By: Michelle Mendietta, MS, CCC-SLP, Past President
In the past two years, the pandemic caused challenges that were not expected. We all learned about the advantages and disadvantages of virtual meetings. As a result, the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association (TSHA) Executive Board (EB) felt it imperative to return to an in-person EB meeting in June of 2022 to work on establishing the new TSHA strategic plan for 2023-2023. This plan must allow us to navigate out of the changes that resulted from the pandemic and into a period of transformation and refinement of goals and objectives to meet the needs of the future.
I want to thank Sherry Sancibrian, a TSHA past president and associate chair of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, for leading our meeting. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude to Sherry and the board members who diligently worked together to bring about our strategic plan, shape the contents of this plan and enable the rollout of a dynamic guide for the future of TSHA.
We invite you to join us on our journey over the next few years as we focus on four pillars for progress. Our efforts aim to Expand Advocacy Endeavors, Enhance Education and Learning, Strengthen Operational Excellence, and Increase Member Engagement and Belonging. We are energized and inspired by all of you who believe in the legacy and future of TSHA.
TSHA members, non-members, and students will have an opportunity to offer input through a survey, which will be sent out during the third quarter of 2022. Be on the lookout for a link via email and social media sites. We are looking forward to reviewing everyone’s feedback.
The experiences of the pandemic over the past two years have proven we can work together through great challenges and emerge stronger. This plan for the next three years will guide us forward and help us to transform and evolve. Thank you for your continued support!
Your EB shared their feelings after two days of strategic planning and establishing a guide for TSHA’s future in an Instagram reel.
Starting from the bottom, first row, from left to right: President Robyn Martin, VP of Audiology Michelle Pho, Past President Michelle Mendietta; Second row: First-Year Graduate Student Representative Alyssa Shultz, Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation President Donise Pearson, Publication Chair Jan Lougeay; Third row: VP-Elect for Member Engagement Sadaf Ali, Second-Year Graduate Student Representative Matthew Randall, VP for Research and Development Jessica Carter; Fourth row: VP for Member Engagement Melissa Liska, VP for Education & Scientific Affairs Angela Kennedy; Fifth row: VP-Elect for Professional Services Suzanne Bonifert, VP for Professional Services and President Elect-ElectLisa Milliken; Sixth row: Legislative and Legal Counsel Mark Hanna, Director of Government Affairs Larry Higdon, Finance Advisory Committee Chair Cherry Wright; Not pictured: VP for Social and Governmental Policy Bobbie Kay Turkett