December 9, 2022 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
When Anna Ehrhorn was working as a speech-language pathologist at schools and clinics in Ohio, she found herself asking three questions over and over: What puts children with communication disorders at risk for academic difficulties? Why? How can speech-language pathologists support children at risk for these difficulties?
“The field of communication sciences and disorders (COMD) had many answers to my questions, but not all, leading me to pursue my Ph.D.,” the December graduate says.
Ehrhorn enrolled in the Arnold School’s Ph.D. in COMD program in 2017. Five-and-a-half years and two children later, she’s graduating with expertise in speech, language and literacy development and disorders as well as an offer to join Auburn University as an assistant professor in January.
Throughout my academic and professional career, I have always been interested in supporting children and their families to ensure academic success.
-Anna Ehrhorn, Ph.D. in COMD, '22
Originally from Minnesota, Ehrhorn became interested in speech-language pathology while taking COMD courses and volunteering in a research lab at the University of North Dakota. She completed a master’s in the field at Bowling Green State University and spent the next few years as a clinician working with pediatric populations.
“Throughout my academic and professional career, I have always been interested in supporting children and their families to ensure academic success,” Ehrhorn says. “I decided to attend USC to study with Dr. Suzanne Adlof, and she has provided me with many opportunities to grow, learn, and become a passionate and well-trained researcher.”
During her program, the Norman J. Arnold Doctoral Fellow conducted research as a member of Adlof’s South Carolina Research on Language and Literacy (SCROLL) Lab, where she mentored master’s and undergraduate students. Her academic and research achievements have been recognized with the Pathways Program Protégé Award (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association), Student Award (Symposium on Research in Child Language Disorders Conference), Taylor and Francis Award (Society for Scientific Study of Reading) and the Elaine Frank Fellowship (COMD department).
Be brave. Be bold. Be humble. Be an advocate for yourself and future students.
-Anna Ehrhorn, Ph.D. in COMD, '22
Over time, Ehrhorn has refined her research interests to focus on understanding early literacy strengths and deficits in children with speech sound disorder. Her work uses behavioral and eye-tracking methodologies to optimize functional communication and academic achievement. She will continue this research and her mentorship/teaching activities in her new position.
“Be brave. Be bold. Be humble. Be an advocate for yourself and future students,” Ehrhorn advises others considering a similar path. “Give yourself grace and understanding while learning. Set boundaries and do your best to stick to them. Remember this is not a race, it’s a journey.”