ATSU Speech-Language Pathology program preparing student to pursue her dreams

ATSU Speech-Language Pathology program preparing student to pursue her dreams

A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program student Monica Andrea Avila, '26, wants to be a friendly face to prospective ATSU students.

It's her memory of friendly faces she encountered during her own interview process that inspired her to become a student ambassador.

"I wanted to become a student ambassador because I remember how much it meant to me to see friendly faces when I first started," she said. "I wanted to be that same support for others. It's truly special to welcome new students into a place that has given me so many great experiences."

Avila is from El Paso, Texas, and has a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation sciences with a concentration in SLP. She said ATSU-ASHS' program aligned with her goals and made it an easy choice for her program.

"The program's focus on multicultural education and whole person healthcare as well as the opportunity to be prepared to serve diverse communities," she said.

"I am excited to serve my community as a future bilingual speech-language pathologist. ATSU's focus on whole person healthcare and its amazing professors are helping me become a culturally competent clinician, ensuring I can provide the best care to all populations."

In addition to serving as a student ambassador, Avila is the class representative for the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and a member of the Garden Club.

"I joined NSSLHA to be able to serve the communities here in Arizona," she said. "I enjoy being part of a group of students who are passionate about making a positive impact through speech, language, and hearing services. Through NSSLHA, I've participated in various outreach events and gained valuable experience supporting individuals of different backgrounds.

"I've also enjoyed being involved with the Garden Club, where we focus on wellness and community by growing fresh produce and creating a calming space for students to connect and recharge."

In her free time, Avila enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and taking her dog, Stetson, out for a pup cup.

On campus, she says she's forged strong relationships with ATSU-ASHS SLP faculty.

"What I enjoy most about being an ATSU student is the abundance of resources, the strong sense of community, and the personalized attention from the faculty. The professors genuinely care about all of our success and make themselves available to support us every step of the way," she said.