Amy Rosonet, director of the USM Speech Pathology Clinic, will serve as the president of the Mississippi Speech Language Hearing Association beginning in 2018.

Edward Goshorn, chair of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, said he is confident Rosonet will serve MSLHA well in as its president.

“Ms. Amy Rosonet’s recent election as president of MSHA is well deserved,” Goshorn said.

USM shared similar regards in a Facebook post.

“Congratulations to Amy Rosonet on being voted president-elect of the MSHA,” it said.

Rosonet has worked at USM for eight years, previously serving as a clinical instructor and graduate student supervisor. Rosonet continues to advise graduate students as well as teach speech-language pathology.

Rosonet, a nationally certified speech-language pathologist, was named as director of the Speech Pathology Clinic at
Southern Miss in January.

According to its webpage, the clinic offers treatment to children through adults from the surrounding Hattiesburg community.

Rosonet’s current responsibilities as director of the clinic include managing activities, creating the clinic schedule and matching students with clients receiving treatment. Rosonet has also served in MSHA in a number of roles including vice president, honors chair, conference co-chair and conference chair.

“Amy is recognized around the state and region as an accomplished speech-language pathologist,” Goshorn said. “Her election is not surprising to us here in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences because we see her excellent work ethic and innovative ideas every day.”

Rosonet said she will stay in contact with the MSHA despite not serving as president until 2018.

“The president-elect year serves as a time of close contact with the current president to learn policies, procedures, responsibilities and assist with the annual continuing education conference planning,” Rosonet said.

According to the MSHA website, the organization’s goal is to support audiologists and speech-language pathologists in Mississippi by providing resources, information and professional educational development opportunities.

The organization promotes the highest ethical and professional standards as well as advocate for legislation and regulation necessary for members to provide quality care for individuals with communication, hearing, balance and swallowing disorders.

James Peck, former associate director of Communicative Disorders at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, discussed MSHA’s importance to the state communities in dealing with the disabled.

“Audiology scope of practice was expanded to allow hearing instrument dispensing and balance testing under medical oversight,” said Peck, “This is one of the most prominent examples in the past 30 years of what MSHA can do for the fields of speech-language and hearing.”

MSHA serves more than 300 speech-language pathologists and audiologists in Mississippi by providing continual development opportunities, promoting high qualification standard and ethical practices, and advocating for speech and hearing services in the state.