National Student Speech Language & Hearing Association (NSSLHA)
NSSLHA
The National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is an organization within the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. NSSLHA is led by graduate and undergraduate students interested in a career in speech language pathology. Every year NSSLHA sponsors social and service events for it’s members. Past events hosted by the club include: canned-food drive for NorthEast Iowa Food Bank, Sertoma charity events, Relay for Life, Waterloo BlackHawks Hockey night, Special Olympics, and Aspire.
For the past 10 summers, NSSLHA members have participated in the department’s study-abroad program to Nicaragua. Each summer an increasing number of students have traveled to various locations in Nicaragua with Dr. Ken Bleile. Students were provided with hands-on experience while assessing children’s speech and language development in an orphanage, elementary school, and nutrition center. Students also performed hearing screenings on the children and educated caretakers about how to facilitate language development. This year a small group of students will travel back to Nicaragua to do their research project at a school for children with disabilities.
Last November, 30 students from the department attended the America Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) National Conference in San Diego, CA. Through their contributions to the ASHA foundation, NSSLHA was awarded five charitable registrations. Sixteen UNI graduate students presented their research at the conference.
On April 12th and 13th, NSSLHA will be sponsoring the Iowa Conference on Communicative Disorders (ICCD). Well-known professionals from around the state will speak at the conference held at the Elks Lodge in Waterloo, IA. Professionals can obtain Continued Education Units by attending the guest lectures. NSSLHA members collaborate, organize, and plan the conference to make it a learning experience for both professionals and students. The conference is also an opportunity for many graduate students to present their research.
As the number of students enrolled in the department continues to grow, UNI NSSLHA anticipates more members each year. With outstanding student leaders, enthusiastic members, and willing professors, UNI NSSLHA will continue to create opportunities for students to participate in service projects and gain valuable experience.
2012-2013 NSSLHA Executive Officers:
President - Lindsey Lang
Vice President - Leslie Holtkamp
Secretary - Natalie Reindl
Treasurers - Nicole Busta, Kari Lien, and Caitlin Bielenberg
Social Chair - Jackie Meyer
Student Body Rep - Alicia Bellville
Graduate Representative - Kara Kopp
Senior Representative - Sydney Good
Junior Representative - Brooke Can Soelen