinson

📣 And an even bigger thank you to the students who brought their vision to life!

Your work continues to shape meaningful, practice-ready learning for our students, and we are grateful for your dedication.
📸 Check out our photos and highlights!�💬 If you’d like to learn more about interprofessional opportunities or how to get involved, drop a comment or send us a message.

Here’s to educating—and empowering—the next generation of healthcare leaders. 🦬✨

11/13/2025

🏐💛 Future Buff SLP Spotlight! 💛🏐

We’re sending a huge shoutout to Landri Jay, Freshman Defensive Specialist/Libero for our incredible Lady Buffs Volleyball Team! 🦬✨
Landri shows the same heart, focus, and teamwork off the court as she does on it — choosing to pursue a career in Speech-Language Pathology here at West Texas A&M University! 💬🧠

Her decision reflects wisdom beyond her years and a selfless passion for helping others find their voice — literally. 👏 Whether it’s diving for a save or dedicating her future to improving communication and quality of life, Landri embodies the spirit of what it means to be a Buff through and through.
We can’t wait to welcome her to the WTAMU Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences family! 💛

Drop a 💬 or 🦬 in the comments to cheer Landri on — both on the court and in her journey to become an outstanding Speech-Language Pathologist!

11/13/2025

🎉 Congratulations to our Grad 2 Buffs! 🎉

This week, our second-year graduate students in the WTAMU Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences aced one of the toughest milestones in their clinical training — their OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Exams) in Videostroboscopy for Voice and Upper Airway Disorders! 💪🎤

These future Speech-Language Pathologists didn’t just study the theory — they:�🔹 Explained and performed the videostroboscopy procedure on a real person�🔹 Identified and interpreted vocal fold anatomy and function�🔹 Made evidence-based recommendations grounded in patient history and exam findings
That’s next-level skill, precision, and professionalism — and we couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and dedication! 👏

💛💬 Drop a “🎤” in the comments to celebrate these incredible students as they take one more step toward becoming expert clinicians in voice and upper airway care!

10/24/2025

🎃 THANK YOU to everyone who planned, set up, and joined us for the 2025 Harrington Academic Hall Trunk or Treat! 🕸️✨ Your creativity, costumes, and community spirit made the night unforgettable. From playful trunks to smiling faces, we couldn’t have done it without you! 👻💜

10/23/2025

📣 THANK YOU to Shaylie Almendarez! 🙌

We were honored to have Shaylie join us to teach our graduate students about AAC treatment — and she did not disappoint! 💬✨

With her natural teaching demeanor and incredibly hands-on approach, Shaylie made complex AAC strategies feel approachable, actionable, and deeply meaningful. Her ability to connect, inspire, and engage our students was next-level 👏

She was truly the perfect person to help us wrap up AAC Awareness Month 💜💬 and we’re so grateful for the time, energy, and expertise she brought into the classroom.

📸 Check out some behind-the-scenes moments from her session!
�🔁 Share this post to spread awareness and celebrate the power of communication for all!�

10/22/2025

🎉💬 FUTURE LEADERS IN ACTION! 👏💡

We're SO proud of our second-year graduate students for stepping up and delivering an incredible AAC assessment presentation to the senior class! 🔡🧠📱

From case studies to real-world assessment models, our grads shared their knowledge and evidence-based practices in a way that brought AAC to life for the next generation of Buff SLPs. 🤓💬💪

Their professionalism, passion, and preparation showed exactly why they’re ready to lead in the field of Speech-Language Pathology.
Watching peers educate peers? That’s the WTAMU difference. 💛🦬
�🎓 Want to be part of a program that builds leaders from day one?�Explore SLP at WTAMU 👉 https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/college-nursing-health-sciences/department-communication-disorders/index.html

💬 Drop a 🙌 to celebrate our grad 2s in the comments!�🔁 Share this to show the world the amazing things these buffs are doing!

10/21/2025

🗣️💻 THANK YOU, REBECCA HUTCHISON! 🙌📚

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Rebecca Hutchison for joining our students and sharing her incredible knowledge on AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) assessment! 🔡🧠✨

From low-tech to high-tech solutions, Rebecca broke down the assessment process with clarity, compassion, and real-world insight that left our future SLPs feeling inspired and empowered. 💬🔍💡

Her passion for communication access reminded us all that everyone deserves a voice—and that SLPs are a vital part of making that happen. 💙🧏‍♀️

10/20/2025

📣 THANK YOU, Turn Center 🧠💬💪

We’re sending a huge THANK YOU to Treva McKinney, DPT and Kelisha Murray, OTR for bringing their expertise to our students today! 🙌✨
Their engaging session on sensory integration, positioning, and the power of collaboration between Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists opened eyes and inspired futures! 💡👩‍⚕️
Our students walked away with deeper insight into how interprofessional teamwork truly transforms patient care—from early intervention to rehab and beyond. 🤝🧩💬
�📚 Interested in a career that makes a difference?�🧠 Explore Speech-Language Pathology at WTAMU!�👉 https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/college-nursing-health-sciences/department-communication-disorders/index.html

10/17/2025

🎉 Huge thanks to Amarillo Collegiate Academy for hosting us at the Fall College & Career Expo!
The WTAMU College of Nursing and Health Sciences loved connecting with your bright students and sharing all the exciting opportunities WT has to offer! 💛🦬
We’re proud to support future healthcare leaders right here in the Texas Panhandle! 👩‍⚕️🧑‍⚕️🧠💬

10/17/2025

🎉 Big congratulations to our incredible colleagues in the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing for being awarded 5 new professorships! 👏👏
Their continued excellence is raising the bar for all of us at WTAMU. 💛🐃 We’re proud to collaborate with such a powerhouse team in healthcare—WT is truly where leaders in healthcare are made!

CANYON, Texas — A quintet of faculty members have been newly named to professorships in the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing at West Texas A&M University.