WCU is a University of North Carolina Campus
Endowed Scholarship Fund for CSD Majors
In 2006, Yvonne Saddler Nielsen of Cullowhee (seated) and Brett Woods, director of annual giving at WCU, signed an agreement creating a new endowed scholarship fund for CSD majors.
read more about the fund
CSD News & Announcements
WCU CSD Searching for Catherine Brewer Smith Endowed Chair
Western Carolina University (WCU) is pleased to announce a national search for the Catherine Brewer Smith Endowed Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The individual filling this position will join 10 talented faculty and staff members in WCU’s CAA accredited Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The Department’s purpose is to provide scholarly instruction in an environment that supports research and service. The Catherine Brewer Smith Endowed Professor will be expected to provide leadership as an expressive scholar, attract external funding supporting the Department’s purpose, and provide unique instructional/service opportunities for students.An application for this position requires of a letter of interest, vita, and complete contact information for 3 references. Applications will be accepted online at https://jobs.wcu.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51511 until the position is filled. The review of applicants will begin February 1, 2009. For more information about the Catherine Brewer Smith Endowed Professorship or Western Carolina University feel free to contact Dr. Bill Ogletree at ogletree@wcu.edu.
Ogletree, Hambrecht, and Shapiro Funded to Offer Personnel Preparation in Severe Disabilities
In August of 2008, Drs. Ogletree, Hambrecht, and Shapiro learned that their personnel preparation project in severe disabilities and autism was funded for a four-year cycle beginning January of 2009. The $786,219 award from the U.S. Department of Education will be used to fund students in WCU’s M.S. Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders and practicing speech-language pathologists in the field. Participants will receive stipends to take courses in severe disabilities and autism and will receive specialized clinical training. Appealing aspects of the project include a mentoring component to help participants share what they learn and the involvement of nationally recognized experts as instructors. To apply for this unique opportunity, contact Dr. Bill Ogletree at ogletee@wcu.edu. Students considering WCU for graduate school should note that project stipends are in excess of in-state tuition and fees.
Helm-Estabrooks Joins WCU CSD Faculty as Adjunct Professor (See faculty bio) WCU’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is Pleased to announce an Adjunct affiliation with Dr. Nancy Helm-Estabrooks. Dr. Estabooks, an internationally known expert in adult neurologic communication disorders will be teaching a course in Asheville in the spring of 2009 and has been assisting with clinical activities in the Asheville area. Welcome to the Western family Nancy! We are glad you are here!
New Dean One of OursDr. Linda Stanford, the inaugural dean for the College of Health and Human Sciences, joined WCU in July of 2007. CSD is proud to be the academic home for Dean Stanford who, prior to her arrival at WCU, practiced as an audiologist in Michigan and served as the associate dean for the College of Health at Central Michigan University. Welcome to Western, Dean Stanford! (full story)
Shapiro Named 1st Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor David Shapiro has been named Western Carolina University's first Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor. Dr. Shapiro will be actively enraged with research and international service and clinical externships through this appointment. This is an exciting time for Dr. Shapiro and the Communication Sciences and Disorders department!
Chancellor’s Fellowship Award
Jennifer Knapp, a graduate student in CSD, has received the prestigious Western Carolina University Chancellor’s Fellowship for the 2008-2009 year. This highly competitive award is given to exceptionally promising students to permit them to devote their energies to their studies and research.
Blowing our HornsThe CSD faculty blows their collective horns at a recent faculty meeting about CSD's new status as a department at WCU.
Dialect Project Continues
In 2005, WCU began a five-year contracted project with Ohio State University to collect and analyze speech samples from individuals in Western North Carolina. The contract was initially secured by Dr. Martin Fischer and funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). This research effort will continue over the next three years with Dr. Bill Ogletree and Ms. Janaye Houghton serving as WCU project faculty.
Dr. Bonnie Singer was 2008 Cullowhee Conference Speaker
The WCU CSD department hosted Dr. Bonnie Singer as the featured speaker for the 2008 Cullowhee Conference on Communicative Disorders. Dr. Singer is a nationally recognized expert in adolescent language disorders and has partnered with other colleagues to create the EMPOWER writing program for children. Her presentation was attended by over 100 participants. Plan to join us for the 2009 conference! Registration information will be available in early January.
Shapiro Travels to Africa Dr. David Shapiro will travel to Africa in October of 2008 to the Czech Republic for the third time and then to Burkina Faso for the Second African Stuttering Congress. In both instances he will be involved in activities related to International Stuttering Awareness Month. In both countries he will be providing a keynote address, clinical service to people who stutter and their families, and clinical instruction to stuttering specialists and other service providers.