Department of Speech & Hearing Science at Illinois

08/24/2026

Shagun Ajmera is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Neuroscience Program with speech and hearing science professor Fatima Husain, studying applications of MRI for tinnitus patients.

She won this year's Thomas and Margaret Huang Award for Graduate Research, which supports graduate students studying human-computer intelligent interaction. The $3,500 award is supported by the Huang Fund.

“This award supports my study regarding application of MRI for mindfulness training in tinnitus patients,” Ajmera said. “My research uses real-time brain images for guiding targeted modulation of brain dynamics in individuals with bothersome tinnitus.”

Ajmera is also a previous winner of the Nadine Barrie Smith Memorial Fellowship and the Beckman Institute Graduate Fellowship: https://beckman.illinois.edu/news/article/2026/06/15/beckman-institute-announces-2026-fellowship--award-winners

08/21/2026

The University of Illinois Marching Illini got another education on how to protect their hearing from audiology doctoral students. Read the story here!

Link: https://www.ahs.illinois.edu/marching-illini-learn-from-shs-to-protect-their-hearing-before-taking-the-field/

08/19/2026

The SHS Faculty and Staff Retreat earlier this week was a fantastic opportunity to connect, collaborate, and plan for the year ahead.

Using a World Café format, we had productive discussions focused on strategic priorities, student success, and strengthening our community.

Special thanks to Associate Provost Staci Provezis for facilitating such an engaging and impactful day!

08/19/2026

We'd like to congratulate Dr. Donna Scarborough, Speech and Hearing Science alumna and current Department Chair at Miami University, Ohio, on being named a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Association.

We are incredibly proud of Dr. Scarborough's leadership and contributions to pediatric feeding and swallowing and look forward to celebrating her achievement at the main ASHA Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 20, 2026, at the ASHA Convention this November in Indianapolis, Indiana.

08/17/2026

Read more about the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Camp after a successful second summer: https://www.ahs.illinois.edu/finding-the-right-words-at-aac-camp/

And another thanks to camp organizers Speech and Hearing Science Assistant Professor Savanna Brittlebank and Clinical Assistant Professor Andrea Burie, along with all the graduate student clinicians who built such great connections with campers.

08/14/2026

Ready to see our students at New Student Welcome!

08/07/2026

Four Speech and Hearing Science graduates made the Bronze Tablet this year, the highest academic honor given to graduates. Congratulations!

🔸Audrey Arlis
🔹Estelle Jones
🔸Stacy Pontikes
🔹Karla Rodriguez

Congratulations to our 17 new Bronze Tablet honorees at Applied Health Sciences! 🏆

This is the highest academic honor bestowed on graduates, for the top 3% of academic achievers in each graduating class. Here are the AHS Bronze Tablet honorees for spring 2026:

🔸Audrey Arlis, speech and hearing science
🔹Christopher Atadero, interdisciplinary health sciences
🔸Brian Becker, recreation, sport and tourism
🔹Sarah Blyskal, community health
🔸Lydia Burger, kinesiology
🔹Nicole Dudek, recreation, sport and tourism
🔸Collin Janusz, kinesiology
🔹Estelle Jones, speech and hearing science
🔸Brielle Mapanao, kinesiology
🔹Katherine Naveja, kinesiology
🔸Dorothy Nguyen, recreation, sport and tourism
🔹Stacy Pontikes, speech and hearing scinece
🔸Forrest Benjamin Reyes, recreation, sport and tourism
🔹Karla Rodriguez, speech and hearing science
🔸Farris Sweid, interdisciplinary health sciences
🔹Nicole Zagone, community health
🔸Ella Zick, interdisciplinary health sciences

Story ➡️ https://www.ahs.illinois.edu/bronze-tablet-deans-list-honorees-named-for-spring-2026/

08/07/2026

Have you heard? We're on Instagram, too! 🗣️

Follow Speech and Hearing Science at Illinois at www.instagram.com/shsillinois/

(And of course, follow our College of Applied Health Sciences, too: www.instagram.com/ahsillinois )

We're enhancing communication across the lifespan—for all. 💙

07/23/2026

World Fragile X Day raises awareness about fragile X, celebrates families and individuals with fragile X, and highlights advances in fragile X research.

Thank you again to State Farm Center for helping us raise awareness!

A note from Dr. Mattie aka Dr. Laura (IFYKY): Every year when I drive by to see State Farm illuminated for fragile X I am filled with pride for the fragile X community and our university community. I am grateful to get to be a part of both! My picture may look similar every year, but I still take one each year!

FRAXA Research Foundation
National Fragile X Foundation
College of AHS at Illinois
Department of Speech & Hearing Science at Illinois

07/21/2026

Tomorrow night, State Farm Center lights up for World Fragile X Day.

Though rare, Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. An estimated 1 in 7,000 males and 1 in 11,000 females have FXS.

Help us spread awareness about the research into this genetic disorder.

(📸: World Fragile X Day 2024 / Laura Mattie)

UIUC Development in Neurogenetic Disabilities Lab