Welcoming Dr. Rita Bailey to UofM and Spotlight on the New SLP-A Program

The School of Communication Sciences & Disorders received a grant in Summer 2024 that provided funding for (1) master’s students who would commit to work in rural districts and (2) the creation of an online SLP-A program. With an impressive career that spans both clinical practice and higher education leadership, Dr. Rita Bailey accepted a position as the Director for the future SLP-A program in Spring 2025.
 
Dr. Bailey holds a B.S. in Speech Pathology/Audiology, an M.S. in Speech Pathology, and an Ed.D. in Special Education, all from Illinois State University. Her academic career includes 15 years as a faculty member in Illinois State’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, followed by five years as Assistant Provost for International Studies and Honors. In 2016, she became Dean of the K.S.U. Journey Honors College at Kennesaw State University, a role she held until retiring in 2022.

“After moving to Tennessee to be closer to family, I returned to clinical practice as an SLP in a West Tennessee school district,” Dr. Bailey shared. “That experience reconnected me with the day-to-day needs of school-based clinicians and reminded me of the critical shortage of professionals across the state.”

The SLP-A program is being developed to align with both state licensure requirements and national standards from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). It will be a stand-alone set of eight online courses. “This program is not only about increasing the number of qualified SLP-As,” said Dr. Bailey. “It’s about expanding access (to care), especially in underserved communities, while ensuring a high standard of training and support.” Dr. Bailey’s goals for her first year at UofM are to successfully propose, develop, market, and launch the SLP-A program by fall 2026.

The long-term vision for the SLP-A program is expansive. In a few years, SLP-A students will be able to complete clinic hours with students in the Master’s program which will allow for more collaborative, tiered service delivery models in the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center. Eventually, students in the master’s program will have the opportunity to learn how to supervise SLP-As while they are still enrolled in the program. “As we address the workforce shortage, we’re also creating opportunities for growth and innovation within our profession,” Dr. Bailey noted. “I’m excited to see how this program will evolve and impact students, professionals, and the communities we serve.”

We are proud to have Dr. Bailey on board and look forward to the launch of the SLP-A program as a key step forward in our mission to meet the needs of our region and the future of the Speech Language Pathology field.