Callier Clinical Director Honored by Peers

Donise Pearson, director of clinical operations for the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, has been designated a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

The status of Fellow, which recognizes Pearson’s lengthy career as a speech language pathologist, is one of the highest honors bestowed by ASHA.

ASHA is the largest professional, scientific and credentialing association for audiologists; speech-language pathologists; and speech, language, and hearing scientists. It has more than 130,000 members and affiliates.

For the past 30 years, Pearson has contributed greatly to the field of communication disorders. She has been a member of ASHA throughout her career and a leader of the organization’s legislative council.

At the state level, she has served in several leadership positions with the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA), including vice president of public information and marketing and president. She has also worked on numerous committees and councils. Her focus has always been on promoting the virtues of speech-language pathologists and audiologists, as well as mentoring young clinicians.

Larry Higdon, former ASHA president, nominated Pearson for the honor. “Donise has an impressive record clinically in virtually all settings in which speech-language pathologists practice,” said Higdon. “She has an insatiable desire for continual learning and growth, and, in turn, is a facilitator of change and a promoter of growth for both her clients and students.”

Pearson’s contributions to the Callier Center are equally impressive. In 1989, Pearson started working at the Callier Center as a speech-language pathologist and was later promoted to lead the speech-language clinical services at Callier’s Dallas location.

Under her leadership, the center expanded its speech-language clinical services to its new location in Richardson, and in recognition of her vision and hard work, Pearson was promoted to director of clinical operations for both the Richardson and Dallas locations.

“During the past 18 years, Donise has been a wonderful and positive force at Callier” said Dr. Thomas Campbell, executive director of the Callier Center. “She has been instrumental in expanding and strengthening our clinical services, and her extensive volunteer activities have been greatly admired and appreciated by speech-language pathologists and audiologists at Callier and throughout the state of Texas.”

The Callier Center, with locations in Dallas and on the UT Dallas campus in Richardson, is one of the nation’s pre-eminent educational, research and treatment centers focusing on communication and communication disorders. The center is part of the university’s School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

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