Audiology Doctoral Sarah Williams

Sarah WilliamsMy first year as an Audiology doctoral student at UT Austin has been enriched greatly by two bright and promising undergraduate students through the IE program in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The Audiology program, with close-knit students, faculty, and administrators, encourages students to take part in these programs to share experiences and knowledge with undergraduates. We are always enthusiastic to share our love for the science and the practice of Audiology, and I was especially excited to share my own with two unique students.

Sarah Ganske, now an accepted applicant to the graduate program at UT Austin, followed me through my classes and clinic rotations last fall semester, getting firsthand exposure to graduate school. She reminded me why I chose this field and gave me the opportunity to explore my own thoughts on the admission process. Someone once told me, "You know you know something if you can teach it to someone else." Being mindful of how to best teach a clinic task or lecture topic has created a whole new world of careful reflection in my own education. I appreciate the subtleties required to teach these complex topics and the efforts made by the faculty dedicated to my education. Sarah helped me grow as an academic, encouraging me to explore my options as an educator as well as a clinical audiologist. I'm thrilled that she was accepted as an Honors Undergraduate, allowing her to practice as a clinician on campus in the Speech and Hearing Center. She will be a wonderful addition to the incoming cohort of graduate students in Audiology this fall!

In the spring semester, I was lucky to share more of my experiences with Katherine Morrow, my second IE mentee. She was eager to learn everything about Audiology from the start. Katherine accompanied me and a group of graduate students at a conference in San Antonio for the Texas Speech Language and Hearing Association. This was her initial exposure to a professional conference and presentation of research posters. A few short months later, she presented her own research project at the Undergraduate Research Week in front of Gregory Gym. I look forward to hearing about her decisions for attending graduate school and future endeavors; I know that she will transfer her enthusiasm to a successful career no matter her chosen field. Almost as exciting for me is to watch her grow into making those important decisions and formulate a plan for her future.

I'm proud to have had any influence on the success of both of these women's careers. Making a positive difference, no matter how small, in the future of Audiology and the Communication Sciences, as an IE mentor is something that I will cherish forever. As an audiologist, I hope to continue mentoring students by becoming a clinical supervisor in coordination with the university. As a graduate student at UT Austin, I hope to get the opportunity to mentor many undergraduate students and encourage their future as researchers, clinicians, and advocates for individuals with hearing impariments.