Dr. Wendy Hanks Named School of Audiology Interim Director

Pacific University College of Health Professions executive dean and vice provost Ann Barr-Gillespie has announced the appointment of Dr. Wendy Hanks as interim director of the college's School of Audiology, effective July 1.

Hanks succeeds founding director Dr. Victoria Keetay, who has been named executive director of the Institute of Interprofessional Education at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, a medical school located in Yakima, Wash.

Keetay came to Pacific in 2011 to lead the development of the audiology program into the second largest in the country, and in the achievement of candidacy accreditation status for the program. Under her leadership, the school has also developed an on-site clinic, the Pacific EarClinic, which is envisioned to grow into a full-service community clinic that will provide invaluable clinical education opportunities for students.

“On behalf of the College of Health Professions, I express our appreciation for the significant contribution by Dr. Keetay to our university and its students, faculty and staff," Barr-Gillespie said. "We wish her the best in her new role at PNWU."

Hanks joined Pacific University in 2013 as an associate professor in the burgeoning School of Audiology, where she has been instrumental in building the three-year doctor of audiology program from its inception, with the first cohort of students graduating in 2015.

“I am excited to build upon the strong foundation established by Dr. Keetay," Hanks said. "We have outstanding faculty, staff and students who will enable the program to continue to flourish.”

Hanks earned a master of communicative disorders in audiology degree from Brigham Young University, completed her clinical fellowship at the Mayo Clinic and earned a PhD in audiology from Wichita State University. Hanks has served on the faculty of Gallaudet University, Towson University, BYU and the University of Nevada, Reno.

Additionally, she has worked in early intervention, hospital, private practice, and veterans administration settings. Hanks' research interests include the clinical evaluation of screening and diagnostic tools for the middle ear, including immittance and wideband acoustic immittance, especially for the newborn population. She is also an advocate of interprofessional practice and education, and is actively involved professionally, chairing and serving on many national committees, and is co-editor for Health and Interprofessional Practice journal.

“I am excited for the School of Audiology to work with a leader of Dr. Wendy Hanks’ calibur," Barr-Gillespie said. "We are very fortunate that Dr. Hanks has accepted this new role as the interim director of the school and as a member of Pacific’s senior administrative team.”