A Message from Our Founding Department Chair

Welcome to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Grand Valley State University.  This is an exceptional time to enter the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology.  It is also an especially exciting time to join us at GVSU as we have built innovative degree programs designed to turn out well-prepared graduates into these dynamic professions.  Our programs maximize didactic and clinical learning while minimizing the time to degree, which helps with educational costs while providing a dynamic and challenging education.

The department began educating undergraduate students in Fall, 2010.  This was at a time of tremendous growth in the College of Health Professions at GVSU.  Since then, we have created a bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Communication Sciences and Disorders, a masters degree (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology, and a doctoral degree (Au.D.) in Audiology.  Both graduate programs are accredited by our national accrediting body.  We are fortunate to have a dynamic faculty who have specifically chosen GVSU to be a part of the creation, implementation, and refinement of these outstanding programs.  We are committed to providing a rigorous and intensive educational experience to students who are dedicated and committed to becoming expert practitioners in these fields.

There is not a better place in Michigan or beyond to study these professions.  We are located on the health campus which is part of the famous “Medical Mile” in downtown Grand Rapids, the second largest city in Michigan and where major medical and healthcare expansion is underway.  The university has supported our programs with state-of-the-science facilities and resources. The university, with an enrollment of over 25,000, is known for its outstanding programs in the health professions.

On behalf of our faculty and staff I welcome you and invite you to become actively engaged in your education in our program. 

Dan C. Halling, Ph.D. CCC-A, ASHA Fellow
Professor and Founding Chair

Communication Sciences and Disorders

For more information regarding a specific program within the CSD Department, please contact:

•                 CSD Major: Wil Rankinen, [email protected]
•                 M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP): Cara Singer, [email protected]  
•                 Doctor of Audiology (AuD):  Jen Smart, [email protected]

Collaborative Training Event

The faculty of the speech-language pathology graduate program and the staff of Spectrum Health and Muskegon Community College collaborated to provide a two-day training for graduate students.  The focus of this event was to provide GVSU students with an introduction and overview of working in a medical setting.  The goals included: discussion of the multiple roles that speech-language pathologists have in medical settings; discussion of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for the 21^st Century working in a medical settings; experiences with interprofessional collaboration in medical settings; and a venue for students to experience labs related to work in a medical setting.

The training is intended to prepare graduate students for academic coursework and clinical placements during the graduate program.

• Archived news...

Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence Grant Recipients and projects:

• Catalyst Grant: Dr. Courtney Karasinski-- "Written Language in School-Aged Children", conclusion expected October 2026

• Catalyst Grant: Dr. Won So -- "Neural correlates to the binaural cues in multiple latencies in objective measurements in normal listeners and individuals with a hearing related deficit”, conclusion expected November 2025

• Catalyst Grant: Dr. Beth Macauley -- "Development of an App using AI and Large- Language Models to Help People with Expressive Aphasia Communicate Independently", conclusion expected November 2025

• Collaborative Grant: Dr. Wil Rankinen -- "The Lower Michigander Talk Study - Stage III: Urban speech communities of Kent and Macomb Counties", conclusion expected April 2026.

• Collaborative Grant: Dr. Sri Nandamudi -- "AI and Standardized Patients: Advancing Dysphagia Clinical Skills in Graduate Education", conclusion expected October 2025

Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center Grant Recipients and projects

• Teaching Innovation Grant: Dr. Jennifer Smart, Dr. Kara Hotaling, & Dr. Shawn Castillo -- "Critical Thinking Skills Unlocked: Development of Simulated Case-Based Learning for Audiology Doctoral Students", conclusion expected December 2026

• Teaching Innovation Grant: Dr. Denise Ludwig & Dr. Courtney Karasinski -- "Literacy Instruction: A Pilot for Role Expansion Pedagogy for Graduate Students", conclusion expected December 2025