Renowned expert to chair Department of Speech and Hearing Science

Nancy Scherer has been named chair of Arizona State University’s Department of Speech and Hearing Science. Scherer was a Kennedy Scholar at Vanderbilt University and was a founding dean of the College of Clinical & Rehabilitative Health Sciences at East Tennessee State University.

“We are fortunate to be welcoming Dr. Scherer to ASU,” said Keith Lindor, executive vice provost and dean of the College of Health Solutions. “In addition to her impressive research, Dr. Scherer brings a unique focus on promoting interprofessional education and practice, which is something students value highly,” Lindor said.

Scherer’s research interests are in the areas of speech and language development, and intervention for children with craniofacial conditions. She has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals and is the co-founder of a community health center in East Tennessee that blends primary and allied health care.

In addition to leading research opportunities and promoting the department’s speech pathology and audiology programs, Scherer will be overseeing the department’s transition from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to the College of Health Solutions. She will also take the lead in developing new curriculum, adding more academic elements and student opportunities to an already nationally-ranked program.

“I am pleased to be joining this nationally recognized program with talented students, faculty and staff,” Scherer said. “I look forward to being a part of students’ journeys as they prepare to become leaders and innovators in speech, language and hearing.”

Department becomes part of College of Health Solutions

The Department of Speech and Hearing Science will now be part of the College of Health Solutions and has been transitioning over the summer.

“Bringing Speech and Hearing Science (SHS) into the College of Health Solutions is a natural fit given the focus on health and well-being,” Lindor said. SHS’s research in both clinical and academic areas of health is phenomenal and lends itself well to our model of improving health outcomes for more people at a lower cost.”

The College of Health Solutions is located at the Downtown Phoenix campus; the Department of Speech and Hearing Science will remain at the Tempe campus.

Department of Speech and Hearing Science quick facts:

• ranked No. 17 in the nation in audiology
• ranked No. 21 in the nation in speech-language pathology
• nearly 400 undergraduate students with majors/minors
• more than 100 graduate students
• $25 million research awards (past 5 years)

To learn more, visit https://chs.asu.edu and https://nursingandhealth.asu.edu.