May 18, 2026 | Georgia Malandraki
Dear colleagues, alumni, students and friends,
It has been a meaningful and energizing start to my return to campus, and I’m grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received from this community. In my first 100 days, I’ve had the opportunity to reconnect with many of you, listen carefully to your perspectives and begin advancing several initiatives that reflect both our department’s strengths and our ambitions for the future. In this issue, you’ll find a more in-depth look at that journey—what we’ve set in motion so far, and where we’re headed next.
One initiative that captures the spirit of our mission is the Rural Health and Telehealth Initiative. In collaboration with Illinois Extension partners and generous donor support, our department is working to establish rural telehealth sites in Illinois, expanding access to speech, language and hearing services for underserved communities. This effort is being led by colleagues in Speech and Hearing Science, alongside Extension, including Dan Fogerty, Raksha Mudar, Clarion Mendes, Sadie Braun and Margaret Larson, the county director for the first site. This initiative reflects the kind of interdisciplinary, community-engaged work that defines who we are.
Our faculty continue to lead in research and innovation. Brian Monson and Rohit Ananthanarayana have developed and patented a promising new algorithm designed to extract speech from noise using high-frequency signals—an advancement with significant implications for communication technologies and clinical applications. I’m also proud to share that Brian Monson has been elected as a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, a well-deserved recognition of his contributions to the field.
We are also delighted to highlight the people who make our department thrive. This issue features a faculty spotlight on Jaime Bauer Malandraki, offering a closer look at her work and perspectives through a Q&A. You’ll also meet Stefanie Cole in our staff spotlight, recognizing her important contributions and dedication.
While it is impossible to capture all the extraordinary moments of the past 100 days in a single newsletter, a few truly stand out: celebrating our remarkable students with 33 awards alongside their families and friends; hosting a vibrant two-day SHS alumni and friends open house event where we shared our work, reconnected and envisioned the future together; and in early April, seeing our graduate programs rise to No. 11 (tied) in Speech-Language Pathology and No. 18 (tied) in Audiology in the U.S. News & World Report. These milestones speak to the momentum, excellence and spirit of our SHS community—something I am proud and inspired to witness every day.
Looking ahead, we are exploring exciting possibilities in emerging areas such as virtual reality applications for voice therapy, including ongoing efforts led by Pasquale Bottalico to secure funding and move this work forward.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support. Together, we are building on a strong foundation while embracing new opportunities to expand our impact in Illinois and beyond.
Warm regards,
Georgia A. Malandraki
Department Head, Speech and Hearing Science
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