Additional Alumni Updates
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From the 1950's
Joan Livingston Prouty (BA 1954). Part-time teaching at Sam Houston State University. “Finished PhD at Texas A & M (in Reading–Writing-Ed Psych). I was a professor at SHSU for seventeen years in Huntsville, TX - now semi-retired in Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education.”

Shirley Nichols Sparks-Greif (BA 1955) has published a co-authored book, The Art and Practice of Home Visiting:  Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs and Their Families, Cook, R. and Sparks S. (2008) Paul Brookes.

From the 1960's
Hughlett Morris (BA 1952; MA 1957; PhD 1960). "Old Hugh Morris is doing well in Tucson and sends his regards to everyone. Aside from being lazy, his favorite past-time is writing fiction. His four books are listed under Hughlett L. Morris at amazon books. Two more are underway."

Carl F. Betts (BA 1951; MA 1955; PhD 1963). Current job: Retired.

Shirley Salmon (MA 1962; PhD 1965). Current job: Retired. "Still work with laryngectomees and the Kansas City Nu-Voice Club monthly meetings. Also I volunteer for K.C. Hospice and Palliative Care."

Roma Lee Johnson (BA 1964; MA 1966). Current job: Private consultant. "I am semi-retiring on May 1, 2007, and will become a 'snowbird,' spending part of the year in Iowa and part of the year in Hawaii."

Ted Glattke (PhD 1968). "I retired from academia December 31, 2007, after 32+ years at the University of Arizona.  I was inspired by Hugh Morris' recent comments in the Department Newsletter to send you an update.  I am amazed that I can say I've known him for 45 years!  He was at the first orientation meeting  (party) I attended in Iowa City and he attended my retirement party in December, 2007!  Importantly, he insisted that I rotate through the Iowa Cleft Palate Program during my Ph.D. studies with Arnold Small in hearing and, in doing so, he granted me the opportunity to develop insights that have served me well. I will be working in Mexico to create an NGO devoted to producing low cost hearing aids for distribution in Latin America.  If any reader is in Alamos, Sonora, give us a call (local number 428-0312), and we will be delighted to show you the sights of this beautiful colonial city."

From the 1970's
Ken Messer (MA Speech Pathology 1971; DDS 1975; orthodontic residency 1977). Current job: Orthodontist -- no retirement date. "I love my professional work, 4 married children, 5 grandsons (waiting for a granddaughter?), free(?) time with wife Susie, hybridizing daylilies, making jewelry and quilting. Hope to participate in a triathlon in June 2008."

Kathleen Williams Presgrove (MA 1972). "I retired in 2003 after 30 years in the Speech and Hearing Clinic of Atlanta Speech School, Inc., as an SLP. I received honors of the GA Speech-Language-Hearing Association in March 2006. I'm enjoying traveling during my retirement. My husband and I are cruising to Antarctica 2/19 - 3/6/2008."

Sandra Hobson (MA Audiology, 1975; AuD, Arizona State University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences, 2001). "I'm celebrating my 15th anniversary in private practice -- a new larger office at the same great location, offering services dealing with LIVING with a hearing loss and deafness."

James Lynn (BS, Speech and Hearing Science; MA, 1969, and PhD, Audiology, 1975). Current job: Interim Dean, College of Fine and Applied Arts, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio.

Kathleen (Lutjen) Anderson (BS, Speech and Hearing Science, 1976; MEd, Speech Pathology and Audiology with special emphasis on education for DHH children, Pennsylvania State University, 1978; Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist, 1995). Current job: Teacher DHH, SLP, Certified AVT/Early Intervention, District 287, Plymouth, MN.

Joan (Bodensteiner) Lentz (MA Speech-Language Pathology, 1976). Current job: SLP for AEA 267. "Husband Bob is a civil engineer; son Bryan, 24, civil engineer; daughter Alison, 23, first year grad student in speech-language pathology at the great U of Iowa; daughter Emily, 18, college-bound, probably NOT for civil engineering or speech pathology!"

