Dr. Julie A.G. Stierwalt, associate professor in the School of Communication Science & Disorders, was recently named a Fellow by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, one of the highest honors ASHA bestows.
“Our students are so fortunate to have Dr. Stierwalt as a research mentor, professional role model, and teacher,” said Dr. Juliann Woods, director of the School of Communication Science & Disorders. “She exemplifies what the association aims for in its Fellows.”
Stierwalt’s work focuses upon swallowing disorders, motor speech disorders and cognitive linguistic interactions following brain damage. She has published 29 peer-reviewed articles on brain-based disorders and dysphagia in the field’s top-tier journals, written six book chapters and is a co-author of a textbook in press. She has attended 25 scholarly international conferences from Hong Kong and Australia to Dublin and Ghent. Additionally, she has more than 50 presentations at national conferences.
Stierwalt incorporates technology into her teaching and has been instrumental in the expansion of the distance learning program. She has been recognized by the Provost for Excellence in Teaching multiple times and received a University Graduate Teaching Award for the 2006-2007 school year. She consistently gets some of the highest teaching evaluations in the School, both on campus and via distance.
“I am touched and humbled,” Stierwalt said. “Looking at the ASHA list of names of Fellow status is daunting and I am not sure if it has really sunk in yet.”
Only a small percentage of professionals are awarded ASHA Fellow status. For consideration as a Fellow, one must be nominated and co-sponsored by colleagues holding Fellow status with ASHA. Stierwalt joins three other current SCSD faculty members as ASHA Fellows – Dr. Leonard LaPointe, Dr. Kenn Apel, and Dr. Amy Wetherby. LaPointe nominated Stierwalt for the honor. Co-sponsors were Dr. Joseph R. Duffy, head of Speech Pathology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Dr. John C. Rosenbek, professor at University of Florida. All three praised Stierwalt’s ability to blend clinical and academic acumen.
ASHA is the professional, scientific and credentialing association for 135,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language and hearing scientists.
Stierwalt will be recognized at an awards ceremony Nov. 20 during the ASHA Convention in New Orleans. This lifetime status recognizes professional or scientific achievement and is awarded for outstanding contributions to the profession.