Professor Bari Hoffman Ruddy will be honored with the Fellowship of the Association award at the annual convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Nov. 9-11 in Los Angeles. This honor is bestowed to those whose contributions are cornerstones of the profession.
Hoffman Ruddy’s research focuses on normal and abnormal voice production in children and adults, including professional performers and individuals with neurological disorders. Her accomplishments include the development of interdisciplinary clinical experiences in upper airway disorders for graduate students in speech-language pathology, nursing and medicine. She also developed a model of care for patients who have had a laryngectomy for hospitals. Hoffman Ruddy is currently investigating novel treatments for head and neck cancer and biomechanical mechanisms associated with these types of cancer. She also is defining the impact of head and neck cancer on a patient’s quality of life.
Associate Professor Kenyatta Rivers will be recognized at the convention with a Certificate of Recognition for Special Contributions in Multicultural Affairs. The certificate signifies distinguished achievement and contributions in multicultural education, research or service. Rivers studies language acquisition, cultural and linguistic variables, language and literacy disorders in children and adolescents, and evidence-based practice. He also is an ASHA Fellow.
Professor Martine Vanryckeghem’s convention poster presentation, “Efficacy of Behavioral Fluency Interventions: The Results of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” has been designated as a Meritorious Poster Submission. The Convention Program Committee awards this recognition to posters that show extraordinary, exceptional and innovative work. Just 55 posters were selected for this recognition out 1,895 poster submissions. Vanryckeghem is known internationally for her research on fluency disorders and is an ASHA Fellow as well.
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has 31 full-time faculty members, including 11 ASHA Fellows and two ASHA Honorees. Nearly 1,000 students are enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The department’s main office, faculty offices and teaching laboratory are located in Health and Public Affairs II. The department’s Communication Disorders Clinic [1] is located in the Central Florida Research Park.