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Please describe the specific qualifications and strengths you possess that make you the most qualified candidate for this office.
Throughout my professional career, I have gravitated to opportunities related to the development and implementation of academic standards, accreditation, certification, and ethics. Within ASHA I served as a site visitor for both the Education and Training (now CAA) and Professional Services Boards and subsequently as a member of the Educational and Training Board itself. These experiences have provided me with a unique understanding of the Association's accreditation and certification programs. In addition, I have served as an external reviewer/consultant for university programs in the development and accreditation of their academic programs in audiology. Currently, I serve on the Board of Ethics and the ETS Praxis Audiology National Advisory Committee.
I have 20 years of experience as the director of graduate studies for the School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Memphis, where I also served on the University Steering Committee for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In what ways have you been innovative and effective in your service on committees, boards, councils, and work settings?
In the early 1990's the Tennessee State Board of Education solicited innovative proposals to alleviate the shortage of speech-language pathologists in the public schools. I wrote a series of training grants that successfully funded over 35 BA-level speech-language pathologists, employed in the public schools, to complete the Masters degree and thus achieve their ASHA certification.
In 1997, I participated on a Select Panel on Audiology, created by the ASHA Executive Board, to evaluate the position of audiology as a profession and its future within ASHA. The result of this activity was a forward-thinking summary report that provided direction to the Executive Board and had an impact on the recently adopted governance structure. A significant result of the panel's activities was the recommendation that ASHA establish separate vice presidencies for each discipline and that they be elected by the profession-specific membership.
What do you want ASHA members to know about you?
Throughout my career I have been fortunate to serve in a variety of leadership positions both through my affiliation with ASHA and through my affiliation with other professional organizations as well. I have served as treasurer and as president of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology, completed three terms as a legislative councilor (one as associate coordinator of the Audiology Assembly), and served on the first Tennessee Board of Examiners in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
Across all of these activities I have a history of developing and maintaining strong collegial relationships and am viewed as an individual with high standards and one who values and encourages collaborative effort among the individuals with whom I work.
The recent governance changes, within the Association, are very exciting and bring great promise for the field of audiology. I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve the members of the Association as the vice president for academic affairs in audiology.
E-mail: dwark@memphis.edu
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