ASHA celebrations

While in Boston at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention I have had the opportunity to celebrate the awards of my colleagues: 

Honors of the Association 

• Lynn Williams, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, FASHA, FNAP 
• Catherine J. Crowley, JD, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL 
• Karla K. McGregor, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL 

Fellowship of the Association 

• Kelly Farquharson, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
• Anna Miles, PhD - New Zealand
  

Anna Miles became the second (ever) ASHA Fellow from New Zealand

I was honoured to be a guest of Lynn Williams at the awards ceremony and give a speech at her celebration following the ceremony. Lynn and I have worked together for 20 years, since we chaired an ASHA convention committee in 2003. Lynn is currently the National Academies of Practice Vice President for Professional Development and Interim Dean and Professor for the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, East Tennessee State University.

Here is an excerpt from my letter of recommendation for Lynn to receive ASHA Honors that I read at the celebration party: 

The decision to award Dr. Williams ASHA Honors will be very easy as she is unrivalled in her contribution, capacity, and competence across every aspect of our field: national service (leadership, advocacy), research, teaching, and clinical practice. Words I would use to describe Dr. Williams are that she is genuine, rigorous, knowledgeable, innovative, ethical, practical, collegial, consultative, encouraging, compassionate, respectful and world-leading. I completely concur that her “contributions have been of such excellence that they have enhanced or altered the course of the professions” across the world.

The book that Lynn, Rebecca and I edited was in the exhibit hall listed as a "best seller"!