National SAA Past President Interview: Jennifer Whittaker, AuD

Celebrating 15 Years of National SAA!

Over the past decade and a half, the national Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) has accomplished so much as an organization, building a strong foundation for the future of the audiology profession. The success and growth of national SAA is contributed largely in part to the vision and leadership of its past presidents. To honor and reflect on their hard work, the national SAA communications committee conducted an interview series with several national SAA past presidents.

Our next interview is with Jennifer Whittaker (she/her) who earned her AuD at Washington University in Saint Louis. Dr. Whittaker served as national SAA president between 2017-2018.

Why did you originally join the national SAA?

I joined my local SAA chapter and became a national member as it was recommended. I founded a chapter of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) at my undergraduate college so I was excited to make new connections.

How long did you serve on the national SAA Board of Directors or as a volunteer for national SAA?

I volunteered for the Programs Committee for one year, served on the Board of Directors as a chair for one year,president for one year, and as past present for another year. My year as president was the year we changed the Board’s structure to include the president-elect position

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from being a member of national SAA?

Volunteering with the national SAA allowed me to make connections with students and professionals outside my immediate program and preceptors. I found this extremely valuable for preparation for life out of graduate school.

What is your favorite memory from your term as national SAA President?

Participating in the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Annual Conference  from start to finish. Believe it or not, but I’m not a big fan of public speaking. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone throughout the convention and gained a lot of confidence that week.

Where are you working now?

I work part-time in a smaller private practice that offers speech and audiology services in Pennsylvania. I see children and adults for audiologic evaluations, auditory processing disorder, hearing aids, and cochlear implants.

In what ways did being involved in national SAA influence your career?

It taught me organization skills, how to collaborate and manage others, and showed me that I was capable of more than I imagined. These skills came in handy when my first year after graduation when I worked as an educational audiological and now as an audiologist in private practice. Both positions require a good deal of time management, organizational skills, and advocacy which I learned as a member of national SAA.

Are you currently involved with the American Academy of Audiology?

I have been involved on and off in a variety of roles over the past few years.

What’s one piece of advice you would like to share with current SAA members?

SAA is a great opportunity to connect with other audiology students who are passionate about the same things as you are and meet professionals and potential mentors. Take advantage of every opportunity presented to you that you can!

This interview was completed by Eliana Dachman, a third-year audiology student at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York, NY. Eliana is a member of the SAA Communication Committee.