Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Sac State

06/04/2025

Congratulations to our amazing audiology faculty for their inaugural BAHA activation appointment and interviews! Bravo Dr. Cassar and audiology faculty and staff. We are looking forward to seeing the story on CBS13!

Please see below for the article submitted by the College of Continuing Education at Sacramento State

Bone-anchored hearing aid recipient

"We’re thrilled to welcome our first bone-anchored hearing aid patient at the Maryjane Rees Center Audiology Clinic at Folsom Hall. After 20-plus years of mixed hearing loss, the patient underwent surgery at Sutter Sacramento and returns for activation on Tuesday, June 3. Joining the appointment will be a Cochlear Americas representative, an Au.D. student, and Ariel Cassar, Au.D., CCC-A, Clinical Education coordinator. Join us in congratulating this patient. As a reminder, since 1952, speech, language and hearing services have been provided by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, which has remained committed to providing the community with exceptional services through our on-campus clinic. Learn more about the Maryjane Rees Language, Speech and Hearing Center, which offers a variety of audiological and hearing aid services."

The Maryjane Rees Language, Speech, and Hearing Center- Audiology Clinic provides much-needed audiologic services for the community. The Clinic serves as the on-campus training site for Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) students and undergraduate students in Communication Sciences and Disorders, preparing...

05/30/2025

Two weeks ago, the CSUS Au.D. program held its White Coat Ceremony for our current third-year students who are about to leave for externship. The event marks the students’ transition to their final year as an extern, and students take an oath during the ceremony. Students’ families and friends attended the ceremony. We will see these students back in May 2026 for graduation!

05/19/2025

Happy end of the Spring semester Hornets! Commencement and finals are officially behind us, but we still have the whole Summer for exciting events!

We have been excited about visiting all of the junior colleges and welcoming our incoming transfer students this month! Stay tuned for more information about transfer student and new student orientations this Summer. Welcome to Communication Sciences and Disorders! Stingers Up!

04/21/2025

Congratulations to our first-year Au.D. student Bianca Esparza for receiving the Renaissance Society scholarship!

04/21/2025

Big congratulations to Italy Overton for being nominated for the Dean’s Award from the College of Health and Human Services! Your passion and hard work in CSAD truly shine — we’re so proud of you.

04/18/2025

Today, our fellow CSAD student presented an award for our faculty Dr. Lisa D'Angelo at the PARC OWL Awards on campus.

Dr. D'Angelo - Your wisdom, leadership, encouragement, and mentorship have left a lasting impact on your students’ lives. Thank you for inspiring and empowering the next generation, as well as shining on behalf of our department. Stingers up!

03/18/2025

Long COVID continues to challenge researchers, but groundbreaking studies at Sac State are shedding light on its impact on hearing, balance, and cognitive function. 🧠🎧

Dr. Soumya Venkitakrishnan and Dr. Elisabeth D’Angelo are leading critical research on auditory processing and cognitive-communication deficits in Long COVID patients. Their findings highlight risks for auditory processing disorder (APD) and cognitive issues like brain fog, memory loss, and attention difficulties—mirroring symptoms seen in mild TBI.

With innovative evaluations and neuroplasticity-based interventions, their work aims to improve treatment options and quality of life for those affected.

🔗 https://cce.csus.edu/article/groundbreaking-research-long-covid-sacramento-state

03/11/2025

Third-year Au.D. students defended their doctoral projects last week! They did an amazing job, and we will be celebrating their successes later this semester during their white coat ceremony.

Students (L to R): Elizabeth Wyllie, Mallory Sellens-O’Connell, Kevin Liu, Noemi Celio, Riley Kinder, Monique Merrill, and Elimar Alvarado

03/11/2025

Introducing our new CSUS student representative to the California Academy of Audiology!

02/18/2025

Starting off 2025 strong with another alumni spotlight!

01/03/2025

Happy New Year CSAD Hornets! Hope you have been having a wonderful and safe holiday. For Throwback Thursday, we are highlighting our superstar alumni, Jovany Estrada. He presented at the 2024 ASHA Conference back in December. Please see below for a message from our Department Chair, Dr. Heather Thompson:

"Our alumni are doing amazing work!
CSAD at CSUS is the best kept secret!

At the general session of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, alumnus CSAD B.S. and M.S. SLP Jovany Estrada was recognized for his work in early intervention, being one of 12 professionals featured in the ASHA Leader magazine this fall and being highlighted to all ASHA attendees. Bravo Jovany Estrada!"

12/04/2024

Welcome back to another alumni spotlight! Meet Dr. Ken Wood, who graduated in 2005 with a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology. He went on to work as a hearing aid dispenser before opening New Wave Hearing Aids in his hometown of Yuba City, CA, in 2009. Fun fact: the Au.D. is his third degree from CSUS!