November 30, 2023
Erin Armstrong is a Junior Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) major, and on November 16, 2023, she had the opportunity to present at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) National Convention in Boston, MA. Her presentation centered around the importance of experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students. During her presentation, Erin was able to share her 2022-2023 internship experience and how it enriched her time as a student at Columbia College.
As an intern, Erin created a digital archive for the South Carolina Speech-Language-Hearing Association (SCSHA). Working alongside Dr. AnnMarie Knight as well as Columbia College librarian Kala Dunn, she organized materials, created metadata, and scanned documents in order to have all of the information housed within the South Carolina Digital State Archives. Erin shared that while the work was tedious at times, she loved learning more about SCSHA as an organization and getting more involved at Columbia College.
When asked what she would take away from her experience presenting at a national conference, Erin said that it was truly impactful knowing that faculty from other institutions who attended her presentation intended to implement a similar internship experience for their students. She loved knowing that her experience had the potential to positively influence the experiences of fellow SLP students across the nation.
As Erin reflected on her experience in the SLP program at Columbia College, she stated, “Every day is something new. I’m a part of a small, tight-knit cohort, and we’ve had the opportunity to learn from and get to know each other in a comfortable, approachable setting. All of my professors here have been integral to my education. Dr. Knight, Ms. Eversmann, and Mr. Kneece each are quick to share their unique career experiences with their students, like me, so that we may all become more comfortable with our career options after graduation.”
Columbia College prides itself on providing our students with educators and experiences that will help them discern what is next for them after graduation, all while being a part of a thriving student community. Students like Erin serve as examples to the rest of our student body that any door can be open to them. By taking advantage of unique opportunities, students are granted experiences that will help them as they seek to enter the workforce. Way to go, Erin!