Gretchen Bennett, Clinical Assistant Professor from the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, was recently awarded a $135,000 grant from The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation. The grant will enable Professor Bennett and psychologists from The University of Queensland, Australia, to train and provide support to professionals in the fields of speech-language pathology, psychology, social work and special education in an evidence-based practice approach, called The Secret Agent Society (SAS) Program.

The two-year project focuses on best practices for the improved development of social-emotional skills and social pragmatic language in children with Asperger’s syndrome, high-functioning autism, or children who display some of the characteristics of Asperger’s (i.e., anxiety, social emotional challenges, difficulty in social situations). The SAS program utilizes a collaborative effort between related service professionals, families and classroom teachers. Currently, there is no other social skills program in the world proven to be as effective in terms of published results and producing clinically significant change. Congratulations, Professor Bennett!

For more information regarding the SAS program, please click here.

Drs. Richard Salvi, Dalian Ding, and Guang-Di Chen in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences and the Center for Hearing and Deafness at the University at Buffalo received a two-million research grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. This grant will study hearing loss resulting from long-term exposure to manganese and noise. The principal investigators of this grant are Dr. Salvi and Dr. Jerome A. Roth from Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University at Buffalo. Drs. Ding and Chen will serve as collaborators in this grant. Congratulations, Drs. Salvi, Ding, and Chen!

For the news release about the grant, please click here.

Lori Cameron, 4th year AuD student from Webster, NY has been named the inaugural Chair of the newly formed Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) Virtual Student Chapter. She will serve as the leader of the Virtual Student Chapter and serve as the liaison between the Chapter and the ADA Board of Directors. She is a previous ADA Convention scholarship winner that provided a full expenses paid convention experience including having a one-on-one mentoring. Since November she has also had the pleasure of serving on two ADA committees: Advocacy and Practices Resource Advisory Committees (PRAC). The purpose of the ADA Virtual Student Chapter is to serve the varied needs and concerns of student and emerging graduated members of ADA. We look forward to creating more student Webinars, 4th year opportunities, mentoring from experienced Audiologists, and helping AuD students connect. Please check out the student website under ADA’s main website or our facebook page. The November 2012 ADA convention in Phoneix, AZ will have one complete day of student only focused workshops. Most of you are SAA members but make sure to fill out your scholarship or membership applications and get involved with this important Audiology organization as well.