June 01, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo
Alumni of the College of Applied Health Sciences have myriad career options thanks to the tremendous diversity of programs. We periodically will put the spotlight on an alum to find out what they’re doing now, what experiences they had and what AHS means to them. This week, we talk to Lynn Bielski, who got her B.S. in Speech and Hearing Science in 2001, Master of Arts in Audiology in 2003 and Ph.D. in Audiology in 2013. She is now an assistant professor in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Ball State University.
Q: Why did you pick AHS?
A: I selected AHS because the Department of Speech and Hearing Science was part of it and had the major I selected. When I began my undergrad degree I wanted to become a speech-language pathologist. Later, I changed focus to audiology after taking a Hearing Science course with Dr. David Gooler.
Q: Which professors had the most impact on you?
A: I was very fortunate to work with many wonderful professors and clinical supervisors including Drs. Charissa Lansing, Ron Chambers, Cynthia Johnson, David Gooler, Lou Echols-Chambers and Carol Parker.
Q: What course did you most enjoy?/Did you enter AHS knowing your career path, or did AHS help you decide?
A: I began as an undergrad thinking I wanted to become an speech-language pathologist. Then I took a hearing science course with Dr. David Gooler, and I changed my mind. I learned more about audiology and realized the blend of anatomy/physiology, physics, neuroscience and clinical practice was perfect for me.
Q: Did your AHS experience lead to your current job?
A: Yes, the mentorship, training and experience I received from AHS and Speech and Hearing Science led me to my current position.
Q: What was your favorite on-campus experience?
A: This is so hard to answer! One of the most exciting experiences was watching the Illini beat No. 1 Wake Forest at Assembly Hall (Dec. 1, 2004). The energy was electric!
Editor’s note:
To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
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