Susan G. Lynn (BS, Speech Pathology & Audiology 1974;  MA Audiology 1976). Current Job: Clinical Audiologist Austin Medical Center and Rochester Mayo Clinic. " I also have MA Human Development (2002 - St. Mary's University of MN) and am in my first year of the PCO AuD program.  I am a NARHA Certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor and Special Olympics Equestrian Coach. Friends may Email me at lynn.susan@mayo.edu."

Kay (Busse) Meyer (BA 1976). Current job: SLP contracting to schools in Lake County, IL. "Yes, advisors, you were right.  Going to Northwestern for the M.A. was a culture shock, but my Iowa values and preparation allowed me to survive.  UI grads can go anywhere in the world! After my CFY as a NU employee under Jeri Logemann, I moved to the Chicago suburbs, had two children (one engineer who went to Iowa State, and one MSW) and have worked continuously in private practice and schools.[For the celebration event] I am ready to sing (alto) or fill in as a member of a skit, if anyone needs talent. I just refuse to wear my 1970s pantsuit. Those were good days."

James Mangan (PhD 1977). Current job: Private practice in Seattle, WA, area. "I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in June 2005 and underwent chemotherapy. I have 16 months of being cancer-free. I have five grandchildren."

Jody Spalding (BS Psychology, 1975; MA Audiology, 1978). Current job: Audiology Clinic supervisor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Nancy (Boyle) Erickson (MA, Speech Language Pathology, 1978). Current job:  Coordinator, Communication Disorders Department, Fulton County School System, Atlanta, GA. "Come on down!  Atlanta is great!  I have 150 SLP positions and 3 audiology suites I'd love to fill with UI grads!"

Evelyn Vinduska McKnight (MA Audiology, 1979). Current job: Owner, Professional Hearing Center, PC in Fremont, NE. "I have recently celebrated my 25th year in private practice.  Also recently released the book "A Never Event: Exposing the Largest Outbreak of Hepatitis C in American Healthcare History".  I am a survivor of this outbreak and have formed a foundation Hepatitis Outbreaks' National Organization for Reform ( www.HONOReform.org ) which is dedicated to patient safety and justice.  My malpractice settlement was the seed money for this national foundation." 

From the 1980's
Stephen Gude (BA 1979, MA 1980). "I have been a school SLP since graduation, working for Area Education Agency 1 in Northeast Iowa, the St. Paul, MN, Public Schools, and since 1988 for the Des Moines Public Schools. My wife and I have a daughter that is a junior at Creighton University in Omaha, a son that will start at the UI in the fall, and another son who is a 9 th grader at Des Moines Hoover."

Raymond Linville (PhD 1982). Current job: Dean, Waldron College of Health and Human Services, Radford University. "My son, Dax Linville, is ranked #1 in his age division for karate in the state of Virginia."

Janet Crock Lynn (BA 1981, MA, Audiology, 1983, AuD, U of Florida, 2002). Current job: Private practice owner in Minnesota. “After 25 years in audiology (clinic / 3M / hospital), I started a private audiology practice…and I'm loving it…still after all these years. I'm an empty nester – (my) daughter is studying health law / bioethics at law school and the twins are college sophomores.”

Natalie Gutow McManus (MA Speech Pathology, 1983). Lives in Potomac, MD.  Licensed SLP-CCC, Designated Linklater Voice Teacher, Certified Forensics Coach. After "retiring" from many years of working as an SLP, I am now in my 5th year as an Adjunct Professor teaching Theater Voice and Speech in the Theater Dept. at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and loving it.  I now judge for area Forensics tournaments but have relinquished my job as a high school coach and tournament director.  My company, Puck's Pals, is busier than ever teaching Shakespeare workshops in area middle schools each spring, and I am building an ever-growing client list for professional speech presentation skills workshops.  I act in local productions when time permits.  In 2009 I'll celebrate my 50th birthday, my 25th wedding anniversary, my oldest daughter's graduation from college, and my son's graduation from high school (the last one out of the nest!).  Would love to hear from my fellow 1983 graduates: Natvoice@aol.com.

