Minnesota State University, Mankato - Communication Sciences and Disorders

09/03/2026

An Invite to Participate at End Alzheimer’s Walk on Oct 3, 2026

Drs. Kristi Oeding and Sheen Chiou are participating in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's care, support, and research. Will you stand with us in this fight by joining our team?

Team: MSU-Mankato Speech, Hearing and Rehab Services

Registration page: https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2026/MN-Minnesota-NorthDakota?pg=team&fr_id=19713&team_id=1058833&skip_login_page=true

Time/Date: Oct 3 (Saturday)
Registration/check-in: 9:30 a.m.
Opening Ceremony 10 a.m.
Walk 10:20 a.m.

Location: Spring Lake Park 650 Webster Ave North Mankato, MN 56003

After the walk, we will head to the Living Earth Center around 11:30am and clean up a dementia friendly garden for Garden EngAGEment. Bring your hat, garden gloves, and water with you. Address: 170 Good Counsel Dr, Mankato, MN 56001. Park at the first parking on to your left and walk over to the community garden by the red barn.

If you're unable to participate, please consider making a small donation (any amount) to our fundraising efforts. Every dollar you donate helps the Alzheimer's Association® provide care and support to all those facing Alzheimer's and all other dementia, and advance critical research. Donations can be made through the registration link. Thank you!

If you have questions, please contact Sheen [email protected]

08/21/2026

🎓 Welcome to our newest cohort of future SLPs! 💜💛

We were excited to welcome our new first-year graduate students to campus this morning for Graduate Student Orientation! Today was all about getting acquainted, learning the ins and outs of graduate school and clinic, meeting faculty and classmates, and starting to prepare for the busy (and exciting!) year ahead.

Tomorrow, they’ll tackle an asynchronous learning day filled with trainings and clinical compliance items before we welcome them back Monday morning to finish up their preparation.

Then it’s go time: classes begin Tuesday, and clinic starts at the end of the month! 🙌

We’re so excited to have this group joining our MNSU Speech-Language Pathology community and can’t wait to see all they accomplish over the next two years. Welcome to grad school, G1s! 🗣️🎓✨

08/19/2026

This fall, Kristin Berndt is stepping into a new role as Assistant Professor. Following her impactful service as Director of the Center for Communication Sciences and Disorders, Kristin will now share her extensive clinical and teaching experience with students across our undergraduate and graduate programs.
A doctoral candidate at Winona State University, Kristin's work centers on clinical education, simulation-based learning, and helping future SLPs develop the skills and confidence needed for successful clinical practice.
We are thrilled to have Kristin continue shaping the next generation of communication sciences and disorders professionals. Welcome to your new role, Kristin! 💜💛

07/29/2026

Congratulations to our first-year M.S. Speech-Language Pathology cohort on successfully completing your first three semesters of graduate school!

Over the past year, you've built a strong foundation through coursework, clinical experiences, simulations, and countless hours of learning and growth. Your dedication, resilience, and commitment to becoming future speech-language pathologists have been inspiring to watch.

Now it's time for the next exciting step: internships! We can't wait to see each of you continue developing your clinical skills, gaining confidence, and making a difference in the lives of the individuals and families you'll serve.

Congratulations on an incredible first year. We are so proud of you and can't wait to see what this next chapter brings! 💜

07/01/2026

Thank you, Sertoma Club of Greater Mankato! 🫶

We are grateful for your generous and continued support of speech-language therapy and audiology services at our Center for Communication Sciences and Disorders. We were proud to host members for lunch last week and share more about the impact your support has on our clients, students, and community.

Thank you for your partnership and commitment to communication access for all! 👂🗣️💜

06/27/2026

We're Hiring! 💜

Are you passionate about clinical education, leadership, and serving the community? Minnesota State University, Mankato is seeking our next Director of the Center for Communication Sciences and Disorders.

This leadership role oversees our speech-language pathology and audiology clinic, supports student clinical education, builds community partnerships, and helps shape the future of communication sciences and disorders at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

🗓️ Applications are open through July 7.

Learn more and apply here: https://tinyurl.com/2m6ck563

Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with colleagues and your professional networks! 💜

06/26/2026

We're so proud of our audiologist, Kristi Oeding, and our student volunteers for giving their time and expertise to support the incredible athletes competing at this year's Special Olympics USA Games. 🥇

Thank you for representing the Center for Communication Sciences and Disorders and Minnesota State University, Mankato with compassion, professionalism, and service. We are proud of the impact you're making both in our community and beyond! 👂

Day 1 of Special Olympics USA Games! Thanks to our student and audiologist volunteers in supporting the amazing athletes!

06/19/2026

We would like to take a moment to recognize Juneteenth (June 19) in American history. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States and serves as a time to reflect on freedom, equality, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of social justice.

We encourage everyone to approach the day as an opportunity for learning, reflection, and appreciation of the diverse experiences and contributions that have shaped our nation.
- Learning more about the history and significance of Juneteenth.
- Attending a local community event, celebration, or educational program.
- Visiting museums, exhibits, or historical resources that highlight African American history and culture.
- Supporting Black-owned businesses, artists, and organizations.
- Taking time for personal reflection and conversations about the meaning of freedom, citizenship, and equity in our society.

05/22/2026

Big congratulations to Kristin Berndt on being selected as a recipient of the Minnesota State University, Mankato and Mayo Clinic Health System collaborative joint seed grant program for the project, "Evaluation and Treatment of Post-Extubation Swallow Dysfunction in ICU Patients"! 🎉

This exciting project brings together an incredible interdisciplinary team, including Kate Glogowski, Workforce Director for the Maverick Family Nursing Simulation Center; Dr. Syed Anjum Khan, Director of Critical Care at Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato; & Mayo Clinic Health System speech-language pathologists Heidi Skophammer & Erin Janda

The collaboration highlights the power of partnerships between healthcare and higher education to improve patient care, support innovation, and create meaningful impact in our communities. Congratulations to the entire team on this well-deserved recognition and exciting work ahead! 💜

05/21/2026

While many enjoyed a well-earned break, Kristin Berndt and Dr. Kristi Oeding spent part of their break representing the Department of Speech, Hearing & Rehabilitation Services at the Austin, Texas Lilly Conference on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning. Their presentation, "Confidence and Emotions in Learning Clinical Skills as Undergraduates", focused on undergraduate clinical education and student learning experiences. 👩🏻‍🏫

While in Austin, they also connected with colleagues from across the country, explored new ideas related to AI and technology in higher education, and learned strategies to increase teaching efficiency and support student learning and mentorship. 🍎✏