A focus on student-centered, engaged learning is what attracted Associate Professor Jolene Hyppa-Martin to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD).
When did you start at UMD?
I started at UMD as a professor in 2016, but I worked as an academic instructor and speech-language pathology clinical instructor at UMD for several years before earning a PhD and becoming a professor.
Why did you choose to work at UMD?
I love experiencing new parts of the world, but northern Minnesota will always have my heart. It is very rewarding to be part of an organization that is constantly evolving and seeking new ways to serve our students, our communities, and our environment in Minnesota. I am a speech-language pathologist and was drawn to UMD's CSD program because of its commitment to offering research opportunities (a high-impact learning opportunity) for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers related to speech-language pathology and audiology.
What do you like most about your job?
I like a lot about my job, but if I have to pick one thing, it would be collaborating with my students to conduct research through my Augmenting Language Lab. So far, 100 percent of my graduate students who applied have been accepted to present their research at the national level. Many have presented internationally, and several have co-authored peer-reviewed articles with me—this speaks to the quality of the research conducted by our students at UMD.
My lab's research focuses on meaningful topics, like improving communication for people diagnosed with ALS and social inclusion for people with severe communication disabilities. When I first talk with a student about conducting this type of research, they sometimes feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or think it won't be fun. By the end of our time together, they have the skills and confidence to present their research to professional speech-language pathologists and advance the evidence base that guides our clinical practice. I find it so rewarding to mentor students through this process, provide them professional development experiences along the way, and watch them become experts on their chosen topics.
What is your research or teaching focus?
My focus is augmentative and alternative communication (or AAC), which refers to ways for people to communicate when speech cannot meet their daily communication needs. I was incredibly fortunate to study with Dr Joe Reichle, a renowned AAC expert and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Fellow who has authored textbooks, influenced policy, and has been recognized repeatedly for his contributions to individuals with severe communication disabilities.
I facilitated a grant-funded AAC outreach clinic in northeastern Minnesota for several years, and was awarded a doctoral fellowship in Minnesota's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, in which I studied AAC and provided AAC services in an interdisciplinary, community-engaged cohort.
I've published several peer-reviewed articles on AAC, have taught courses on AAC for the SLHS and Educational Psychology programs at the UMTC campus, UMD's special education program, and the former UMD FASD certificate program. I am a co-founder of the Minnesota AAC Town Hall, an event currently in its 9th consecutive year, during which only AAC users are allowed to speak. All other attendees need to listen to the priorities expressed by persons who communicate using AAC, which, in turn, will inform clinical and research practices.
I've had AAC-focused clinical research collaborations with my AAC colleagues at Texas A&M University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Nanjing Technological University of Singapore, University of St. Joseph Macao/Hong Kong, and the Alfred I duPont Hospital in Delaware. For years, I co-chaired our state professional organization's AAC committee, helped develop the Minnesota AAC Repository, and was recently recruited by the state to edit the Minnesota AAC Consideration Toolkit (which is currently in development).
Most importantly, I've provided hundreds of hours of assessment, intervention, and counseling to persons across the lifespan who benefit from AAC, ranging from toddlers to senior citizens, and have had the privilege of serving individuals whose speech has been impacted by terminal diagnoses like ALS. I'd love to teach AAC and incorporate these experiences into my students' learning opportunities.
Do you have any advice for students?
Yes! Come see me if I can ever be of any help to you! I love having students swing by for a chat or just to sample the contents of my candy dish during office hours/drop-in help times. Take advantage of all of your professors' office hours because we love having our students drop in for help! We can help you plan your studying, answer questions about homework or readings, talk about interesting courses you might consider, plan your coursework sequence, or just chat! We are here to help you achieve your goals so definitely take advantage of our office hours!
What do you like to do in your free time?
I live on Lake Vermilion with my amazing husband, Todd, and our sweet papillon, Tinsley. We enjoy all the activities that the lake offers, like kayaking, swimming, boating, fishing, listening to loons, and watching gorgeous red sunsets and the moon rising and sparkling on the water. Best of all, my parents have a cabin on an island that is less than a mile from my house, so I can paddle over for morning coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls with my mom and dad. Northeastern Minnesota is a special place!