Nancy Tye-Murray      
TCU Undergraduate Class of 1977
Degree: Habilitation of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Current Position: Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO

What do you remember most about the SLP/Deaf Hab program?

I remember that those of us in the SLP/Deaf Hab program were a relatively small group of students who shared classses for four years, so we became quite a unified and friendly bunch.  One of the strengths of the program was the “hands-on” approach, in which students started observing in the clinical setting and even co-teaching during freshman year.  Since the new students were observing and helping  the upper classmen/women to conduct therapy, we developed a real mentorship mentality, wherein the older students taught the ropes to the younger students.  We had a small faculty---the deaf education program had an N of one---so learning from each other was very important.   When I went to graduate school at the University of Iowa, I felt ahead of the game in that I was very comfortable working in the clinical setting whereas many of my fellow entering grad students had never had patient contact.

What was your favorite memory of TCU? 
First semester of my freshman year.  It was exciting to be away from home and meeting new people and enjoying a new city and facing more demanding academics than I had encountered in high school.

Where are you currently working/what are you doing? 
I am a full professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis and conduct NIH sponsored research full time, although for several summers, I have been teaching an aural rehabilitation class at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.  My research concerns audiovisual integration and aging, auditory training, and audiovisual speech processing by children who use cochlear implants or hearing aids.  All of these research projects stem from my days at TCU, where I wondered about such questions as, “How might we make auditory training more interesting and effective?” , or “Why is it that some people can lipread so well and other people lipread so poorly?”, or “What if there we could bypass the dead hair cells in the cochlea and directly stimulate the auditory nerve?”   My interest in research was sparked while working in the TCU clinic, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Irmgard Payne
TCU Graduate Class of 1994
Degree:  Speech-Language Pathology
Current Position:  Clinical Instructor

What do you remember most about the SLP/Deaf Hab program?
What I remember most about the program was our clinical time at the Head Start preschools.  The children were precious and so much fun!  They helped us learn lots!  Something else that has always stuck with me is how meaningful and helpful the small size of our program proved to be.  Compared to my previous experience in a large university, the accessibility to the faculty and shared experiences with the other graduate students was incredibly valuable.  Our closed-knit group was able to form bonds that are still thriving today.  The faculty’s mentorship, facilitated by their availability, taught me more than just the material to be learned; they taught me to be a caring, resourceful and responsible individual.

What was your favorite memory of TCU?
The graduate students would go to the now defunct Abernathy’s Grill near campus and play Trivia Pursuit with the whole restaurant.  Even after a late night class, we would go there to unwind and have fun.  We may have had a clever name (“Buffalo Club” !?), but I’m just not sure anymore.  I think I learned to be very competitive during those sessions.  We actually won several times because of the material we learned in our studies!  You never know when you need all that information!

Where are you currently working/what are you doing?
I am proud to be part of the faculty at the Miller Speech and Hearing Clinic at TCU.  I am a clinical instructor and supervise undergraduate and graduate students at the clinic.  I also work with the first year bilingual graduate students and supervise their diagnostics, individual and group therapy with the Fort Worth Independent School District in a collaboration called “Ranitas en El Campo” –  “Froggies in El Campo” - named after the Boulevard Heights campus located on El Campo street.  It is so rewarding to work with TCU students and see them grow as clinicians in such a short time.  I love it!

Christine Evans
TCU Graduate Class of 2007
TCU Undergraduate Class of 2004
Degree: Speech-Language Pathology.
Current Position:  SLP/Owner at Evans Family Speech & Hearing, LLC

What do you remember most about the SLP/Deaf Hab program?
A strong passion for our field and a commitment to clinical excellence are by far the two most memorable qualities about the TCU COSD program. It was rare to find an office door closed at the clinic, and I remember always feeling as though every member of the faculty had a sincere interest in developing the potential of each student in the program.  I am grateful for the commitment each faculty member had in developing my clinical skills and standards.  I continue to look to the TCU COSD faculty as models of professional excellence.

What was your favorite memory of TCU?
It is difficult to choose a favorite memory, because I truly loved my entire time at TCU. NSSLHA activities come to mind first when I think about my time in the undergraduate program.  Working with the other NSSLHA members to turn the observation hallway into a haunted house for the fall client carnival, and making a video about “what not to do when observing a therapy session” are some of my favorites.  My favorite memories from graduate school all center around my time working with my thesis committee on developing my research project.  I still have a strong love of research.

Where are you currently working/what are you doing?
I currently own a private practice clinic specializing in aural rehabilitation in Richmond, Virginia.  A majority of our clients are infants and children with hearing loss learning to listen and talk.  I am working towards certification as an Auditory-Verbal therapist, and missing the excitement of football season at TCU!

Lora Katkic

TCU Graduate Class of 2004

TCU Undergraduate Class of 2002

Degree: Speech-Language Pathology

Current Position: Speech-Language Pathologist with the TALK program in Keller ISD

What do you remember most about teh SLP program?

Looking back on my time spent at TCU, I will always remember the passion my professors had for our profession.  Throughout their lectures and work in the clinic, they all exhibited such love for and dedication to their job.  They served as positive role models in the clinic and excellent leaders in our profession.  By their example, they showed us the importance of being educated on current professional issues and being involved in our professional organizations, such as NSSLHA, TSHA, and ASHA.  Their involvement in these organizations encouraged my classmates & I to also become involved.  We made annual trips to the TSHA and ASHA conventions, participated in NSSLHA game nights, and hosted NSSLHA Halloween parties.   Our professors' strong commitment to our profession instilled enthusiasm in us and encouraged us to become the best speech-language pathologists we could be.  Their excitement for our profession has stayed with me even after graduation, leaving a lasting impact on me & my career.

