Meet Outstanding Master小蝌蚪APP檚 in Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Narges Firouzshahi
Narges Firouzshahi is the recipient of the Spring 2021 Alumni Association Outstanding Master小蝌蚪APP檚 Graduate Award. She received her Master小蝌蚪APP檚 of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology last week. 
She earned her undergraduate degree in audiology through the Tehran 小蝌蚪APP of Medical Sciences in Iran.
During her studies, Narges has worked in clinic, hospital, and school settings with a variety of speech, language, hearing, and cognitive-linguistic impaired clients and patients.
She has undertaken numerous assignments beyond the expectations and requirements of the master小蝌蚪APP檚 program in speech-language pathology.
小蝌蚪APP淣arges has a reputation in the department for seeking to extend her own understanding by approaching faculty members and clinical supervisors for deeper conversations and more probing questions. When she is particularly interested in a topic, she will ask about getting involved in a project, being part of a research team, or taking on any additional work or duties,小蝌蚪APP says Holly Damico, Hawthorne-BORSF Endowed Professor and coordinator of the master小蝌蚪APP檚 program in speech-language pathology.
Narges maintains a particular interest in the compensatory strategies used by language and literacy clients, and exploring how clinicians can best respond to their occurrences.
For her capstone project, she focused on home programs for teenage fluency (stuttering) clients.
While at UL Lafayette, Narges has also published in a peer-reviewed international journal. The article, 小蝌蚪APP淚ranian Persian: A Guide to Speech and Culture for the International Clinician,小蝌蚪APP was published in the Journal of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech in 2020.
The paper provides an accessible reference manual on Iranian Persian child speech in typical and atypical as well as monolingual and bilingual contexts. It also discusses cultural aspects that can impact the success of clinician and client interactions.
小蝌蚪APP淎s a field focused on communication and language situated in cultural and linguistic communities, these types of resources are needed and valued, especially as the country orients to a wider focus on diversity and equity,小蝌蚪APP Damico says.
Narges has worked on several proposals to the annual American Speech-Language and Hearing Association Convention, and has given presentations to graduate and undergraduate students at UL Lafayette.
She was elected to membership in the UL Lafayette chapter of Phi Kappa Phi last spring.
Narges plans to continue her research in language and literacy by pursuing a doctorate.
The communicative disorders Master's program at UL Lafayette prepares you to translate theory and research into effective clinical practice.