Rita F. Pray (MA Speech Pathology 1983). Current job: SLP for Heartland Area Education Agency 11.

Michelle Quinn (MA, Speech Pathology 1983). Current Position: Clinical Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Currently teaches four academic courses in the Dept. of Communicative Disorders, supervises clinics in aural habilitation and aural rehabilitation. Loves teaching both undergraduate and graduate students! Provides summer institute via our Dept. of Public Instruction with MaryEllen Nevins on Promoting Spoken Language Development to Educators. Recipient of the UW-Madison L&S Midcareer Academic Staff Award for Achievement of Service, April, 2007.  Has been taking summers off recently to do volunteer work, visit family and revisit her penchant for creative writing."

Amy Richards (BA, Iowa, 1983; MA, University of Houston, 1986). Current job: Speech Pathologist at Kindred Northwest Hospital. "I have practiced speech pathology in a medical setting since 1988, happily job sharing and maintaining balance in my work and life. I am almost done raising 3 great kids. Old friends may Email me at richards@hal-pc.org."

Ted Madison (BS 1982; MA Audiology, 1984). Current job: Technical service specialist, 3M Occupational Health and Safety. "(I was) appointed to the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC). Elected to ASHA Special Interest Division 8 Steering Committee, Hearing Conservation and Occupational Audiology."

Lori (Potter) Nagel (BS, Iowa, 1989; MS, Speech Pathology, U of Arizona, 1991). Current job: My 17 month old son, Braden News: " My husband, son, and I recently relocated back to the Des Moines area after living in the Southwest for 18 years, most of that time within Southern California.  I am taking some time away from my career to raise my son but want to stay connected to the University of Iowa and the SHC department."

From the 1990's
Ningji He (PhD 1990). Current job: ENT research, Medical University of South Carolina.

Karen Iler Kirk (PhD 1991, Hearing Science). Current job: Professor, Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University. "I was just awarded an NIH-NIDCD R01, 'Multimodal tests of spoken word recognition for adults and children' (2007-2012; $3.4 million, PI)."

Elana (Feinstein) Shinkle (MA 1991). "I've found an SLP position I really enjoy, at the Woodward Resource Center. If anyone would like to know more about what we do at our facility, please Email (eshinkl@dhs.state.ia.us)."

Marcie Kurth Miller (MA, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology 1994). "I am still married to my high school sweetheart and we have two children ages 8 and 10.  I am working part time in a K-5 building for a local school district, following eight years of working in healthcare.  I also continue to do some 0-2 early intervention for the state of Illinois.  I look forward to hearing from some Iowa friends at marciemiller@consolidated.net.  Or check out my blog at www.rellimfamily.blogspot.com".

Deborah (Jackson) Doughty (BS, Speech and Hearing Sciences, 1993; MA, Speech Pathology, 1995). Current job: SLP for adult and geriatric patients at Aurora Sinai Medical Center.

Sarah Hutchins Hawker (MA Audiology, 1998). Current job: Co-owner weekly newspaper, The Greene Recorder. "We bought Ross' parents' business in May of 2002. We run the Green Recorder. We moved to Greene in Summer 2003. We have three kids (Lauren, 6 years; Nathan 3-1/2 years; and Kirsten 1 year) and three cats. Hello all!"

Megan J. (Haney) Handzlik (MA 1999). Current Job: SLP for Bellingham School District in Bellingham, WA. "My news: Mark and I are expecting our first baby at the end of June."

