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Home | School-Based | In the Spotlight

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Individual Faculty Member

Faculty Spotlight: Lauren K. Nelson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Dr. Nelson is an associate professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders, having joined the department in 1990. She received a B.S. degree in communication disorders from Northern Michigan University, an M.A. in speech-language pathology from Central Michigan University, and a Ph.D. in speech-language pathology from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis). Dr. Nelson's career as a speech-language pathologist began in Iowa where she worked for an area education agency and served several different school districts. She has published in journals such as the Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, Journal of Applied Psycholinguistics, Topics in Language Disorders, and Seminars in Speech and Language. She also has made numerous presentations at national conferences. She has served as an editorial consultant and/or guest associate editor for journals such as the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Journal of Speech-Language-Hearing Research, and Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. Dr. Nelson is a member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and served on the Legislative Council from 2002-2004. She is also a member of the Language Learning and Education and Higher Education special interest divisions.

Personal Teaching Philosophy

I do not regard myself as having a well developed teaching philosophy. However, I do have some beliefs about learning that guide what happens in my classes. First, students in my classes have many opportunities to actively engage the material. We have many small group discussions and activities, as well as individual and group projects. I believe one of my primary roles is to assist students in making connections between real life situations and what they learn through readings and lectures. One method I use is a case study that presents a particular clinical problem. The cases are designed to be somewhat open ended with no single correct answer. Depending on the class or topic, students might work on a case individually and/or in small groups. Finally, if you want students to be active learners and to participate in class, creating a positive atmosphere, one where students can expect acceptance and encouragement of their contributions, is essential.

Research/Areas Interests

Generally my research and scholarly interests encompass contextual influences on speech and language projection, assessment of language and phonology, and clinical applications of technology. Some of the specific topics have included investigations of "trade offs" between phonetics/phonology and other aspects of language, and several studies on task manipulations that either facilitate or inhibit children's performance.

Classes Taught

I teach both undergraduate and graduate level courses. At the undergraduate level I teach a courses in phonetics and speech sound disorders, as well as a course in augmentative communication that is taken by upper level undergraduate or graduate students. At the graduate level I teach research methods and clinical phonology on a regular basis. I also teach an occasional seminar, most recently on the topics of prevention of communication disorders and applications of computer technology.

Favorite Textbooks

At the graduate level I favor using readings selected from the research journals as well as some of the well written review articles that appear in journals such as Topics in Language Disorders or Seminars in Speech and Language. Given the current emphasis in our field on evidence-based practice, I have recently revised my reading lists to include more clinical research articles and my students now complete an evidence-based practice paper in the clinical phonology course. I do use textbooks in my undergraduate courses. Three that I have been using for some time include Fundamental of Phonetics: A Practical Guide for Students (2nd edition) by Larry H. Small, Articulation and Phonological Disorders (5th edition) by John E. Bernthal and Nicholas W. Bankson, and Augmentative & Alternative Communication: Supporting Children & Adults with Complex Communication Needs (3rd edition) by David R. Beukelman and Pat Mirenda.

University

Department of Communication Disorders, University of Northern Iowa

Program Philosophy/Mission

The Department of Communicative Disorders has the mission of teaching, research, clinical teaching and public service. The main focus is the professional preparation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists to serve the citizenry of Iowa. In accomplishing this mission, the Department pursues excellence and distinction in all its programs; promotes faculty development through research, creative activities, progressive teaching and continuing scholarship.

Program Description

The Department of Communicative Disorders offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. At the undergraduate level the department offers a major in communicative disorders as well as a speech-language-hearing sciences minor. The undergraduate program provides students with a pre-professional foundation leading ultimately to careers as speech-language pathologists or audiologists. The undergraduate program emphasizes experiential learning through community service as well as participation in clinical practicum as an assistant and student clinician. At the graduate level students complete a Master of Arts with a major in speech-language pathology. Some of the highlights of the master's program include completion of an individualized research experience, problem-based instruction and learning in several core courses, opportunities for an elective emphasis in childhood communication disorders or neurogenic disorders, and a full semester internship in school and/or medical settings. Graduate students also participate in a variety of off-campus practicum experiences in both school and medical settings. The graduate program in speech-language pathology is recognized as one of the premiere graduate programs at the university.

Both the academic and clinical components are housed in the Communication Arts Center in a relatively modern facility on the University of Northern Iowa campus. Highlights of this facility are the Sertoma Laboratory for the Advanced Study of Communicative Disorders and the Roy Eblen Speech and Hearing Clinic. The clinic has the dual mission of serving individuals with communication disorders and providing on-campus clinical practicum experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students. The department has a low student/faculty ratio which allows for close contact between students and professors, and the faculty are committed to providing learning opportunities and activities that enable students to develop into skilled and accomplished professionals.

Faculty-Research

The department has seven full-time faculty and a clinical director who hold Ph.D. degrees. The department also employs a full time American Sign Language instructor and several part time clinical supervisors. The faculty are actively involved in research and scholarship, have published in nationally recognized journals, and frequently present at national and international conferences. Many of our graduate students have participated with their faculty research advisors in these presentations and publications, and funds are available from the Graduate College to support student travel when they present. Faculty research interests are varied and encompass accent modification, aphasia, clinical interventions for preschoolers, developmental disabilities, language from birth to three, laryngectomy, later language learning, motor speech disorders, neurological disorders and diseases, phonology, traumatic brain injury, and voice and voice disorders.

Grants and Projects

Sine 2002 the department has participated in a cooperative grant project funded at Xavier University in New Orleans (Martino, N., Project Affirm, Federal Office of Education Grant CFDA #84-325E). This grant provided funds to bring students from Xavier University to the University of Northern Iowa's graduate speech-language pathology program. To date, thirteen students from Xavier who were African-American have attended the University of Northern Iowa. Ten students have already graduated and three more will graduate in December, 2006. Dr Clifford Highnam, department head, recently participated in two SCRIPT Iowa grants, the first provided support for teaching an Interdisciplinary Perspectives Course as a distance learning course on the Iowa Communications Network, and the second was a research project on the topic, Time-of-Engagement During Preschool Group Reading Tasks. Dr. Carlin Hageman, Dr. Angela Burda, and Dr. Bruce Plakke participated in The Iowa Consortium for Applied Gerontology (IACAG), a grant-funded multi-disciplinary resource for gerontology in the state. The two major purposes of the IACAG were to recruit and train students in the field of gerontology and to establish a resource center for the generation and dissemination of applied research on gerontology. The department faculty participated in presenting workshops at several community colleges, as well as caregiver education workshops to a variety of community organizations and support groups. Examples of seminar topics included Disordered Speech and Language, Swallowing Disorders, Hearing Loss in Older Adults, and Dementia.