Visionary, Leader, Scientist, Dr. Jennell Vick Named Executive Director of Cleveland Hearing & Speec

Posted February 25, 2015 in Press Releases

Dr. Vick will apply a lifetime of research and leadership experience revolutionizing the science of communication disorders to establish the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC) as a global leader in speech, language, and hearing research, technology development, and implementation science.

CLEVELAND (February 25, 2015) – The Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to name Dr. Jennell Vick, a nationally recognized professor, renowned scientist and experienced leader, its next Executive Director.

Dr. Vick, who is currently Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in the Departments of Psychological Sciences (primary), Biomedical Engineering, and Pediatrics, will assume her duties as CHSC’s executive director on March 2, 2015.

Dr. Vick is no stranger to CHSC. Over 20 years ago, she trained as a speech language pathologist at CHSC and received her Master of Arts from Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Communication Sciences. For eight years, as a Research Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Vick collaborated with one of the world’s top researchers in the area of speech production and cochlear implants. She then completed her doctorate at the University of Washington in Seattle and was in the inaugural class of Callier Postdoctoral Fellows at The University of Texas at Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders. Finally, she returned to Cleveland when she joined the faculty at CWRU in the Communication Sciences Program.

“The Board is elated about the creativity, energy, and leadership that Dr. Jennell Vick will bring to the Center,” said Tom Weber, President of the CHSC Board of Directors. “She intends to integrate these three vital attributes to promote new and innovative solutions to address the challenges of communication disorders and to enhance CHSC’s services and programs. We know that the staff, Board, and stakeholders of CHSC are looking forward to this new leadership phase for CHSC.”

As Executive Director, Dr. Vick will oversee and direct all operations of CHSC, and will be responsible for cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with professional associates and major stakeholders. She will represent the organization in all advocacy, business and professional capacities and serve as the main spokesperson for CHSC. To her new role as Executive Director, she brings particular expertise in innovation and skillful collaboration. While leading CHSC, Dr. Vick will continue to serve as an Assistant Professor at CWRU and will expand her research initiatives on speech and language production, which are funded by the NIH and The Hartwell Foundation.

Dr. Vick previously served as Speech-Language Pathologist at the Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Richardson, Texas, 2009 to 2010; Post-Doctoral Research Scientist, University of Texas at Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Dallas, Texas, 2008 to 2010; Research Assistant, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, 2004 to 2008; Research Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Speech Communication Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, 1996 to 2004.

“It’s an incredible honor for me to return to lead Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center, an organization whose 90 year legacy I have long admired. I have a fond appreciation for the populations served, the richness of the contributions to the community, the extraordinary growth, and the missions of this very special place,” said Dr. Vick. “I envision a Center where research and education are fully integrated with clinical services. This will both promote innovation and enhance the quality of client care.”

Following former director Dr. Bernard Henri’s twenty-six year legacy, Dr. Vick’s appointment was the result of extensive efforts of the executive search committee led by Weber, with specific qualifications in mind for its next director.

“The search committee set out to find a candidate who not only had an excellent history of relationship development, clinical practice, marketing, operations, and fiscal management, but strong qualities of innovative leadership and skillful collaboration. Those are the key strengths we found in Dr. Vick,” said Weber. “We are happy to welcome Dr. Vick, and believe her outstanding management of staff, multi-million dollar projects, and commitment to innovative research will benefit the future of CHSC and the clients we serve.”

About Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC) Today, nearly 95 years after it was founded by Helen Newell Garfield as a lip-reading school for the deaf, Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center is the premier provider of hearing, speech-language and deaf services. The main Center, located in University Circle, is one of three locations providing clinical services, including South Euclid and Broadview Heights. The Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH) is also housed at the University Circle location and an additional location in Lorain.

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Our Mission:
Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center is the premier provider of hearing, speech-language and deaf services, education, and advocacy, helping people connect through communication.