2024 Continuing Education Board (CEB)

The CEB develops the standards for the ASHA Continuing Education (CE) program. It comprises nine volunteer ASHA members and two monitoring vice presidents from the ASHA Board of Directors who serve as liaisons. The ASHA CE staff at the National Office implement the standards developed by the CEB. Twenty ASHA CE staff directly support the CEB's work. The ASHA CE program:

Promotes participation in CE by audiologists and speech-language pathologists
Approves providers that meet CEB standards
Evaluates and registers CE courses offered by ASHA CE Providers
Awards ASHA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to participants in registered courses
Issues official ASHA CE Registry transcripts
Transmits ASHA CEU information to credentialing and licensing agencies
Provides an Award for Continuing Education (ACE) as an incentive for participation in CE
Maintains a computerized recordkeeping service through the ASHA CE Registry

Anu Subramanian, PhD, CCC-SLP, Chair

Anu is a clinical associate professor and director of clinical education at the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa. She supervises graduate students in stuttering (across the age span) and pediatric clinical placements, including early intervention. She teaches classes in Counseling, Supervision, and Foundations of Clinical Practice. Her interests are in early intervention, stuttering, and clinical education. She is an alumni of the CAPCSD Leadership Academy from 2019 and serves on the coordinating committee for SIG 11.

Melisa Abernathy, MA, CCC-SLP

Melisa Abernathy is a pediatric speech language pathologist, currently working in a middle school setting in the state of Georgia. Melisa attended North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT) to complete her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders in 2014. She attended Syracuse University for her master’s degree in 2016. During her undergraduate studies Melisa was a member of both National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH). While attending NCAT, she presented multiple poster sessions and technical sessions at NBASLH. While attending Syracuse University, Melisa was selected as a member of the Minority Student Leadership Program class of 2015 and attended the ASHA convention. She continues to expand her knowledge within the field and has joined several SIGs. Currently, Melisa is pursuing her clinical doctorate at Nova Southeastern University.

Debra Cowley, PhD, CCC-Aud

Debra is the Continuing Education Manager for Starkey Laboratories, Inc. in Eden Prairie, MN. Her role necessitates familiarity with best practices in adult learning and with the rules and regulations around continuing education at the state, national, and international levels. She has presented at a variety of national and international conferences on a variety of topics related to hearing loss, amplification, hearing aid fitting, and counseling. Debra has practiced as an audiologist and educational consultant in school settings with specialization in elementary and deaf education curriculum support. Debra obtained her bachelor of arts in elementary and deaf education at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD and master of arts in audiology at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. Debra holds her doctorate of audiology degree from Arizona School of Health Sciences. Debra is on the ASHA Intersections Advisory Group and has been a fivetime recipient of the Award for Continuing Education (ACE) from ASHA.

April Dolan, AuD, CCC-A

April is the Continuing Education Administrator for AudiologyOnline, a Continued site. April earned a BS in Audiology and BA in Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011, and an AuD from the University of Texas at Austin in 2016. April spent several years in private practice as a dispensing audiologist and contract disability evaluation audiologist. She most recently served as a dispensing audiologist and tinnitus specialist at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center in Temple,TX before joining AudiologyOnline in February 2021.

Lanolin Joseph, MA CCC-SLP

Lanolin is a speech-language pathologist who has 15 years experience working with individuals with special needs in a private school setting. It is here where she also serves as a clinical educator to graduate student clinicians. Lanolin is active with the augmentative alternative communication, membership and mentorship committees of her state speechlanguage association. Lanolin's experiences with ASHA include participation in the Minority Student Leadership Program, the Leadership Development Program and the Leadership Mentoring Program. Additionally, Lanolin has extensive professional development training in her areas of interest: clinical supervision and augmentative alternative communication. It is this love for learning that has earned her four ASHA Awards for Continuing Education.

Lisa Kathman, MS, CCC-SLP

Lisa Kathman has been a speech language pathologist for over 25 years. Her entire career has focused on pediatrics in schools, clinics and home health. Additionally, Lisa served as the lead SLP in the largest school district in Arizona for 6 years. She has a passion for solving issues in the school setting. Lisa is the co-founder of the innovative web app, SLP Toolkit, which launched in January 2016, as well as Bright Ideas Media, an ASHA-approved CEU provider that has hosted courses and conferences since 2019 (including SLP Summit, SLP Telecon, The Speech Sound Disorder Series,The Embracing Expertise Series, and The Equity Series).

Ed Strugalla, MHS, CCC-SLP

Ed is a graduate of North Central College (BA, Sociology & Anthropology) and Governors State University (BHS & MHS, Communication Disorders). He completed a master’s thesis on partnering with parents in pediatric feeding and swallowing and was presented as a poster at the ASHA convention. Ed is the Director of Clinical Services at Therapy Care, Ltd. in Batavia, Illinois and serves on the advisory board for Governors State University’s Communication Disorder Department. He oversees all clinical operations at Therapy Care’s outpatient clinic (SLP, OT, PT), supervises and mentors all clinicians in the company, and has been the mentor for several clinical fellows. Ed has several years of diverse experience working in schools (PreK – high school, second language learners), hospitals, home health, early intervention, and outpatient. He treats both pediatrics and adults. He conducted research and co-authored “Therapeutic Use of Personal Electronic Devices: An Updated Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists” in the eHearsay Journal of the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Fall 2013. Ed also conducted research and co-authored Chapter 10 in the book “Stuttering Meets Stereotype, Stigma and Discrimination” by Kenneth O. St. Louis, West Virginia University Books, March 2015. Chapter 10: Recognizing Positive Aspects of Stuttering: A Survey of the General Public. Ed has provided several in-services and workshops at Chicago area public schools on the topics of deaf and hard of hearing, stuttering, and bilingual evaluation and treatment.

Darius Laron Thomas, CCC-SLP

Darius is a professor, visionary, and trailblazer in the field of speech-language pathology, whose innovative approach has revolutionized the way clients are evaluated and treated around the world. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dynamic Therapy, Darius has established himself as a global leader in the profession, renowned for his expertise, mentorship, and motivational speaking. In addition to his pioneering work in speechlanguage pathology, Darius has further demonstrated his entrepreneurial prowess by successfully founding and managing four thriving businesses, a testament to his multifaceted talents and dedication to making a significant impact in various industries. As a subject matter expert in the LGBTQ+ space, Darius also consults with organizations and companies to ensure they create inclusive and affirming environments. He firmly believes in the power of diversity and is committed to promoting equality and social justice through his work. Beyond his clinical work, Darius is an accomplished volunteer, serving in various leadership positions within the District of Columbia Speech-LanguageHearing Association and the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing. He is a true advocate for minority representation and played a pivotal role in giving voting rights to student representatives on the board of NBASLH.

Laura Wolford, PhD, MS CCC-SLP, CSE

Laura is an assistant professor at MGH Institute of Health Professions in the Communication Sciences and Disorders department, where she directs the TASSEL (Teaching And Supporting Student Experience in Learning) lab. Her research explores how clinicians learn “soft” skills like counseling, prioritizing person-centered care, and navigating uncomfortable conversations. As a disability justice activist and certified sex educator, Laura has founded a continuing education organization, The SPICE Institute. It seeks to teach speech-language pathologists how to address intimacy and consent-related communication with their clients. She also provides free and sliding-scale services to clients with communication disorders to address these issues. In her service roles, Laura has co-organized two symposia for the Pan American Vocology Association and has served on the ASHA Scientific and Professional Education Board. She currently acts as a copyeditor for the journal Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders and is serving on the Equity, Inclusion, and Cultural-Linguistic Diversity committee for the 2023 ASHA conference.