What was your favorite memory of TCU?

My favorite memory of TCU is traveling to London in the summer of 2002 with the Speech-Language Pathology program.  During our 3-week long stay, we visited the Royal College of Speech Therapists, the City University, Great Ormond Street Hospital, an Oxford Dysfluency conference, the Michael Palin Stammering Centre and many tourist attractions including the Tower of London, the Globe Theater, Stonehenge and Westminster Abbey.  Not only did we learn about differences in the profession of speech-language pathology in England versus the United States, but we were also able to experience first-hand many cultural, pragmatic, and semantic differences.  We stayed in a flat rather than an apartment, learned to queue rather than stand in line, to mind the gap, and to ask for ice in our drinks.  Traveling to London was such an amazing experience that I will never forget! 

Where are you currently working / what are you doing now?

I currently work with the TALK program in Keller ISD.  The TALK program (Teaching Articulation and Language to Kids) services preschoolers who exhibit disorders in the areas of articulation, phonology, and expressive language.  From 2004-2009, I also served as co-chair for TSHA’s Student Interest Committee.  

Mandy Sherlock

TCU Class of 2000

Degree: Habilitation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Current Position: Working for Nonprofit Agency
 

What do you remember about the SLP/Deaf Hab program?
I remember Mrs. G, Mrs. Matney, Dr. McCaffrey and all my classes in Deaf Hab. I especially remember my experience in the clinic working one-on-one with deaf students and student teaching where I learned so much about the value of tailoring my instruction to meet the needs of each individual deaf student. In my ASL 2 class we were assigned "homework" to go out on the town with a classmate but we couldn't use voices, only sign language. That made a huge impression on me. One random memory is getting an ear mold made in one of my hearing science classes...and I actually used it to check hearing aids when I was a teacher!

What was your favorite memory of TCU?
I have so many favorite memories of TCU! Midnight breakfast in the Main before Christmas, dancing with the Showgirls at half time during basketball games and playing in the snow my freshman year.

Where you are currently working/what you are doing? 
Immediately following graduation from TCU, I started working for the Los Angeles Unified School District at a middle school teaching science to deaf and hard of hearing students (special day class). Then I transitioned to higher education at Cal State Northridge's National Center on Deafness as a career counselor to the deaf and hard of hearing college students. Later I became a training specialist where I developed materials and provided training to post secondary institutions on how to successfully communicate and accomodate deaf and hard of hearing students. Most recently I was a sign language interpreter at Cal State Northridge and a high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Currently I'm working for a nonprofit and "taking a break" from my career in the Deaf Community.

Dr. Courtney Zackheim Byrd

TCU Class of 1999

Degree: Habilitation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Current Position: Assistant Professor -University of Texas at Austin

What do you remember about the SLP/Deaf Hab program?

I remember how accepting each faculty member was of students as individuals. In hindsight I recognize that the faculty worked hard to meet each student's individual needs so that everyone who participates in the program is able to exceed their full potential.

What was your favorite memory of TCU?

Selecting a favorite memory of TCU is difficult but one in particular that stands out in terms of where I am today was the opportunity to share a research project with the faculty and students. The support that I received prior to, during and after that presentation significantly contributed to me thinking that I might be cabable of pursuing a research career.

Where you are currently working/what you are doing?

I am an assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin. I am also the director of the Austin Center for Stuttering Intervention and Research.

Jeni Figiel

TCU Class of 1993

Degree: Habilitation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Current Position: Creator of DayWithYou.com - DVD series

What do you remember about the SLP/Deaf Hab program at TCU?

The program was relatively small.  In 1993, there were 3 of us graduating with the Deaf Hab  Major.

The professors had high expectations and demanded excellence from us. The passion and competence of the professors was impressive. The standards were set high—either you made it or you didn't. The program was concise in it's objectives and gave a level of preparedness that was well respected and received as professionals. Our educational background from TCU was recognized and appreciated.

What was your favorite memory of TCU?

This questions makes me laugh because I have a million great memories. The campus has changed it appearance so much—I'm pretty much "old school" now. Probably best to leave those stories behind. You a had to be there to "get it" anyway.

No, wait...I do have an indelible moment...It was right after teaching a lesson to a 3rd grade class, self contained-hearing impaired. The lesson was in History, I had barely finished my second semester of siGn and this lesson was going to be observed and graded by Mrs. Gonzales. It was a miserable lesson. As a matter of fact, I think it must have been down right painful for everyone involved. I think Mrs. Gonzalez only stopped writing notes because she ran out of ink or wanted to ward off the potential of carpal tunnel syndrome. There we were, kids gone—just she and I. I wanted to run and cry, but I sat down anyway to hear a review of my performance. Both sitting in chairs, that are too small and short, she looks at me and says, "Well, how'd you think that went?" Thank God I got the chance to laugh before I cried.

Lynita Yarbrough, M.S., CCC-SLP

TCU Class of 1996

Degree: Speech Language Pathology

Current Position: FWISD Bilingual SLP, Children's Medical Center Bilingual SLP, staff trainer at Head Start of Tarrant County, and serve on TSHA's Multicultural Task Force

Wilma Jean Tade
TCU Graduate
Degree: Speech Language Pathology
Current Position: Retired

How was my experience working at TCU?

I considered my time working at TCU as almost a time of recreation. I loved each moment of every day. How wonderful to get paid for something I would have almost done for free!

What was my biggest contribution to our field so far?

Some of the residents here at Trinity Terrace have told me that I changed the lives of their grandchildren with whom I worked. I hope I contributed to the lives of the many children with whom I had contact, and I hope I helped inspire a love for the field in the SLP majors at the Miller Clinic at TCU.

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