June 20, 2023 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

Knowing she wanted a career serving others, Jamie Plummer Jones studied psychology as an undergraduate student at Clemson University, near her hometown in Seneca, South Carolina. During her coursework, she discovered a love for learning about behavior, development, neuroscience and cognition.

When looking at graduate schools, she knew that the Arnold School’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (COMD) offered one of the nation’s best Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology programs. Plus, she loved that USC was home to the Montgomery Speech- Language-Hearing Clinic, had strong connections with off-campus practicum sites and offered opportunities to conduct research. Staying in South Carolina was also important to her. 

During her program, Jones worked as a graduate assistant in COMD chair Jean Neils-Strunjas’ Aging Gracefully Lab. Together, the team studied how lifestyle factors (e.g., social engagement, physical activity) affect cognition.

 

“Dr. Neils-Strunjas has had a huge impact on me – providing so many opportunities that I know I wouldn’t have otherwise,” Jones says. “I have learned so much in her lab from her, our research, and through our community collaborations.”

The Outstanding Master of Science-Residential Student Award winner found another mentor in clinical associate professor Angela McLeod, who directs the Montgomery Clinic. 

“I have a lot of respect and admiration for Dr. McLeod, who has been a great role model for the type of clinician I want to be,” Jones says. “She is so knowledgeable of our field and a great clinical supervisor while still being one of the kindest and most patient people I know.”

Off campus, Jones gained clinical experience at a local elementary school, private practice sites and a hospital. She found her niche working with children and plans to pursue a position working with pediatric populations after graduating in August.

She is also considering a return to academia to pursue a Ph.D. and already has a good start to that path with a peer-reviewed publication to her name (first author) and another (second author) paper in press. She has also presented at major meetings, such as the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Conference.

“Keep an open mind and take the time to learn and listen not only in your classes and to your clinical supervisors, but to the people you are serving,” Jones shared of her lessons learned. “Their voices are the ones that really matter and shape our practice.”