Cosette Groisiller, a communication sciences and disorders (CSD) senior, was selected to participate in the Minority Student Leadership Program (MSLP) offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She is one of 40 students, from approximately 200 applicants, to be selected into the MSLP, which offers a leadership development program established for racial/ethnic minorities that are under-represented in the speech-language pathology and audiology professions.
The MSLP’s purpose is to provide focused educational programming and activities to build and enhance leadership skills for historically under-represented seniors, Master’s, Au.D., and Ph.D. students. Through this program, participants will explore the multicultural implications of leadership and governance in ASHA. Cosette will attend the MSLP at the November ASHA Convention in Los Angeles, California.
Cosette stated the reason she applied to the MSLP was her interest in multicultural/multilingual therapy. She was encouraged to apply by one of her CSD instructors, Assistant Professor Taeok Park, who was a former recipient of the program. Cosette learned through Dr. Park’s mentorship about the various opportunities the program will offer to advance towards her professional goals.
Diversity in the field of CSD is central to Cosette’s professional goals. Cosette stated, “I am going into a field to help others and empathize with their situations, regardless of their culture. One of the best ways to learn about culture is to be exposed to it and by sharing experiences. In result, not only will this create compassionate clinicians, but the clinicians will be prepared to treat multicultural/multilingual clients effectively.”
