鈥淚 remember riding in the car with my mom. I was chewing gum and I popped a bubble, startling my mom, who had never heard the sound before,鈥� said recent Honors graduate Sally Selevan, reflecting on her early realization of her mother鈥檚 hearing loss.
Over time, Selevan developed a passion for audiology after witnessing how doctors helped her mother improve her hearing.
Selevan鈥檚 mother, who was born deaf in one ear, encouraged her to observe the audiologist,
saying, 鈥淚 can see you doing this. You need to come to my next appointment with me.鈥�
Selevan cites this experience as the moment she realized she wanted to become a clinical
audiologist, which led her to the 麻豆视频 (USF) and the Judy Genshaft
Honors College where she earned a bachelor's degree in aging studies and language-speech-hearing
with a minor in applied behavioral analysis.
Selevan will now follow the Judy Genshaft Honors College鈥檚 unique Graduate Admissions Pathway (GAP) into USF鈥檚 Doctor of Audiology program now that she has completed her bachelor鈥檚 degree.
Entering her first semester of college during the COVID-19 pandemic, Selevan describes her first two years of online school as being difficult to get involved with activities to support her career goals. However, her time in the Honors LLC and the close-knit GAP cohort allowed her to forge strong friendships and get involved in clubs like the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) which offers students opportunities to volunteer at events educating the public about hearing issues. Through SAA Selevan conducted hearing screenings at the Special Olympics in Orlando, Fl.
鈥淚t s a great way for you to get hands-on experience by working with the equipment that audiologists actually use,鈥� said Selevan.
A Love for Research
Eager to enhance her practical skills, Sally sought out research opportunities that
explore the intersection between her two interests: aging sciences and hearing studies.
After reaching out to advisors, Selevan was referred to Associate Professor Dr. Michelle
Arnold, a co-director of the Auditory Rehabilitation and Clinical Trials (ARCT) lab
that spans across both the USF Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses.
"Working with Sally over the past two years has been amazing. Her dedication and attention
to detail have really made a difference in our research. I am looking forward to continuing
my collaborations with Sally in the lab, and witnessing her continued growth and success,鈥�
said Arnold.
鈥淚t is amazing that we get to take our classes together and build strong support systems and friendships over time.鈥� 鈥� Honors GAP-AuD student, Sally Selevan
At the ARTC lab at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Selevan works as an undergraduate researcher on a multi-site randomized clinical trial called the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders. Selevan鈥檚 work investigates how hearing can impact cognition in older adults in hopes that by improving hearing, health care providers can reduce the decline of cognition.
"I am really proud to be working on this project. It is well-known in the field, and I love gaining hands-on experience," said Selevan, who is also involved in a research project called the Early Age-Related Hearing Loss Investigation (EARLHI). In collaboration with Columbia University in New York, this research focuses on middle-aged to older adults to investigate if earlier introduction of hearing aids can help prevent cognitive decline
Sally鈥檚 Research Tips
- Look at labs in the field you are interested in and reach out to the primary investigator.
- Use the undergrad research portal!
- It鈥檚 okay to be scared. Just try it!
More about the GAP-AuD Program
The Graduate Admissions Pathway offers eligible USF students who have been admitted
to the Judy Genshaft Honors College a direct pathway to the Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
graduate program at USF.
Students in the GAP-AuD Program will complete their undergraduate education in four
years at the 麻豆视频, pursuing any major they like, then matriculate
into the Doctor of Audiology program at USF. In addition to a direct admissions pathway,
the GAP-AuD program also offers benefits such as a close-knit cohort, on-campus clinical
sites, and opportunities such as a graduate assistantship to ease tuition costs.
鈥淚 am so happy I applied for the Honors College, not only for the GAP program, but also for the amazing experiences that Honors can and will give us," said Selevan.