Communicative Disorders Graduate Student Is Elected to Minority Leadership Program

October 27, 2004 — Communicative disorders graduate student Susha Verghese has been elected to participate in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Minority Leadership Program class of 2004. According to ASHA, there were 104 applicants for only 30 slots and the competition was “very strong.”

As a program participant, Verghese will attend the annual ASHA convention in Philadelphia, November 18-20, 2004, and will participate in a set of leadership-focused educational programs and activities. These activities provide a forum for racial and ethnic minority students to build and enhance leadership skills, help participants gain an understanding of how ASHA works, and provide opportunities to interact with leaders in the professions of audiology; speech-language pathology; and speech, language and hearing sciences.

In addition, together with Associate Professor Martine Vanryckeghem, Verghese will be presenting the results of her thesis in a poster session entitled: "The Speech Situation Checklist: Comparative Investigation of CWS and CWNS."

“Susha is one of those few individuals who, in crossing your path, leaves a lasting impression. She is a hard working, exemplary student who is eager to learn and expand her professional horizons, a reliable assistant and a very nice person,” said Vanryckeghem.

Verghese received her B.S. in speech, language and hearing sciences in May 2002 from Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute in India. An article, “Temporal Dynamics in Sound/Syllable Repetitions of Stutterers and Normal Non-Fluent Children: A Pilot Investigation in Tamil,” based on her bachelor’s thesis, was published in the Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal in 2002. She began her graduate work at UCF in the fall of 2002.

Verghese is no stranger to awards. In 2002, she received a UCF Provost’s Graduate Fellowship, as well as the ASHA Minority Fellowship, and in 2003 she received a UCF Merit Fellowship. She was awarded a Graduate Travel Award from UCF this year to apply towards the cost of the ASHA convention. Verghese will defend her master’s thesis on November 3, 2004, and will receive her M.A. in communicative disorders in December commencement exercises.

— Sara Cooper