Helen Sharp Earns Kate Garrison “Overcoming the Odds” Award

Helen Sharp has received the Pacific University Kate Garrison “Overcoming the Odds” Award.

Sharp has been the director for the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders since joining the  university in 2016.

She has the pleasure of working with enormously talented faculty who are committed to student learning and to moving the field of speech-language pathology forward through research.

Her colleagues note that she has demonstrated innovative practices to recruit and diversify student cohorts for the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She also applies an equity lens and best practices for the recruitment and retention of her CSD team.

The Kate Garrison “Overcoming the Odds” Award recognizes a faculty or staff member who is a pioneer, trailblazer or innovator to advance justice and equity.

She earned her PhD in Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Iowa, and earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Guelph in Canada.

In 2020, Sharp received the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association’s Distinguished Service Award. She served previously as president of the organization and has been a member since 1988.