Department Head toRetire, Named Professor Emerita
The Department of Speech hosted a retirement reception in the Ropp Center on May 8, 2007 in recognition of the retirement of Dr. J. Clarice Dans, Head of the Department of Speech and Director of the Louisiana Tech University Speech and Hearing Center. President Reneau named Dr. Dans Professor Emerita and the presentation was made by Dr. Kenneth W. Rea, Academic Vice President.
Dr. Dans will officially retire from the University on August 31, 2007.
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Au.D. Students Recognized in White Coat Ceremony
Five Doctor of Audiology students who will receive the Au.D. on May 19, 2007 were recognized in a White Coat Ceremony. The following five individuals, who will be Louisiana Tech University’s first Au.D. graduates, were presented their white coats by their major advisor.

Mary Arrington DeLoach, Magnolia Arkansas
Dissertation: Sound Localization Accuracy in the Blind Population
Major Advisor: Dr. Steven G. Madix

Heather Amelia Hendrix, Oakland, California
Dissertation: A Communication Process Training Model for Use by Audiologists in Counseling
Major Advisor: Dr. Sheryl S. Shoemaker

Alison Viator Huff, Lafayette, Louisiana
Dissertation: A Protocol for Sound Localization Testing with Young and Again Normal Hearing Subjects
Major Advisor: Dr. J. Clarice Dans

 Courtney Leigh Ross, El Dorado, Arkansas
Dissertation: Parental Views of Otitis Media and Antibiotic Treatment
Major Advisor: Dr. Sheryl S. Shoemaker

Christal Jeanne’ Savage, Port Barre, Louisiana
Dissertation: Classroom Acoustics and Intervention Strategies to Enhance the Learning Environment
Major Advisor: Dr. Steven G. Madix
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Department Honors Outstanding Graduate Students
The Department of Speech hosted a reception in Adams Parlor on May 11, 2007 to recognize and honor its outstanding graduate students in speech-language pathology and audiology for the academic year, 2006-2007.

The Graduate Academician awards for 2006-2007 were presented to Sarah Nix, First-Year Graduate Student in Speech-Language Pathology and Jong Kim, First-Year Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) student.  Ms. Nix and Mr. Kim were presented engraved plaques of recognition for their outstanding academic performance.

The Graduate Clinician for 2006-2007 was Ms. Virginia Lurry, a first-year graduate student in Speech-Language Pathology. Ms. Lurry was presented an engraved plaque in recognition of her outstanding clinical performance.
M s. Alice Foreman, a first-year graduate student in Speech-Language Pathology, received Honorable Mention for her clinical performance and was presented a certificate of recognition.

Each year, as part of the focus on academic excellence, the College of Liberal Arts recognizes outstanding students from each of the units/departments within the College. The outstanding students from the Department of Speech for the academic year 2006-2007 were Ahmad Alexander, a first-year Au.D. student and Kiley Stevenson, a third-year Au.D. student. Mr. Alexander and Mr. Stevenson were recognized at a College of Liberal Arts luncheon on May 3, 2007 and were presented certificates of achievement by Dr. Edward C. Jacobs, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
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Program Graduate Retires from VA Hospital
Ms. Georgia W. Blow has retired after 29 years of continuous service to the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. At the time of her retirement,
Ms. Blow was Director of Public Affairs for the Hospital. Prior to assuming that position, she was Chief of Audiology and Speech Pathology. Ms. Blow earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Professional Speech Pathology, a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology, and a Master of Arts in Audiology from Louisiana Tech University. During her tenure as Chief of the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service, Ms. Blow held ASHA certification in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and directed Louisiana Tech’s clinical affiliation programs for externships in audiology and speech-language pathology at the VA. Ms. Blow was honored at a reception at the VA Medical Center on January 26, 2007 that was attended by a host of friends, colleagues, former clients, and hospital staff.
The Department of Speech congratulates Ms. Blow on her long and illustrious career in the VA and thanks her for her many years of support for Louisiana Tech's undergraduate and graduate training programs in audiology and speech-language pathology.

Dr. Shoemaker Awarded Endowed Professorship
Dr. Sheryl S. Shoemaker has been named the current holder of the Elva Leggett Smith Endowed Professorship of Speech. This endowed professorship is awarded to a faculty member who has demonstrated an impressive record of leadership, teaching performance, and professional accomplishments in the Department of Speech at Louisiana Tech University.
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