2026 Chapter Advisor Honors Recipients

Suzanne Dripps, M.A., CCC-SLP
University of Northern Iowa

“Ms. Dripps models the compassion, professionalism, and dedication needed for students to become successful speech-language pathologists and audiologists. She models communication and problem-solving through her interactions with students, and her strong leadership has guided me in my role as Chapter President to become a stronger, more confident leader of my student organization. She supports students not only in their role as student leaders but also in their academic and clinical pursuits, and models effective time management while balancing her own commitments. In working with Ms. Dripps throughout my time as a leader in the University of Northern Iowa's National Student Speech Language Hearing Association chapter, I have personally and professionally benefitted from working with her in countless ways. Without Ms. Dripps to guide my leadership, I would be unable to provide members with such meaningful opportunities for community engagement and professional development, and am incredibly grateful for her unwavering support.”

Abigail Fertal, M.A., CCC-SLP
Louisiana Tech University

"One of the most valuable aspects of having Mrs. Fertal as our advisor is her strong community network. She serves on the Lincoln Parish Special Education Advisory Board, which has allowed our chapter to partner with local schools, volunteer in self contained classrooms, and collaborate with professionals . . . Finally, Mrs. Fertal’s ability to provide vision for our students has had a huge impact on our community. At the start of the 2025–2026 academic year, she encouraged us to set an ambitious goal: donating a communication board for our local public park. She guided us in breaking the project into manageable steps. As of February, we have approval to install boards at not one, but four parks—an achievement made possible through her leadership and collaboration with our students."

• Continued Commitment: Dr. Lillian Stiegler, CCC-SLP, Southeastern Louisiana University
• Making Waves: Dr. Jeridy Oetken, CCC-SLP, Kansas State University