National SAA Past President Interview: Stephanie Tittle-Wooten, 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 Stephanie Tittle-Wooten who earned her AuD at the University of Dallas, Texas. Dr. Tittle-Wooten served as national SAA president between 2020-2021.

Why did you originally join the national SAA?

I was involved with my undergraduate National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter and the SAA was the logical next step. I knew the SAA would provide opportunities for me to network and do other audiology activities, besides sitting in class or practicing in the clinic.

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

I started on the Communication Committee in 2018 and then was elected to president-elect in 2019.

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

Be flexible and lean on those around you! My term as president started in July 2020, only a few short months after the pandemic. I had to pivot hard and fast. It shook me up and tested my patience. I couldn’t have persevered without the support of the SAA Board, my mentor, and the rest of the Academy staff.

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

My favorite memory was during our SAA Board of Directors Advocacy trip (I think there’s a SAA blog about it!) in 2019. We were meeting with staffers to advocate for the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act which was successfully passed in 2022. The congressman had his sweet, husky puppy in the office and I love dogs. We played with the puppy for a few minutes and got a picture with him too. The congressman was very friendly and we shared the importance of the act to support audiology students.

Where are you working now?

I work in a rural hospital system in Missouri, one ENT and one audiologist. I do medical/ENT diagnostics for both pediatric and adult patients, a lot of adult hearing aids and a few auditory osseointegrated devices.

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

The SAA set me up for success in a million and five ways. It’s hard to describe, but the SAA made me confident as a new professional. I continue to stay involved with my state audiology organization and serve as president of the Missouri Academy of Audiology. Additionally, the skills I learned with the SAA support me now in my job where I run the day-to-day operations of the audiology department and manage an audiology assistant and other support staff.

Are you currently involved with the American Academy of Audiology?

Yes, I am. I am currently the mentor for the SAA State Ambassador of Missouri. Once my term ends as president of the Missouri Academy of Audiology, I plan to get back into more Academy committees.

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

You’re probably going to hear this many times throughout your career: audiology is a small profession. This is both a blessing and a curse. The peers you meet through the SAA are the same peers you’ll be working with for the next 30-40 years. Be kind and always finish an interaction on positive (or at least neutral) terms.

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.