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More about the JMU Student Academy of Audiology (SAA)
How to Join
If you are interested in joining the SAA, please email robottml@jmu.edu. Club dues are $20.00 each year. Checks can be made to JMU SAA, and may be left in the treasurer’s mailbox in the audiology prep lab.
Upcoming Events
- September 19, 2009: White Coat Ceremony honoring the class of 2013
- October 1, 2009: Speaker Dr. Tomi Browne to present on HEARt of the Village audiology trips to Kenya
- October 2-3, 2009: JMU’s Innovations in Clinical Communication Sciences Conference
Student Academy of Audiology Officers
From left to right: Steven Kulsar; Vice President, Lindsey Parr; National Representative, Meredith Robotti, President, Sara Blankenship; Historian, Sara Conrad; Secretary, Kristin Shearer, Treasurer.
President: Meredith Robotti (robottml@jmu.edu)
Meredith is a second year Au.D. student at JMU, and completed her undergraduate degree at James Madison University as well. She has been a member of SAA for the past year. She is currently assisting in planning the Innovations in Clinical Communication Sciences Fall Conference 2009, as a graduate assistant.
Vice President: Steven Kulsar (kulsarst@jmu.edu)
Steven is a second year Au.D. student at JMU. Steven also completed his undergraduate degree at JMU and has been a member of SAA for the past year. He is currently the instructor of the undergraduate Sign Langauge II/graduate Advanced Sign Language class at JMU
Secretary: Sara Conrad (conradsa@jmu.edu)
Sara is a second year Au.D. student at JMU. Sara completed her undergraduate degree at Marywood University in Scranton, PA. She has been a member of SAA for the past year. She currently works with Dr. Ayasakanta Rout as a graduate assistant in the Hearing Aid Research Laboratory.
Treasurer: Kristin Shearer (shearekm@jmu.edu)
Kristin is a second year Au.D. student at JMU. Kristin completed her undergraduate degree at Penn State University. Kristin has been a member of SAA for one year. She currently works with Dr. Brenda Ryals as the editorial assistant for the journal Ear and Hearing.
National Representative: Lindsey Parr (parrla@jmu.edu)
Lindsey is a second year Au.D. student at JMU. Lindsey has been a member of SAA for one year. She completed her undergraduate degree at Longwood University. She currently works as a graduate assistant in JMU's Social Work Department.
Historian: Sara Blankenship (blankese@jmu.edu)
Sara is a second year Au.D. student at James Madison University and completed her undergraduate degree at JMU as well . She currently works with Dr. Dan Halling as a teaching assistant for his undergraduate classes as well as with admissions.
Faculty Advisor: Brenda Ryals (ryalsbm@jmu.edu)
Dr. Ryals has been a faculty member in Communication Sciences and Disorders Dept. at JMU since 1989. She received the National Association of Future Doctors of Audiology “Mentor of the Year” award in 2007.
SAA Events
Each year SAA hosts a few events. Our welcome-back party usually takes place during the first few weeks of school. This is a great time for students and faculty in the Audiology department to get to know each other and have some fun!
SAA’s biggest event each year is the White Coat Ceremony. The ceremony always takes place during the fall semester. It is a time to honor the first year class as they begin their journey as doctoral students in audiology.
The SAA Bowl-a-Thon is a national event that takes place each February. SAA chapters across the nation participate to raise money for a good cause. The money also helps send students to national conferences each year.
Make sure to check out the SAA bulletin board in the main hallway by the CSD office for up-to-date information about SAA events!
Members of the JMU SAA and Dr. Brenda Ryals at the Special Olympics Healthy Hearing Virginia State games.