Kim Arnold (BA, Speech and Hearing Science 1999; MA Family-Centered Early Education, Gallaudet University, 2006) Current Job: Infant-Toddler Teacher, California School for the Deaf, Fremont. “My undergrad from U Iowa's Speech Path/Aud program has well prepared me to work in Early Intervention with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children - as well as work on transdiciplinary teams with CI surgeons, SLPs, AUDs, and teachers of the Deaf.”

Brenda (Bergman) Hoover (BS 1988, MA Audiology 1990). "I've been in Omaha at Boys Town National Research Hospital since 1991.  I'm currently working as a Research Audiologist in the laboratory of Dr. Pat Stelmachowicz.  I am married and have 6 children (Jack, 9; Mary, 8; Grace, 6; Kate, 5; Peter, 3; Annie, 1)."

From 2000
Megan (Comerford) Adler (BS, Speech and Hearing Science, May 2000; AuD, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 2006). Current job: Audiologist at Midwest Ear Nose and Throat Consultants, Ltd. in Winfield and Naperville, IL.

Jill Tubbs (BA, 1999; MA 2001). Current job: Audiologist at Audiology Consultants. "I have a three-year-old daughter and an 18-month-old son. My husband and I have a new home in North Liberty, IA." 

Rebecca Garms Cummings (MA, 2002), Clinical Speech-language pathologist for Iowa Health in Des Moines, working as a resource person, covering all areas (acute, inpatient rehab, pediatrics, outpatient). "I can't believe it has been four years already!" She and her husband, Jake, celebrate their one-year anniversary in September.

Susan Stentz (BA, May 2002). "I cannot thank my wonderful professors enough, as I felt completely prepared going into my master's studies. I graduated with my master's degree in audiology from the University of Illinois in 2004. Currently I am working as a pediatric audiologist at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. I am also working toward my AuD through the University of Florida distance learning program."

Erin McGarry (MA, December 2004). Speech-language pathologist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. "I'm enjoying my job as an outpatient peds / adult SLP in Melrose Park, IL. I see Kate O'Sullivan (MA, SLP, 2004) often as she works as an acute SLP at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood. We are both training for the Chicago Marathon in October."

Thomas and Judith (Sofen) Kovacs (both BA, 2004: Thomas, MA 2006 University of Colorado; Judith, MS, 2006 Rockhurst University). Judith, SLP in private practice; Tom, a speech scientist and PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh. “We were classmates in undergrad. We've recently gotten married and moved to Pittsburgh, where Tom as started work on his PhD in AAC, and Judy has joined a private practice.”

Lindsay B. Overton (BA, Speech and Hearing Sciences, 2005). Currently going to graduate school in Washington, DC at Gallaudet University. "I will be graduating in May 2007.  I'm on a Pediatric Aural Rehabilitation Emphasis grant which is federally funded to produce more professionals in the field to work with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population. I'm currently the president of the NSSLHA chapter here also."

Karissa Hackert (BA, 2007). "I only went as far as getting my BA but feel I have had great success since graduation.  I work for Epic Systems Corporation in Verona, Wisconsin, a leading healthcare information technology company (currently installing many applications at UIHC!!) and work on their EpicRx pharmacy application.  I was hired in May 2007 as an Implementation Specialist and with my years of inpatient pharmacy background prior to attending Iowa, I truly enjoy using my experience to help configure and install their system.  I am currently working with clients in St Louis and Houston, managing their Rx implementation, with my emphasis on beside barcode medication administration.  It is a very rewarding career and while it is not what I envisioned doing out of school, the opportunity was presented, and I don't regret going this route.  Watching end users use the system at a go-live is such a great experience and it shows our hard work having a positive influence on healthcare! I wasn't the star student in the SLP program at Iowa, but I didn't do poorly either, and it is nice to show everyone that even the 'average' students can make something of themselves and be highly successful, even if they are not straight-A students or going on to get a PhD.  I am very proud of how far I've come and look forward to hearing how UIHC does once Epic is up and running." 

Keep in touch! Email your news to: webmaster@shc.uiowa.edu