Welcome to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at the University of Maine. The department’s mission is to promote excellence in academic and clinical education, scholarship, and service in the areas of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

News and Current Events

Judy Stickles, Marybeth Allen, Susan Riley at the Colloquium

Marybeth Allen, M.A., CCC-SLP, BRS-FD Retires 

Our department celebrated the retirement of Marybeth Allen on February 1st, 2013.  She presented a colloquium on “Persistent Stuttering: A Journey of Acceptance, Management, Confidence and Fluency”, a topic she has been honored for by the National Stuttering Foundation as “Speech Language Pathologist of the Year”.  As a graduate of our program and later as a supervisor in the Conley Speech Language and Hearing Center and lecturer, Marybeth has devoted countless hours to our graduate students, undergraduate program, and our clients.  Thank you, Marybeth!  You are greatly missed.

Allan Smith, Jason Blanchette, and In-sop Kim attend the ASHA Convention, 2013

CSD Presents at the ASHA Convention

Jason Blanchette, a graduate student, Dr. Allan Smith and Dr. In-sop Kim presented at the ASHA National Convention, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia.  Other students presenting (not pictured) included Megan Jackins, Stephanie Obert, and Alise Demaris,  graduate students, and Jenna Marcellino, Lauren Armfield, Kolleen Richardson, and Paige Beaulieu, undergraduate students.

Margo Boyd

Margo Boyd Retires After 43 Years at UMaine

Long-time Administrative Assistant, Margo Boyd, retired last summer.  During her years at UMaine, Margo had a significant impact on literally thousands of individuals. For much of that time, Margo was the thread that joined both the CSD department and the Conley Speech, Language, and Hearing Center. Often, she was the first voice heard or face seen as she greeted students and clients.  As a valued source of knowledge regarding department and clinic operations, and most everything else on campus, she played an important role in our workplace.  She was patient and kind to colleagues, students, and clients, making everyone feel cared for and welcome. She will be greatly missed in our department.

In her retirement, Margo (and her husband Steve) plan to continue with the care of their many flower gardens, attend events in and around Maine, travel around the U.S., and spend time with family.  Margo also plans to volunteer her time to organizations at UMaine and around the area.  She knows she will miss all her interactions with current and former students, faculty, staff, and clients but wishes them all the best.

Graduate Class of 2014

Welcome to Our New Graduate Class

Left to right: Alise Demaris, Kelly Manahan, Stephanie Obert, Mary Beaster, Kelly Lawlor, Caitlin Dutton, Rebecca Goldfarb, Erin Aylward, Addie Pelletier, Hannah Snow, Moira Shaw, Denise Conner, Molly Nichols, Alisha Gagnon, Nick Viola, Cassandra Pelletier.

Telepractice

New Speech Therapy Telepractice Program

The CSD department partnered with Speech-Language Pathologists at Waldo County General Hospital to launch a graduate level speech therapy telepractice training program on August 27 – 31, 2012. Waldo County General Hospital has the only accredited training program for speech therapy telepractice in the United States (American Telemedicine Association).
Individual Photo: Graduate Students Taylor Rodgers, Katelyn Brown and Kay Mckiernan learn the technology that is used for speech therapy telepractice

Graduate Students in Telepractice

Group Photo: (Seated from L to R) CSD graduate students: Jessica Walsh, Kay Mckiernan, Katie Schneck and CSD Faculty Supervisor: Casey Monnier.  (Standing front row L to R) WCGH Instructor: Jennifer Whitcomb and CSD graduate students: Jeanne Lovesay, Jamy Harvey, Callie Larson, Taylor Rodgers, Katelyn Brown, Kristin Burch, Janet Clejka, Stacey Lloyd and WCGH Instructor: Amy Reid.  (Back Row L to R) WCGH Instructors: Nathan Curtis and Mike Towey and CSD graduate student: Jason Blanchette

Senior Capstone

CSD Senior Capstone Presentations

At the Undergraduate Research and Academic Showcase, April 11th.  Thanks to our participants!  It’s amazing to see what Undergraduate research is happening in CSD and at the University of Maine.

Hall of Flags

CSD Undergraduates visit “Hall of Flags” Event, Augusta, Maine

CSD undergraduate student Kaitlin Michaud represented the CSD program in  ”Hall of Flags” event at the State House, Augusta, ME on March 29, 2012.  Pictured from left to right:  Brandie Manion (Biochemistry major), Zoe Kreitur (Animal Science major), Kaitlin Michaurd (CSD major) and Representative Herbert E. Clark.