Brenna Downing

About Brenna

Brenna Downing is a second-year AuD student at the Northeast Ohio AuD Consortium (NOAC). She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with Professional Deaf Resources Liaison and Gerontology certificates from Ohio University in 2024. Brenna hopes to gain more experience working across the lifespan as she completes her time at NOAC and continues to be an advocate for the profession. She has been involved with her local SAA chapter as the Ohio Academy of Audiology Liaison and the advocacy committee chair, and will continue this role into the next year. Brenna is looking forward to making connections with other students motivated to positively influence the profession. In her free time, you can find Brenna trying out new recipes, taking on a new craft, or caring for her growing collection of plants.

If you could change one thing about the profession of audiology, what would it be?

I would strengthen public awareness and access to audiology so hearing health care is treated as essential, not optional. Many people may delay seeking treatment because they are unsure what an audiologist does, assume hearing loss is an inevitable part of aging, or face other financial or geographical limitations. By the time these people seek out an audiologist, communication difficulties may have already strained their personal relationships and/or career. At the same time, audiologists are highly trained professionals in hearing, balance, and communication, who, I believe, are underutilized in interprofessional and public health settings. I would change how the profession is visualized and integrated. This includes stronger advocacy efforts to educate the public and other professionals on hearing health care and stronger collaboration with other health care providers. When audiologists can be accessed earlier, they can improve outcomes in their patients. As an audiology student, I am especially interested in how student leaders can help foster this change within the profession through community outreach, advocacy, and creative initiatives.

What unique traits or skills will you bring to a leadership position with the national SAA?

One trait I would bring to a leadership position with the national SAA is a passion for advancing the profession of audiology. As my chapter’s Advocacy Committee Chair, I have been able to channel this passion into action by educating peers, engaging in advocacy efforts, and promoting the value of audiologists in our communities. I also bring an informed perspective on what it means to serve in a leadership role at a broader level. My experience as the OAA liaison has given me a glimpse into how a larger-scale BOD operates and how their decisions can influence the direction of the profession. Through this role, I have attended problem-solving workshops and conferences focused on mapping the future of audiology in Ohio, which has helped me understand the challenges and opportunities facing our field.

Additionally, I am an adaptable and creative person. I enjoy coming up with new ideas and thinking about how to approach problems from different angles, and I am motivated by a genuine interest in seeing the profession grow and excel. I am comfortable adjusting to new situations, collaborating with others, and adjusting ideas based on feedback. I believe this combination will allow me to contribute meaningfully to a leadership position with the national SAA BOD.