COLUMBIA, S.C. (courtesy columbiasc.edu) — Erin Armstrong, a junior speech-language pathology (SLP) major at Columbia College, stressed the importance of experiential undergraduate learning opportunities in her Nov. 16 presentation at American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) National Convention.
During her presentation at the Boston conference, Erin was able to share her 2022-2023 internship experience and how it has enriched her time as a student at Columbia College.
As an intern, Erin created a digital archive for the South Carolina Speech-Language-Hearing Association (SCSHA). Working alongside Dr. AnnMarie Knight, as well as Columbia College librarian Kala Dunn, she organized materials, created metadata, and scanned documents in order to have all of the information housed within the South Carolina Digital State Archives. Erin shared that while the work was tedious at times, she loved learning more about SCSHA as an organization and getting more involved at Columbia College.
When asked what she would take away from her experience presenting at a national conference, Erin said that it was truly impactful knowing that faculty from other institutions who attended her presentation intended to implement a similar internship experience for their students. She appreciated knowing that her experience had the potential to positively influence the experiences of fellow SLP students across the nation.
As Erin reflected on her experience in the SLP program at Columbia College, she stated, “Every day is something new. I’m a part of a small, tight-knit cohort, and we’ve had the opportunity to learn from and get to know each other in a comfortable, approachable setting. All of my professors here have been integral to my education. Dr. Knight, Ms. Eversmann, and Mr. Kneece each are quick to share their unique career experiences with their students, like me, so that we may all become more comfortable with our career options after graduation.”