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cite as:
New executive director selected. (2003, Nov. 4). The ASHA Leader, pp. 1, 15.
Arlene A. Pietranton, ASHA’s chief staff officer for speech-language pathology, has accepted the position of executive director of ASHA, effective Jan. 1, 2004. Pietranton’s selection follows a nationwide search, both within the Association and externally, that began shortly after Fred Spahr, the current executive director, announced that he would be retiring on Dec. 31 of this year.
In making the announcement, ASHA President Glenda Ochsner said, “The Executive Board members are delighted to have someone with Arlene’s stature and background as our new executive director. We look forward to working with her in the years ahead.”
Pietranton will be the third person to hold the position of ASHA executive director. She will succeed Spahr who has served since 1980. Kenneth O. Johnson (whose title was executive secretary) served from 1957-1979.
Pietranton came to the National Office in 1994 as director of the health services division. She assumed her current position in 1996 following an office-wide reorganization. In addition to overseeing issues related to speech-language pathology, she also serves as liaison with several federal agencies and organizations; coaches and facilitates the activities of the speech-language pathology, government relations, special interest divisions, and international liaison units; and, in collaboration with the current executive director and other chief staff officers, helps coordinate the operations and determine the priorities of ASHA’s National Office.
Pietranton formerly held several positions at George Washington University (GW) Medical Center, including director of speech-language pathology and audiology services and director of rehabilitation services. Just prior to leaving GW, as administrative director of the university’s Neurological Institute, she oversaw the implementation and operations of a unified, multidisciplinary center for neurological disorders. She also received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from GW.
A Fellow of ASHA, Pietranton was an active ASHA volunteer before joining the National Office staff. She was a Legislative Councilor (1989-1994), chair of the ASHA PAC (1993-1994), and served on several ASHA committees. She also served as president of the District of Columbia Speech and Hearing Association (1993) and of the Society of Hospital Directors of Communicative Disorders Programs (1994).
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