GSHA Leadership and Mentoring Academy (GLMA)
Mission: The program encourages you to develop your leadership skills and give back to the professions of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology through volunteer service—whether with GSHA, at your workplace or for a related professional organization.
Purpose: The GSHA Leadership and Mentoring Academy aims to build essential leadership skills and develop strong peer relationships as well as professional networking skills. Participants will develop their knowledge and skills through application via a service project. The program strives to prepare participants to apply their leadership skills in future professional roles.
GLMA Outcomes (Gathered Through Exit Surveys and Written Student Testimonials)
Leadership Development
Mentorship and Networking
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Participants identified networking and collaboration as key skills and benefits gained through the academy, building meaningful connections with mentors, professionals, and peers across the state.
Community Impact
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Past projects included the following:
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Choose SLP, an ongoing initiative to raise awareness for underrepresented voices in speech-language pathology (@chooseslp on Instagram)
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Caregiver workshops focused on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
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Creating caregiver binders with strategies for communicating with loved ones with dementia for an assisted living facility
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Photography exhibit honoring personal communication stories of speech therapy clients
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Creating low-tech AAC supports for bilingual elementary-aged students
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Providing communication support for neurodivergent actors in a local theater troupe
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Family sensory night, hosting stations focused on regulation, motor skills, and sensory exploration (hosted at Valdosta State University's new sensory gym, funded by GSHFoundation!)
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Caregiver workshops on language for parents and children at McKenna Farms
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Improving accessibility by campaigning for closed captions to be turned on at 12 local businesses
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Book drives to build local school SLPs' supplies
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Students presented project outcomes alongside faculty members at the statewide GSHA Convention.
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Through mentor-facilitated community connections, students identified opportunities to serve individuals with communication disorders and other underserved populations.
OUR FAVORITE MOMENTS:
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Participants
2026-2027 Cohort: Coming Soon!
2025-2026 Cohort: Sierra Perez, Jenna Dekich, Desha Rose, Jennifer Gomez, Madison Brooks, Valencia Valestin, Kaley Padgett
2024-2025 Cohort: Sarah Moore, Mikayla Rigsby, Katy Wilczynski, Chloe Sims, Jacee Waters, Shaniya Johnson, Holley Kate Schramm
Thank you to GSHA for sponsoring participants' registrations to GSHA Convention!
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