Amanda Hettenhausen
M.A., CSD

I completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish from Saint Louis University in May 2007. My undergraduate program provided me with excellent mentoring, personal development, research opportunities, and academic challenges. It was for these reasons that I was honored to be awarded a Graduate Fellowship from the University to continue my education within this department and pursue a Master of Arts Degree in Speech Language Pathology.

This fellowship has granted me the financial freedom to pursue research. Currently, I am working with Dr. Hortencia Kayser to analyze and standardize the data for her Bilingual Spanish-English Screening Tool, which we will present at a National conference in November. I am also developing a master’s thesis under the guidance of Dr. Travis Threats and Carol Ackerson. My research will involve the creation of a survey within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). This survey will be use to perform an outcomes based analysis of the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) at Saint Louis University. Additionally, I have been awarded the Students Preparing for Academic and Research Careers Award from the American-Speech-Language and Hearing Association. This funding will grant me the opportunity to participate in the publication of Carol Ackerson’s ECLC sourcebook, her research and program implementation in a Georgia school district, and refine university level instruction and research skills.

As I commence my two year journey, I am once again overwhelmed at the inundation of possibilities that Saint Louis University offers. Strong mentoring coupled with a challenging academic environment ensures me that I will leave this university as a prepared and skilled clinician, researcher, and citizen.