Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences
Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Congratulations to Early Career Professional Certificate Recipients
Krista Hadeed and Samantha Novick
NSU’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program alumnae Krista Hadeed, M.S., CCC/SLP, (2015), and Samantha Novick, M.S., CCC-SLP, (2015), were awarded the 2020 Distinguished Early Career Professional (ECP) Certificate by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
This certificate was created to recognize ECPs in audiology and speech-language pathology who are making an impact in the areas of leadership, volunteering, or advocacy at the local, state, and /or national level. Both recipients are well deserving of this certificate and require a highlight of the wonderful work they have done and continue to do, https://www.asha.org/about/awards/distinguished-early-career-professional-certificate/.
Krista currently owns a private practice in which she focuses on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and family-centered care. Her love for AAC began when she assisted in the inception and implementation of an AAC pilot program at a local private school during her clinical fellowship. This work eventually led her to co-presenting at the ASHA national convention about AAC.
More recently, Krista’s work has shifted to supporting the identifiable needs of AAC users and their families. As a result, she has provided free in-services to fellow SLP peers, co-founded a support group for caregivers with AAC users, and started a company that creates easy and engaging core word vocabulary activities that “fit into the busy lives of families.”
Samantha is also the owner of a private practice whose contributions and leadership skills shine inside and outside the clinic. Sam’s “passion for communication, equity and justice, and supporting leaders of the future” has led her to collaboratively starting an inclusive literacy program in 2016 with the non-profit organization, The Friendship Journey (TFJ). As she continued volunteering with TFJ, Sam transited from activity director of literacy programs to vice president of operations and then eventually president. In 2018, she mentored and helped a peaceful protest for the Parkland March for Our Lives.
This past summer, Sam served as a camp director for a virtual summer camp for teens and adults with disabilities, called Camp Wings of Friendship. Sam also plans to attend an Apraxia Boot Camp because she specializes in apraxia and “wants to serve her clients and their families better.”
Again, congratulations!!
Contributed by Tia Smith, B.S., graduate clinician and NSSLHA vice president, and Tambi L. Braun, SLP.D., CCC/SLP, associate professor and NSSLHA mentor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology–Fort Lauderdale.