HESP Professor Named Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences congratulates Clinical Professor Vivian Sisskin, a faculty member in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, who recently was named Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year by the National Stuttering Association. The Association is the largest consumer group, nationally and internationally, that represents the interest of people who stutter and their families.

The prestigious award was personally conveyed by four of Professor Sisskin’s current and past therapy clients, representing the large number of people she has helped over the course of her career. Receiving the award from her hard-working and brave clients was an honor, Professor Sisskin said.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1274","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"411","style":"width: 200px; height: 171px; margin: 5px; float: left;","width":"480"}}]]“While a speech-language pathologist can receive many awards throughout her career, this one is particularly meaningful for me because it comes from people who stutter. For me, it symbolizes the trust they place in me to truly understand the experience of stuttering, the skills I have as a clinician and educator, and the confidence they have that I will act as an advocate for people who stutter in home, school, work and community settings,” Professor Sisskin said. “I was particularly moved because the award was presented by four of my adult clients who stutter. Each gave a heartfelt speech in front of the more than 900 people in the ballroom. It was quite emotional.”

Chris Anderson, an FBI analyst and a client, said during the award presentation that Professor Sisskin is “an advocate for everyone who stutters and motivates those who stutter to become all that they can be”.

Her clients went on to praise Professor Sisskin for inspiring them to persevere through any challenge.

“For most of us, the path to self-acceptance and recovery from stuttering is slow. Irritatingly, unbelievably, and, at times, hilariously slow. Even as we in therapy—you know, the people who stutter—get super frustrated with ourselves, she never does. She conveys absolute faith that if we work hard enough, each of us will get there in our own time—no matter how much we may meander or drag our heels along the path to recovery,” Jenny Maguire, an art therapist and a client, said.

Among her numerous activities, awards and honors, Professor Sisskin is an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Fellow and a Board Certified Specialist in Fluency Disorders. She served as Coordinator for ASHA’s Special Interest Group 4, Fluency and Fluency Disorders, and received the ASHA Media Champion Award for promoting an improved understanding of communication disorders. In addition to her expertise in stuttering, her articles and workshops include principles for effective group therapy and communication strategies for children with autism spectrum disorders. Professor Sisskin served on the Board of Directors of the National Stuttering Association and is currently Vice Chair of the American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders. She is a faculty member for the Stuttering Foundation of America’s Mid-Atlantic Workshop. Professor Sisskin also has received BSOS Excellence in Teaching Award.

Published on Thu, Aug 14, 2014 - 9:32AM