Penn State Communication Sciences and Disorders

10/18/2026

Join the Penn State Alzheimer's Awareness Club for the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's® - Happy Valley on Oct. 24 to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias gradually diminish a person's ability to communicate and to eat, drink, and swallow effectively. Communication Sciences and Disorders professionals work to support communication and safe eating and swallowing in individuals with a variety of disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Join the walk team: https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=19887&pg=team&team_id=1039381

10/12/2026

Bring your family to the Clinic Open House as part of Penn State Family Weekend events! Visitors can get free screenings of their hearing and voice and learn more about the community services and educational programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m.-Noon. The Penn State Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic is located in Research Building A, 743A Hastings Road. We hope to see you there!

10/08/2026

Congratulations to Rachel Nathan on the presentation of her qualifying exam, entitled: A Systems Theory Approach to Characterizing SLP Decision-Making in AAC Assessment for Individuals with Multiple Disabilities.

This was an important project that solicited the perspectives of SLPs who are regularly involved in augmentative and alternative communication assessment, on the process they undertake. Rachel did an excellent job of sharing her work, discussing the literature related to it, considering methodological questions, and outlining the implications of the work. Well done, Rachel!

In the photo are CSD faculty Michael Clarke, Kathy Drager, Krista Wilkinson, and Ph.D. student Rachel Nathan.

07/16/2026

✈️ Fourth-year communication sciences and disorders student Julia MacLaughlin traveled across the globe, studying abroad in Florence, Italy, in spring 2026.

While studying abroad, MacLaughlin held a work-study position where she handled marketing and social media responsibilities for the study abroad program. She promoted events, classes and student life while sharing what it was like to study abroad in Florence.

“Studying abroad allowed me to immerse myself in a new culture while taking courses that were very different from my typical Communication Sciences and Disorders curriculum. My favorite parts were traveling throughout Europe, building meaningful relationships with my professors and locals, and simply walking through the beautiful streets of Florence.”

MacLaughlin said her study abroad experience gave her a new perspective on the world and strengthened her ability to understand and connect with people from different backgrounds, which will be invaluable to her as a future speech-language pathologist.

“The Communication Sciences and Disorders program has provided me with incredible academic opportunities while encouraging me to grow outside the classroom. It is so interesting, and I love how much I learn about the body and brain as well as how humans communicate.”

After graduating from Penn State, MacLaughlin plans to attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Following graduate school, she aims to complete a clinical fellowship to ultimately work as a medical speech-language pathologist.

“My biggest piece of advice to students is to study abroad if you have the opportunity. It taught me so much about different cultures and perspectives, which will help me better understand and connect with future patients and clients.”

07/08/2026

Join us in celebrating these faculty promotions. Congratulations, Navin and Shasta!🎉
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06/30/2026

Please join us in wishing Denise Gladd a happy retirement! Denise has been a valued member of the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders since 2016.

Over the last decade, Denise has served as the assistant to the department head and administrative manager of the department. She has worked tirelessly overseeing budgets, coordinating recruitment and hiring, planning events, and making sure things run smoothly on a day-to-day basis. Her leadership and institutional knowledge will be missed as she embarks on this next chapter spending time with her grandchildren, crafting, and enjoying life.

Thank you, Denise, for choosing to spend the final chapter of your Penn State story with CSD! Enjoy retirement!

06/29/2026

Please join us in wishing Diane Williams a happy retirement! Dr. Williams joined the faculty of Communication Sciences and Disorders as department head in 2016.

Prior to coming to Penn State, Dr. Williams worked as a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) in various states and held academic appointments at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. Her research has focused on language and communication challenges in individuals with autism and will be cited for years to come.

Over the last decade, Dr. Williams has provided valued mentorship to our students, faculty, and staff. She has expanded our clinical and research endeavors, fostered an organizational culture emphasizing inclusivity and work-life balance, and prioritized making the SLP and audiology career pathways more accessible to students.

Thank you, Diane, for your numerous contributions and your long-lasting impact. Enjoy retirement!

05/28/2026

Meet Addison Agnew, a fourth-year student majoring in communication sciences and disorders, with minors in human development and family studies and special education. During the spring semester of her second year, Addison studied abroad at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

Addison's study abroad journey started during New Student Orientation when she attended a session on different ways students can get involved at Penn State. She always had an interest in traveling internationally, so studying abroad immediately caught her attention.

"I always wanted to visit Australia, and spending an entire semester there felt like the perfect opportunity to finally pursue that goal," Addison said. "I thought I would see everything I wanted and that it would be a one-time experience, but I was wrong. I ended up falling in love with Australia and everything it had to offer."

Addison said her experience studying abroad taught her so much about herself, and she would encourage any student who is considering studying abroad to pursue it in some way.

"There are so many benefits to studying abroad, both personally and academically," Addison said. "This experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone in many ways and helped me grow into a more culturally aware individual. I gained confidence and became more independent, and created lifelong memories that I will always carry with me."

Penn State College of Health and Human Development

05/12/2026

In addition to the official Penn State commencement ceremony, our Master's graduates participated in a pinning ceremony, marking their transition from students to clinical practitioners. The ceremony was held in a hybrid Zoom and in-person format, inviting families and friends to join in the occasion. Congrats to the Master's class of 2026!

05/11/2026