2026-2027 Board Elections

Biographical Information

Ashley Whicker Harkrider is Dean of the University of Tennessee (UT) Health Science Center's College of Health Professions, which includes the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, based in Knoxville, and the Departments of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Diagnostic and Health Sciences, based in Memphis. She is UTAA Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, and Director of the Human Auditory Physiology Laboratory. She has been with UT for 26 years, after earning her BA from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, her MA from UT-Knoxville, and her PhD from University of Texas-Austin. Prior to becoming Dean, Dr. Harkrider was Professor and Chair of the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology for 16 years, providing oversight to ~55 faculty and staff members, 300+ students, large, multidisciplinary campus clinics, and a multimillion-dollar budget. Her research focuses on differences in brain wave patterns while typical and neurodiverse individuals listen to and produce speech. She is committed to improving health outcomes for all patients and reducing health disparities in rural Tennessee via interprofessional education and clinical practice outreach. Her collaborative work has been funded by external and internal grantors like the National Institutes of Health, UT Grand Challenges Grants, Tennessee Rural Healthcare Center of Excellence, and UT Alliance of Women Philanthropists Giving Circle. Dr. Harkrider is published in numerous national and international high-impact scientific journals and has received several editorial awards. Her most recent national leadership position is as Treasurer of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She graduated from the UT Executive Leadership Institute in 2023, was honored with the UT Alumni Association Distinguished Service Professor award in 2016, and named a 2015 Distinguished Alumnus by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Harkrider is married to her husband of 27 years, Robert, with whom she is raising three children. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, running, reading, and traveling.

Qualifications and Plans

My career as an academic leader, spanning 20 years, has positioned me to serve as President Elect and President of CAPCSD. Each of my roles has contributed to developing the skills, expertise, and vision required for this leadership position.
1. Academic Leadership Experience:

• As Associate Head and Chair of the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, I gained invaluable experience in leading teams, managing departmental operations, and fostering academic excellence. These roles honed my ability to navigate complex challenges while prioritizing the needs of faculty, staff, and students.
• My current position as Dean of the College of Health Professions demonstrates my ability to oversee large-scale operations. Managing the academic and fiscal health of four departments on 2 different campuses, 13 degree programs, 100+ faculty and staff members, and approximately 650 students showcases my capacity for strategic planning, resource allocation, and organizational growth.

2. Professional Contributions:

• Serving as Editor of ASHA Perspectives Sig 6 highlights my commitment to advancing knowledge within the professions. This role reflects my ability to critique, interpret, and disseminate impactful data, a critical skill for guiding CAPCSD’s initiatives.
• My tenure as Treasurer of CAPCSD for nearly four years demonstrates my financial acumen and dedication to the organization’s success. Managing financial responsibilities at this level equips me with the insight needed to ensure CAPCSD’s sustainability and growth.

3. Leadership Vision:

• Broader oversight across multiple departments and professions has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing academic institutions and our disciplines. This perspective will enable me to lead CAPCSD with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and advancing and protecting the mission of supporting communication sciences and disorders education.
• Serving as Dean of multiple health professions degree programs has me highly attuned to the federal landscape affecting our disciplines. This awareness helps me to better anticipate changes in policy, funding priorities, and regulatory requirements, ensuring CAPCSD remains abreast of national trends that impact its member institutions.

If elected, I will advance CAPCSD's mission of supporting excellence in education, research, and services within CSD. One focus will be to advocate for policies and regulations that benefit our professions and member programs, ensuring the organization remains responsive to the evolving needs of academia and healthcare. I will leverage my experience as Dean of multiple health degree programs to strengthen CAPCSD's understanding of national trends and federal priorities and promote initiatives that enhance student success, faculty and leadership development, and interdisciplinary collaboration across institutions, organizations, and professions. Additionally, I will prioritize financial sustainability and strategic growth for CAPCSD using "return on mission" and "return on investment" decision-making strategies, building on my tenure as CAPCSD's Treasurer. CAPCSD has played a pivotal role in my professional journey by providing invaluable support and opportunities for growth. I am deeply committed to ensuring the organization continues to thrive and shape the next generation of leaders in communication sciences and disorders education and practice.

Current and Previous CAPCSD Activities

2015 Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD) Convention submission reviewer.
2015 Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD) – Chair, Nominations Committee
2015-2019 Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD) – Member, Research, Scholarship, and Academic Development Committee
2018 – 2019 Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD) - Member, Conference Planning Committee
2022-Present Treasurer, Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD)
2023 Scholarship Application Reviewer, Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD)

Other Professional Association Activities

2005 National Institutes of Health Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel, 2005/10 Council ZRG1 IFCN-G 10B – Grant application reviewer.
2012-2015 ASHA Perspectives Sig 6 Hearing and Hearing Disorders - Associate Editor
2013 Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR) – Guest Associate Editor
2016-2019 Editor, ASHA Perspectives, Sig 6.
2017 Member, Vision for Audiology Working Group, ASHA
2017 Action Team Leader, Research and Development Focus Group, Future of Audiology (FOA) Coalition