WKU News

From a desire to benefit her hometown, the close friendships forged within organizations like Alpha Delta Pi, or her hands-on experiences in the Communication Disorders Clinic, a strong sense of community and service runs throughout Jennay Leslie's WKU journey.

A recipient of the Cherry Presidential Scholarship, Leslie arrived on the Hill from her hometown of Garfield, Kentucky.

Looking back on that choice, Leslie is thankful for all of the opportunities and connections she's pursued over the past four years.

"Through taking advantage of the countless opportunities WKU provides, I have been blessed with mentors, friendships and lessons that have allowed me to grow and break barriers as a first-generation college student," Leslie said.

One of the first opportunities Leslie pursued at WKU was membership in a sorority - a choice that shaped her subsequent years on campus. 

"Being a member of Alpha Delta Pi (ADPi) has truly served as the foundation of my WKU experience. As a freshman, I was given so many role models that helped me with my transition to college and gave me the confidence to become involved within our chapter and in the WKU community," she shared.

Inspired by those role models, it was Leslie's turn to lead in December of 2021. Leslie was elected as the Director of Primary Recruitment for ADPi - a critical role for a Greek letter organization that requires detailed communication and coordination. 

"Not only did she support and engage our chapter members throughout the recruitment process, but it was one of the most successful recruitments our chapter has had in a handful of years," shared Allie R. Sharp, Marketing and Recruitment Advisor for the Epsilon Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi.

"It is not easy to motivate your peers when it is 95 degrees outside and you have not had much sleep, but Jennay took on this role and helped our chapter move past any negativity or issue with ease. Her servant leadership heart is evident to all those around her and she has proved that she can lead with intentionality and grace," Sharp said.

In addition to valuable leadership experience, Leslie is grateful for the connections she forged with fellow members. 

"Not only has my time in ADPi pushed me outside of my comfort zone and given me skills to bring into my future endeavors, but I have also gained the sweetest friends that make closing this chapter so difficult. My sisters are a constant support system, keep me 'Jennay' at my core through sharing similar values, and have truly made WKU feel like a home away from home," Leslie said. 

That feeling of home away from home continued beyond the sorority house and into the classroom. Leslie highlighted the close-knit and supportive community within her Communication Disorders major. 

"My professors have made a genuine effort to know each student in my cohort. While it is pretty rare to have a group message with your professors and all of the students in your class, this measure shows how deeply they care about supporting us," she said. 

The Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders is a pre-professional program that requires separate admission to the program and completion of supervised clinical hours.

Leslie's choice to pursue the program was rooted in the desire to both help others and to reinvest in her rural community. 

"I could uplift my community by practicing the profession I love so dearly. Just as speech and language services contribute to growth in a child's life, using a college education in a small community allows it to thrive," Leslie said.

At WKU, practicing her profession and preparing for her future career involved literal practice in the field through a variety of hands-on experiences. During her time at WKU, Leslie pursued a clinical internship, research experience, and a student worker position in the WKU Communication Disorders Clinic to build her professional skills. 

As part of her clinical hours, Leslie worked with a variety of populations and worked to benefit the Bowling Green community. 

One experience confirmed her desire to work with children, as she worked with school-aged children to improve their speech sound production skills. 

"Having the chance to improve my clients' confidence and ability to communicate with others has been so rewarding and solidified the love I have for my chosen career," Leslie shared. 

Through her efforts, Leslie hopes to help children create an early path to success.

"I see the value in teaching in one of the child's most influential environments and the impact services can have on their ability to form meaningful relationships with their peers. Above all, I realize how speech and language services make education accessible to all, giving children the confidence and tools to achieve their greatest dreams," Leslie said.

As part of her own education, Leslie also pursued a research experience to broaden her knowledge of the field. Serving as a research assistant to Dr. Janice Smith, CCC-SLP in Spring 2022, Leslie worked as part of an interprofessional research team between the Department of Communication Disorders and the School of Kinesiology Recreation and Sport. The "Rockout Workout" study focused on using adapted cardio drumming to study the effects of exercise on language and cognitive functioning of adults with Down syndrome. 

