May 18, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Administrative aide quietly sustained departmental success through dedication At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where academic reputations are built on research breakthroughs and classroom innovation, much of the daily work that keeps departments moving forward happens quietly. In the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, that steady presence for […]
Category: Department of Speech and Hearing Science
Rural Health Initiative will bring department’s speech and hearing health expertise to rural Illinois
May 18, 2026 | Ethan Simmons Donor-funded telehealth initiative aims to expand rural health care access With a boost from donors, researchers and clinical faculty in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science are collaborating to introduce a new speech and hearing healthcare option for residents in rural areas of northern Illinois. Partnering with the […]
Spring 2026: Message from SHS Department Head Georgia Malandraki
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 […]
Shared values and bold vision: Why Jaime Bauer Malandraki Chose Illinois’ Department of Speech and Hearing Science
May 18, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Shared values inspire innovative speech-hearing education and research When Jaime Bauer Malandraki began considering the next chapter of her career, she wasn’t simply looking for a new job. She was searching for an academic home, an institution whose values aligned with her own and where she could build innovative […]
Roots and reach: Malandraki named Khan Professor in Applied Health Sciences
April 30, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo SHS Department head thanks her parents and mentors for helping reach a career milestone The investiture of Georgia Malandraki as the Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan Professor of Applied Health Sciences was, in many ways, a story about roots and the far-reaching branches they sustain. Held at Huff Hall, the ceremony brought together […]
Champaign-Urbana celebrates ‘World Voice Day’
April 15, 2026 | Ethan Simmons Faculty members in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science brought “World Voice Day” to both cities and the University of Illinois. Our vocal folds are roughly the length of our thumbnail, and yet they enable us to speak, sing, laugh and share our favorite stories. On April 16, […]
A message to Speech and Hearing Science, from Department Head Georgia Malandraki
Feb 02, 2026 | AHS Staff “I welcome perspectives from everyone (…) because the future we create together will be stronger for it.“ Dear Speech and Hearing Science community, It is with pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I begin my role as Head of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science. Returning […]
SHS researchers patent method to extract speech from noise using high frequencies
Dec. 18, 2025 | Ethan Simmons Extended high frequencies, above 8 kHz, can make speech more intelligible in noisy environments. When we speak, the air moving through our vocal cords generates soundwaves vibrating at different frequencies: the higher the frequency, the higher the pitch. Most of our modern audio technology, including hearing aids, headphones, and […]
Meet Jerri and Lesli, our newest American Sign Language instructors
Oct. 16, 2025 | Ethan Simmons New Speech and Hearing Science instructors Lesli Williams and Jerri Seremeth are both “native signers”—they grew up learning American Sign Language as their first language and primary mode of communication. They joined the Department of Speech and Hearing Science this fall, and teach classes remotely. Which classes are you […]
Health study involves adults with Down syndrome ‘every step of the way’
Oct. 15, 2025 | Ethan Simmons NIH-funded study will develop community resources to support well-being of adults with Down syndrome The transition to adulthood can be a challenging phase for people with Down syndrome, as resources built to support them in their youth and in school begin to dry up. Marie Moore Channell, associate professor […]