Pacific Audiology Students Honored for Their Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Pacific University's chapter of Student Academy of Audiology was named the national winner of the Diversity and Inclusion award in the national academy's 2021-2022 Chapter Challenge. The Student Academy of Audiology is the student division of the American Academy of Audiology.

The Pacific students have been working with Pacific's Accessibility Committee and with the Center for Gender Equity to conduct events and raise awareness of issues of accessibility and inclusion. Over the past semester, the audiology students: hosted a Zoom forum to discuss differences between hearing loss in Black older Americans and their White peers; conducted an Americans with Disabilities Act scavenger hunt to encourage analysis of accessibility; screened movies and follow-on discussions on representation and other issues; created gender-neutral infographics used on campus; and marked Black History Month with a poster and embedded QR code.

Pacific's School of Audiology is directed by Wendy Hanks, who previously directed the doctor of audiology program at Gallaudet University.