Xavier University of Louisiana, the historically Black educational institution in New Orleans, has announced the creation of a new master’s degree program in speech-language pathology. The new program will play a significant role in the university’s efforts to respectfully and compassionately address the speech, hearing, and language difficulties across diverse communities.
“Exposure to individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse communities during training is essential for professionals to become competent in recognizing and addressing the unique needs of underserved populations,” said Anne McCall, senior vice president and provost at Xavier University. “The program will create a culture of evidence-based educational and clinical practices among its faculty, staff, and students and will reflect the department’s long-standing core values of compassion, professional excellence, community engagement and life-long learning.”
Gloriajean Wallace, chair of the speech pathology department and director of the graduate program, added that “professionals graduating from the new program at Xavier will be provided with special training that will equip them in four key areas including implementation of evidence-based, case centered care, knowledge and sensitivity about cultural and linguistic diversity matters, interprofessional collaboration/team case management skills, and knowledge and practical experience with working at the top of the profession.”
The addition of this program brings the number of master’s degree programs offered by Xavier University to 14, the others being in the areas of education, public health, and theology.
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