Community celebrates opening of DePaul's Speech and Language Clinic

By Kristin Claes Mathews / September 30, 2021 / Posted in: CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY / Twitter / Facebook

Program Director Jayne Jaskolski, Dean Stephanie Dance Barnes, Provost Salma Ghanem and Clinic Director Treasyri Williams Wood cut the ribbon to officially open the DePaul Speech and Language Clinic. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs) — Program Director Jayne Jaskolski, Dean Stephanie Dance-Barnes, Provost Salma Ghanem and Clinic Director Treasyri Williams Wood cut the ribbon to officially open the DePaul Speech and Language Clinic. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)

Faculty, students and community members gathered in Lincoln Park on Sept. 23 to celebrate the opening of the DePaul Speech and Language Clinic.

"Many people who need to see a speech language pathologist may face financial barriers. Here, all will be welcome – regardless of their ability to pay," said DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban. "DePaul's Speech and Language Clinic seeks to expand equitable access to speech and language services to children and adults across diverse communities and historically underserved areas."

Launched in tandem with a new master's degree program in Speech Language Pathology, the clinic will offer donation-based services for children and adults. Faculty and students expect to treat 400 patients in the clinic's first year, offering services in both English and Spanish.

“Speech language pathologists help to give voice to the voiceless," Fr. Guillermo Campuzano, C.M., said during the opening reflection.

Alderman Michele Smith also attended the event and expressed her pride in representing DePaul within the 43rd Ward. She said the clinic has the potential to affect generations of people living in the neighborhood and throughout the city.

DePaul also announced Delilah Martin and Stevie Stevens as the first recipients of the Karen George Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes students who have shown grit and determination, demonstrated perseverance and dedication, and who have a strong sense of purpose and calling as speech language pathologists. George contributed three additional scholarships to the semifinalists: Kaitlin Gruden, Maddie Weber and Veronica Johnson.

“The launch of the clinic and academic program signals a new era for the College of Science and Health," said Dean Stephanie Dance-Barnes, as DePaul continues to grow its offerings in the health sciences.

Graduates of the Speech Language Pathology program will be prepared to work in a variety of settings, from schools to hospitals and private practice. Dance-Barnes says she met with the inaugural class and they discussed the “wicked problems" of inequality and poverty that lead to health disparities. Working with community partners will be central to the program.

Students in DePaul's National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association Chapter held a silent auction at the opening event that raised more than $2,000 to support service projects in the community. Jessica Wacker from FundEd Chicago presented the program with a $5,000 donation.

Kristin Claes Mathews is the assistant director of news and integrated content for University Marketing and Communications.

Jayne Jaskolski, Stephanie Dance Barnes, Provost Salma Ghanem and Treasyri Williams Wood cut the ribbon for the new DePaul Speech and Language Clinic.

Program Director Jayne Jaskolski, Dean Stephanie Dance-Barnes, Provost Salma Ghanem and Clinic Director Treasyri Williams Wood cut the ribbon to officially open the DePaul Speech and Language Clinic. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)

Program director Jayne Jaskolski gives A. Gabriel Esteban and his wife, Josephine Esteban, a tour of the family viewing area in the DePaul Speech and Language Clinic. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)

Alderman Michele Smith attends the opening of the clinic. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)

A graduate student gives a tour of the DePaul Speech and Language Clinic. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)

Speech Language Pathology faculty members Elia Olivares, Jayne Jaskolski, Suzanne Williams, Ann Fennell and Treasyri Williams Wood celebrate the opening of the clinic with Josephine Esteban and A. Gabriel Esteban, president of DePaul University. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)