Department of Speech & Hearing Science at Illinois

To all our Orange & Blue supporters: Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. 🧡

Together we raised $2,045 for the Rural Health and Telehealth Initiative through Speech and Hearing Science and Illinois Extension, which will bring critical hearing health care to communities in northern Illinois. go.ahs.illinois.edu/SHSrural

These new health and telehealth sites will serve as hubs for applied research and workforce development; students will get hands-on clinical training. Faculty-led research will focus on improving rural health outcomes and advancing best practices in telehealth delivery.

The Rural Health Initiative is SO CLOSE to its donor goal! 🚨

Only three more donors left until we reach our 25 donor goal! Thanks to your support and our Speech and Hearing Science Department head, Georgia Malandraki, we achieved a matching gift of $500.

Rural Illinois residents often face significant barriers to healthcare, resulting in delayed and uneven services—make a difference by donating at go.ahs.illinois.edu/SHSRural.

The first 15 donors today and tomorrow will receive a free copy of "An Illini Place," a written history of the Illinois campus.

College of Applied Health Sciences at Illinois

This week's the week! On March 5 and 6, help us support the Speech and Hearing Science Rural Health and Telehealth Initiative, to bring access to hearing healthcare to rural communities in Illinois.

Learn more at go.ahs.illinois.edu/SHSrural

Speech and Hearing Science flourished at ISHA 2026! 🗣️

SHS faculty and students delivered outstanding presentations throughout the conference.

We reconnected with alumni, colleagues and friends at a reception full of great conversations, good food, and plenty of laughter.

And… our students earned 3rd place in the Knowledge Quest (College Bowl) Competition!
We are so proud of our SHS community! 💙🧡

This Fall 2025 semester, 77 students in Speech and Hearing Science made the Dean's List for academic achievement! 🤩

Another 31 students completed their degrees this fall and winter. Congratulations to all of our hardworking students! 🎓

Full lists here: https://news.illinois.edu/august-december-2025-graduates-and-deans-list-honorees-announced/

On March 5 and 6, support the Speech and Hearing Science Rural Health and Telehealth Initiative: an ambitious new project to address healthcare barriers in rural Illinois communities.

To learn more and pledge support, visit go.ahs.illinois.edu/SHSrural today!

A message from the new head of our Department of Speech and Hearing Science: Georgia Malandraki.

🔹 “Returning to Illinois, where I completed my Ph.D. and where many of our distinguished faculty shaped my early career, feels like coming home. It is both humbling and exciting to now have the opportunity to give back to the community that supported me from the start.”

🔸 “Over the past several months, I have begun to learn the many stories, strengths, and aspirations that make SHS such a vibrant community. Every conversation with faculty, staff, and students has reminded me of something I have known since I was a student here: SHS is a community where excellence and compassion go hand in hand, and where people genuinely care about making an impact. I am grateful to join you as we continue building on that foundation together.”

🔹 “I am thankful to be joining the department at a time of remarkable momentum, built under the leadership of former Head and Professor Pamela Hadley and Dean Cheryl Hanley Maxwell.”

Read her full message here ➡️ https://ahs.illinois.edu/a-message-from-malandraki/

Alums, faculty and friends of Speech and Hearing Science: Join us for the U. of I. Speech and Hearing Science Reception at ISHA 2026! 🔸🔹

RSVP before Feb. 12 at http://go.ahs.illinois.edu/ISHA2026

The Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association is hosting its Annual Convention 2026 in Tinley Park next month. Join the University of Illinois reception on Feb. 19 from 5-7 p.m. at the EVEN Hotel/Local One Restaurant at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

In case you missed it: Meet our two newest American Sign Language instructors, Jerri Seremeth and Lesli Williams.

They're both native signers: they grew up learning American Sign Language as their first language and primary mode of communication. They both joined the Department of Speech and Hearing Science this fall, and teach classes remotely.

Read their full Q&As on the AHS website: https://ahs.illinois.edu/meet-new-asl-instructors/

Mark your calendars: on March 5 and 6, support our Orange & Blue Days campaigns!

Link: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofIllinoisUrbanaChampaign/orange-blue-days-2026/pages/CampusCommunityCulture/SHSRuralHealthInitiative

Orange & Blue Days is Illinois’ crowdfunding initiative that empowers alumni to support student experiences and campus projects across the university.

This spring, the Department of Speech and Hearing Science is launching an ambitious Rural Health and Telehealth Initiative to expand access to high-quality care in Illinois and beyond. In partnership with Illinois Extension, our academic and clinical faculty will develop two new rural health and telehealth sites designed to meet the growing needs of underserved communities.

This March, help us reach our participation goal—every gift makes an impact. We'll have more information as Orange & Blue Days gets closer.