Candidate for Vice President for Standards and Ethics in Speech-Language Pathology
Elise Davis-McFarland, PhD, CCC-SLP
ASHA Leader Interview | Video Interview | Video Transcript | All Candidates
Elise Davis-McFarland, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Vice President for Student Services at Trident Technical College, Charleston. An ASHA Fellow, Dr. Davis-McFarland has expertise in multicultural communication issues in diverse populations, diversity training, and infant-toddler communication development and disorders. Dr. Davis-McFarland developed Medicaid policy for South Carolina as a member of the Health and Human Services Finance Commission. Her ASHA service includes the Committee on Practice Guidelines for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, the Professional Practices Committee, ASHA's Joint Committee with the International Association of Physicians in AIDS CARE, and the Executive Committee on PRAXIS Examination Performance. She also served as Coordinator for SIG 14 and as a member of the Multicultural Issues and Ethics Boards and Honors Committee. She was Board Chair for the National Black Association of Speech-Language and Hearing. She serves as a reviewer for ASHA's Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. As a student services administrator, she is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators' Two-Year/Community College Advisory Committee and a principal for the National Council on Student Development Leadership Institute.
Dr. Davis-McFarland led the team that developed the communication sciences and disorders graduate program at the Medical University of South Carolina. She administered one of the nation's first interdisciplinary medical speech-language pathology programs that brought speech-language pathology and physical and occupational therapy students together for education and clinical training. Her research focused on oral-motor and communication development in children with HIV/AIDS. Her publications include articles on pediatric HIV, book chapters on multicultural communication assessment, pediatric dysphagia, and cultural issues related to communication disorders/intervention. She is a recipient of the MUSC Health Science Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award.
Dr. Davis-McFarland earned a BA degree from University of North Carolina-Greensboro, a master's degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Virginia, and a PhD degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Pittsburgh.
The ASHA Leader asked the candidates:
Given the position for which you are running, if you could change one thing about ASHA, what would it be?
I would like to try to increase members’ participation in ASHA. Each member has a stake in the association. Everyone has a role to play. I want to see all members take advantage of opportunities to be involved in the association, whether through voting, doing peer reviews or attending association-sponsored activities. I want to increase chances for members to be active in ASHA by encouraging the association to develop more opportunities for members to serve on committees, boards and review panels; by encouraging member participation in ASHA’s political initiatives; and communicating to members the importance of association participation. Drawing members closer to the association is a way to ensure that standards and ethical practices are maintained. That strengthens ASHA.
Why are you running for a position on the ASHA Board?
What would be your top priority be if elected to your respective position?