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Joan Good Erickson, Ph.D received her undergraduate degree in speech pathology and elementary education in 1956 from Northern Illinois University. She went on to earn her master's in speech pathology and Ph.D. in early childhood education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She worked as a speech, language and aural rehabilitation therapist, a clinical audiologist and part-time psychology research associate. Prior to passing away in 2011, she served in an advisory capacity on many committees and panels at the state and national level related to education and speech and hearing science. Her publications include two edited books and numerous journal articles and book chapters as well as instructional television programs and clinical materials. Her later research focused on cross-cultural attitudes toward disabilities. The Joan Good Erickson Award is to support a student focusing on multicultural issues, hearing loss or cleft palate

Apply for the Joan Good Erickson Clinical Excellence Award

Cletus Fisher, Ph.D. came to NIU in 1968 with a desire to create a Department of Communicative Disorders that could stand-alone from the Department of Speech. As a result of his efforts, the Department of Communicative Disorders (now known as Allied Health and Communicative Disorders), became one of the largest such programs in the state, and ranked near the top of similar programs in the country. At the time, the department offered the only rehabilitation-counseling program in the state with a focus on deafness. The Cletus G. Fisher Award is to support an exceptional senior studying communicative disorders or rehabilitation services.

James Andrews, Ph.D. was a professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders from 1970-2000 and passed away in 2016. During his time at NIU, Jim served as the director of the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and also as department chair. Professor Andrews pioneered the Family Based Treatment approach, along with his wife Mary- a family therapist. Together, they co-authored the book, "Family Based Treatment in Communicative Disorders: A Systemic Approach" that was an early catalyst in training generations of speech therapists across the country to work more effectively with families and helped us see that families have great power in effecting change if we give them the opportunity. The student receiving this award has demonstrated an understanding of the importance of including families in the decision making process during their first year of clinical training in the speech-language pathology program at NIU. They emulate Professor Andrew’s passion for working with the family unit to promote change.

The Outstanding Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Alumni Award is given to alumni who have made outstanding contributions in one or more of the following ways:

• Exceptional accomplishment in the profession of speech-language pathology.
• Exceptional service in local, state or national affairs.
• Exceptional service in support of the advancement and continued excellence of NIU.

Award Criteria

• Be a graduate of NIU’s master’s degree program in communicative disorders with a specialization in speech-language pathology.
• Be at least five years post-graduation
• Be able to attend the award ceremony. The award is presented to recipients at the School of Allied Health & Communicative Disorders’ Award Ceremony in April.

Exclusionary Criteria

• Current members of the NIU faculty are not eligible for the award

Selection Process

• Nominations will be reviewed by the NIU Speech-Language Pathology awards committee
• The award recipient will be notified by the last day of November.
• If a recipient cannot attend that year’s award ceremony, they will be offered the award for the following year.
• The award winner’s name will be publicly announced immediately after accepting the award.

Nomination Information

To nominate a candidate please complete provide the following information no later than November 15:

• Outstanding SLP Alumni Award nomination form
• Attached letter of nomination outlining the nominee’s accomplishments
• Provide a copy of the nominee’s CV/resume