Rachel M. Williams, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy, Howard University
• Master of Arts, University of Central Florida
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Florida

Education:

Doctor of Philosophy, Howard University (2006)

Master of Arts, University of Central Florida (1996)

Bachelor of Arts, University of Florida (1992)

Dr. Rachel M. Williams is the director of the Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP.D.) program at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and an associate professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP).  She has been a part of NSU’s faculty since 2005. As the director of the SLP.D. Program she manages the program administration including the curriculum. Additionally, she collaborates with the faculty and adjuncts to assist the students as dissertation chairs and dissertation committee members during the dissertation process; create and sustain program activities associated with expertise of faculty and adjuncts and related academic activities (e.g., CEs, IPE); and diligently engages in the recruitment of students.  In her leisure time, she actively volunteers in the community and enjoys traveling, sports, music, and cooking.

Certification/Licensure

• Certificate of Clinical Competence Speech-Language Pathology American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Florida Licensure in Speech-Language Pathology -State of Florida Department of Health Division of Medical Quality Assurance

Areas of Practice

Dr. Williams has experience in both clinical and education settings. She spent many years as a practicing school-based speech-language pathologist. As a clinician and graduate supervisor, she specializes in working with individuals who stutter. Her main areas of practice are child language, fluency disorders, and accent modification. She is listed as a Specialist for the Stuttering Foundation of America and volunteers as the Department of SLP’s representative and speech-language pathologists for the National Stuttering Association’s Broward County (South) Stuttering Support Group.

Teaching

Courses: SLPD 7000 Technology and Instrumentation in Communication Disorders, SLP 6040 Fluency Disorders, SLP 6091 Multicultural and Counseling Issues, and SLP 6203 Organization and Management of School Based Speech Language Pathology Programs

Dr. Williams began her teaching career as a doctoral student at Howard University where she taught the graduate fluency and voice disorders class. As an associate professor here at NSU, her primary teaching responsibilities are in multicultural populations with an emphasis on increasing awareness of cultural and linguistic variables influencing service delivery and in fluency and fluency disorders focusing on how to assess and provide therapy to people who stutter. Dr. Williams enjoys incorporating technology in the classroom (i.e., media, videos, websites), cooperative learning activities, directed discussions, therapy based role-play, and exploring real life scenarios.

Professional Activity Summary

Dr. Williams is an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and she became a Fellow of ASHA in 2014.  Currently, she serves as a member on ASHA’s Multicultural Issues Board.  In addition, Dr. Williams is member and a Past Chair of the Council of State Speech-Language-Hearing Association Presidents (CSAP).  Additionally, Dr. Williams is an active member of the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (FLASHA) and she was elected as the first African American FLASHA President in 2011.  For many years, she has served on the FLASHA Executive Board in various positions including chair of the past presidents committee, past president, president elect/treasurer, vice president of continuing education and chair of the multicultural committee. Furthermore, Dr. Williams is the former Chair for the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH), which is the premier professional and scientific association addressing the communication interests and concerns of black communication science and disorders professionals, students and consumers. Presently, she continues to be a member of NBASLH and serves as the Chair of the Nova Southeastern University’s Affiliate Chapter of NBASLH. In addition, she is a national member of the Hispanic Caucus and Co-Chair of the Department of SLP’s Hispanic Caucus. The Hispanic Caucus primarily researches and provides speech and language services to individuals from Hispanic populations.

Scholarly Activities and Interest

Dr. Williams’ research areas of interest include culturally and linguistically diverse populations, fluency disorders, diversity training in clinical education and supervision, and leadership in higher education.

Dr. Williams has presented at national and state conferences on the topics such as the clinical doctorate, diversity issues, multicultural populations, higher education, and professional resources:

Co-Presenter, Accepted Seminar - Understanding Diversity in the Classroom: the Unique Challenges of CSD Students from Underrepresented Backgrounds American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention (2020)

Presenter, Presentation - Diversity Issues – Language and Labels The Office of Professional Development and Education Lunch and Learn Series Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences (2020)

Presenter, Mini-Session - SLP Real World 101: What You Always Wanted or Needed to Know but Were Afraid to or Did Not Know to Ask Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Convention (2018)

Co- Presenter, Mini-Session - The World is Changing: An Overview of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Convention (2018)

Co-Presenter, Mini-Session - Increasing Cultural Competency: Professional Resources Including Contributions from ASHA Multicultural Constituency Groups (MCCGs) Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Convention (2017)

Co-Presenter, Presentation - The Unique Perspectives, Collective Voice and Varied Contributions of the
ASHA Multicultural Constituency Groups (MCCGs) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention (2017)

Presenter, Mini-Session - Why Should We Hire You? Preparing for the Job Interview Process Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Convention (2016)

Presenter, Mini-Session- Overview of the Guidelines for the Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology National Black Association for Speech, Language and Hearing Convention (20160

Presenter, Mini-Session - What’s Up Doc? Clinical or Research Doctorate National Black Association for Speech, Language and Hearing Convention (2016)