Maryanne Atchley-Babb

A second year graduate student in speech-language pathology was awarded the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s 2018 Betty Bass Scholarship.

Maryanne Atchley-Babb began attending the University of Arkansas in 2014, following a 14-year career as a professional graphic artist. She was inspired to return to school and pursue a career as a speech language pathologist after her son was diagnosed with a communication disorder at age 2. Babb received her Bachelor of Science in Education in communication disorders in 2017 and is scheduled to graduate with a Master of Science this May.

The U of A’s communication disorders program is part of the Department of Recreation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders in the College of Education and Health Professions.

Aletha Cook, director of clinical services for the communication disorders program, said Babb “is an analytical, good-natured, independent student, who is also a mother of two children. She is an excellent representation of the diversity in our student body.”

The association, called ArkSHA, connects audiologists, speech-language pathologists, students and consumers. It offers professional development, information for job placement, networking and legislative lobbying for the professions of speech pathology and audiology.

Cook recently was elected the association’s vice president-elect for continuing education. Also, Rachel Glade, a clinical assistant professor of communication disorders at the U of A, was elected its president-elect.