(Amherst, MA - November 12, 2007) Charlena M. Seymour, PhD, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMA), will receive the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) Honors of the Association award during the 2007 Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), November 15-17 in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Honors of the Association recognizes distinguished contribution to the field of speech, language, and hearing and is the highest honor the Association can give. Honored individuals have made outstanding contributions to the discipline of communication science and disorders, research, administration, or service to state or national organizations.
Dr. Seymour has made an indelible impact on communication sciences and disorders through her impressive work as an exemplary leader and administrator, scholar-researcher-mentor, and staunch advocate for diversity issues.
Dr. Seymour began her faculty career at UMA in the Department of Communication Disorders (CD). She was director of the UMA Communication Disorders Clinic; CD graduate program director; and department chair for eight years. She was appointed dean of the UMA Graduate School, and then served as interim provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs until she was appointed to the permanent position in 2004.
Through her meteoric progression to top-ranking academic positions, Dr. Seymour has remained dedicated and actively involved in her profession, focusing on issues of academic standards, diversity, leadership, and mentoring. In 1997, Dr. Seymour served as ASHA president.
Throughout her career, Dr. Seymour has worked to find solutions to help academicians resolve issues of cultural intolerance, and has consistently defended diversity through her research about minority children and by mentoring students and faculty. At UMA, she has promoted the recruitment and retention of minority students and faculty and the enhancement of professional opportunities for women. She spearheaded the creation of the Mutual Mentoring Program, a $400,000 project sponsored by the Mellon Foundation.
The annual ASHA convention is the most comprehensive development conference for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language and hearing scientists. It features more than 1,500 educational sessions that highlight the latest developments in research and clinical practices for professionals who provide services in schools, hospitals, health care centers, rehabilitation clinics, and other practice settings.
Nearly 300 exhibitors, including hearing aid manufacturers and other companies in the speech and hearing industries, will showcase innovative products and services in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center's exhibit hall. Technology presentations on products, such as computer software programs as well as alternative and augmentative communication and assistive listening devices were also featured.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 127,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
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