When considering the impact of the study, Leslie shared that "this population is at a much higher risk of early dementia; regular exercise has been shown to have positive effects on cognition and language. As part of the team, I participated in cardio drumming with the adults and collected data on expressive language and cognitive functioning." 

Leslie's work with individuals with Down syndrome continued through a clinical experience at Down Syndrome of South Central Kentucky. Leslie provided group therapy, working with adults that have Down syndrome to enhance their language and social skills.

Reflecting on her time at the Buddy House, Leslie was grateful for the opportunity to help individuals and connect with the local community.

"This program provides lifelong learning opportunities, and I am so thankful for the sweet friends I have made along the way," Leslie noted.

Her time at the Buddy House wasn't limited to her clinical hours. As noted by Caroline Hudson, M.S., CCC-SLP, Leslie has a heart for service. Leslie consistently volunteered with the Buddy House and Hudson recalled one moment in particular. 

"Jennay was the first student in her class to volunteer for the Step Up For Down Syndrome Walk in September of 2021. She dressed up as a Minion from Despicable Me and spent hours walking around the event taking pictures with children and advocating for acceptance one hug at a time," Hudson shared. 

As the Clinic Director for the WKU Communication Disorders Clinic, Hudson also oversaw Leslie's work in the Clinic and highlighted her potential as a clinician. 

"Jennay is an amazing student clinician at WKU's Communication Disorder Clinic. Jennay consistently demonstrates compassion, and all of the clients Jennay has served during her undergraduate clinical internship have made measurable gains under her care," Hudson said. 

In the clinic, student clinicians work under the supervision of state-licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists to provide assessment and treatment services to individuals with communication delays and disorders.

For Leslie, the experience provided invaluable hands-on experience in a unique setting. 

"Getting to work at a clinic that serves about 70 clients has been extremely eye-opening. Not only have I gotten to prepare clinical documentation, take referrals, and create clinic schedules, but I also serve as a liaison for families, listening carefully to their needs and assuring them that we will care for their child. I believe the soft skills that I have learned will make me a comforting and trustworthy clinician in the future," Leslie noted. 

Hudson also made a personal impact on Leslie's time at WKU - both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to serving as her supervisor, Hudson first served as Leslie's CD 405 (Phonetics) professor and shared her knowledge of the field. 

"[Mrs. Hudson] is so hardworking and selfless; she cares deeply about her students, employees, and clients. She has taught me the value of being a lifelong learner to be the best clinician possible. I look up to her in so many ways and I hope that I can be at least half the clinician that she is one day," Leslie shared.

As her undergraduate days on the Hill come to a close, Leslie participated in one final opportunity. Serving as President of WKU's chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA), Leslie continues to give back to students within the Communication Disorders program. NSSLHA brings together juniors and seniors for mentorship, friendship and professional development opportunities. In her role, Leslie coordinated community service activities and guest speakers to enrich members' experience in the organization. 

Reflecting on her WKU journey, Leslie is thankful for so many opportunities to grow as a professional and help others along the way. However, she is even more grateful for the individuals she has met on the Hill.

"The best part of my WKU experience has been the friendships that I have made along the way. I have always strived to be very intentional in meeting new people, showing kindness to everyone I encounter, and investing in my relationships. My college memories would truly not be the same if I did not have my best friends by my side through them all," Leslie shared. 

Friends, professors, supervisors and community members - together, this supportive network enabled Leslie to grow and pursue her dreams. 

"I knew I needed a place to call home where I would feel supported and challenged; little did I know I would find just that and so much more," Leslie said. 

And her journey on the Hill is not over just yet. After graduation, Leslie will pursue a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology and continue her path to helping others. 

"I am so proud to remain at this university as it has provided me with countless opportunities to grow both as a student and a future professional. I am excited to further my relationships, deepen my clinical knowledge, and work as a graduate assistant at the Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex," Leslie shared.

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For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders at WKU, visit https://www.wku.edu/communicationdisorders/undergraduate.php.

#WKUGrad series: As part of our #WKUGrad series, articles on graduating students are shared in the weeks leading up to Commencement. See all of their stories at https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=default&categoryid=799&multinewsid=187