UW Communication Disorders Students Selected to Present at ASHA National Convention

Two students from the University of Wyoming’s Division of Communication Disorders have been selected to present research posters at this year’s American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) convention Nov. 20-22 in Washington, D.C.

Kelsi Angelovich, a first-year master’s student from Green River majoring in speech-language pathology, will present her poster, titled “Assessing the Social Impact of Developmental Communication Disorders: A Systematic Review.”

Angelovich completed this research project as her undergraduate honors thesis and with financial support from the Wyoming Research Scholars Program. She is a member of the Adolescent Language Interventions, Applications and Strategies Lab and conducted this project under the mentorship of Amy Peterson, an assistant professor within the division.

“Having my project selected for an ASHA Centennial Session is a tremendous honor,” Angelovich says. “My project emphasizes the importance of considering social impact of communication disorders in childhood as we look toward the future of the field.”

“I am so proud of the work Kelsi put into this project over the last three years and that she was awarded such an incredible honor,” Peterson says. “It will be amazing to watch her share this work with clinicians and other researchers in D.C.”

Natalie Schwab, a senior from Cheyenne majoring in speech, language and hearing science, will present a research poster focused on the theme “Conducting a Caseload Audit to Optimize Treatment Intensity for Speech Sound Disorder Intervention.”

Schwab is a member of the Phonological Understanding Lab and mentored by Breanna Krueger, an associate professor and interim division chair.

“This project aims to add a tool to the toolbox of materials that school-based SLPs (speech-language pathologists) utilize in caring for patients each day through optimization of treatment intensity,” Schwab says. “Having the opportunity to present this project as a centennial session is such an incredible privilege, and I am proud to represent the program and faculty that have shaped me as a student and future professional.”

This year, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the ASHA convention, committees selected “centennial” sessions that exemplify forward thinking and have the potential to significantly impact the field. These sessions are characterized by the ability to foresee and address future challenges, shape industry practices and lead transformative initiatives.

These UW student-led posters are two of just 191 specific sessions selected out of more than 3,700 submissions through rigorous peer review. This national-level distinction reflects the Division of Communication Disorders’ vision to be a program of excellence with cutting-edge research and exceptional learning opportunities for students.

“Engaging students in research at the undergraduate and graduate levels is critically important to the mission of the Division of Communication Disorders,” Krueger says. “Having two of our students receive this competitive designation underscores the amazing work being conducted by our faculty at the University of Wyoming.”

“I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Kelsi Angelovich and Natalie Schwab for earning the honor of presenting their work at the ASHA Centennial Convention,” adds Patrick Hardigan, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “Their selection, from among thousands of submissions, speaks not only to their talent and dedication, but also to the outstanding mentorship provided by our faculty in the Division of Communication Disorders. These accomplishments reflect the strength of our programs and the University of Wyoming’s commitment to advancing the fields of speech, language and hearing sciences. We are deeply proud of Kelsi and Natalie for representing UW on a national stage and demonstrating the level of excellence that defines our students, faculty and academic community.”

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is a national professional, scientific and credentialing association for 241,000 members, certificate holders and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students.

Each year, the ASHA convention is one of the largest professional development events with more than 2,500 sessions covering the latest research, clinical skills and techniques in communication sciences and disorders. Nearly 15,000 researchers, practitioners, students and assistants from around the world attend the annual ASHA Convention.