The first meeting of the ASP Community Development Board was held on Wednesday, November
9, 2011, in the Silverstein-Luper Hearing and Speech Center Building, Knoxville, TN.
Original members were selected due to their unfaltering support and interest in the
welfare of the Department of ASP, and because they represented various constituents
within the community (e.g., parent of former student, health care attorney, alumni),
providing them with unique and important perspectives on our ASP programs.
The original purposes of the Board were to:
- establish and promote goals which strengthen the communication and ties between the
Department, the community, and the University,
- support the Department in maintaining and enhancing a reputation for excellence in
service delivery, professional preparation, and research,
- present an opportunity for social purposes to those persons who are interested in
the distinguished record and future progress of the Department, and
- assist the department chair and development office in identifying potential donors
and cultivating relationships for purposes of fundraising.
The ASP Community Development Board purposefully was organized in such a way that
it is encompasses primarily members who are not employees of the department/university,
and are free to express their unbiased opinions as they move towards its goals for
supporting the department.
Since November 9, 2011, the ASP CDB has met almost monthly. Over the years, some
members’ terms have ended and new members have joined the Board. Each member has
contributed a wealth of knowledge, experience, and support to our Department.
With ideas and assistance from the Board, the Department has hosted the 40th anniversary
of the pediatric language clinic, the 60th anniversary of the Department, its first
annual Parent Weekend for ASP graduate students and their families, and several fundraisers
including the recent Dinner with Tamika Catchings.
The Board also created the ASP CDB Enrichment Fund to meet immediate strategic needs
in the Department. Examples of these initiatives include funding for a Cerumen Management
Training for AuD students and faculty, seed money for PhD students to collect data
for their research projects, and the purchase of state of the art equipment for the
clinics and classrooms.
