School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD) PhD student Mary Allison Moody was awarded the 2025 Council for Academic Programs in Communication Science and Disorders (CAPCSD) PhD Scholarship.
“I am truly honored and humbled to receive a $12,000 dissertation award, especially given that applications were considered nationally. Sonority has intrigued me since my undergraduate studies, and I am eager to explore this to
pic for my dissertation,” Moody said.
CAPCSD is a membership organization with over 350 programs across the world with the mission of supporting, promoting, and advancing higher education programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. The organization funds up to ten scholarships to support PhD students in the dissertation phase of their doctoral program.
Moody described CAPCSD as an excellent resource for those pursuing a career in academia. The PhD scholarship will help fund a dissertation study, which she feels will form a foundation for her future inquiries as an early career researcher.
“The findings of my dissertation could serve as a vital initial step toward establishing the evidence-based foundation necessary for enhancing assessment and treatment materials for children with speech sound disorders,” she said.
During her undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral training, Moody engaged in many research, service, and teaching roles, which were reflected through her application and cover letter. She also discussed her subsequent goals as a tenure-track faculty member. In the future, she plans to pursue research examining the intersection of speech sound disorders and literacy impairments to identify practical methods for school-based SLPs to incorporate literacy into their treatment of children with speech sound disorders. While teaching the next generation of speech-language pathologists, she plans to emphasize how phonetics can serve as a valuable clinical “tool” for treating speech sound disorders.
Moody expressed gratitude towards her academic mentor, Dr. Kelly Farquharson, for her unwavering support and encouragement that ultimately has guided her to pursue the topic of sonority for her dissertation.