College of Education and Health Professions Reconfigures Two Departments to Align Academic Programs

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At left, Kristin Higgins speaks at the RHRC farewell event in May. At right, the occupational therapy doctorate team, (l to r) Kandy Salter, Fran Hagstrom and Sherry Muir, meet in the OT house on campus.

The College of Education and Health Professions reconfigured two departments over the summer to improve its organizational structure.

The college's communication sciences and disorders and occupational therapy programs were combined, creating the Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy. Its academic code is CDOT.

"The new department improves the fit and alignment of the research, service, and academic activities of both programs," said Dean Kate Mamiseishvili. "Both strongly emphasize clinical education. Combining them also strengthens the interdisciplinary research and clinical education opportunities between the occupational therapy and communication sciences and disorders faculty."

With the communication disorders program moving to its new department, the college's Department of Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders (RHRC) was also reconfigured. It's now the Department of Counseling, Leadership and Research Methods. Its academic code is CLRM.

"The strength of the CLRM department is its clear emphasis on professional education for aspiring and established professionals," Mamiseishvili said. "All programs in the Department of Counseling, Leadership and Research Methods have a strong focus on graduate-level training of researchers, leaders, and counselors, and the new name of the department more accurately reflects its focus."

Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy

Fran Hagstrom was designated founding head of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy for the 2023-24 academic year. Hagstrom has extensive experience as an administrator at the U of A, having served as assistant dean for health professions, associate dean for international education, and a former department head of Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders. She was also instrumental in establishing the college's occupational therapy doctorate.

The communication disorders program offers bachelor's and master's degrees in the field. A post-master's Certificate in Advanced School-Based Speech-Language Pathology is also offered. The program includes the University of Arkansas Speech and Hearing Clinic, which provides comprehensive speech, language, and hearing services to people of all ages and has served Northwest Arkansas since 1960.

The occupational therapy doctoral program is a three-year, full-time, on-campus program with an off-campus fieldwork and capstone component. The O.T.D. degree is a joint offering between the College of Education and Health Professions and the College of Health Professions of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

The department has about 20 faculty members and over 400 students.

Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods

Kristin Higgins, who was recently named the RHRC department head, will continue to serve in that role for the newly formed Department of Counseling, Leadership and Research Methods. Higgins has taught counseling in the college for more than 17 years and has extensive experience training clinical mental health, school, and rehabilitation counselors. She supervises counselors in training in mental and behavioral health settings and is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Arkansas.

The department's academic programs prepare professionals who promote mental health and wellness, provide leadership and training to educational institutions and organizations, and perform evaluation and research. The Department of Counseling, Leadership and Research Methods houses multiple academic programs, including adult and lifelong learning, community college leadership, counselor education and supervision, educational statistics and research methods, higher education, and human resource development.

The department has about 30 faculty members and over 450 students.

The College of Education and Health Professions has six total departments. They prepare students for a range of professions in education and health. In addition to its longstanding role of preparing educators and educational leaders, the college also trains nurses, speech-language pathologists, public health specialists, recreation and sport professionals, counselors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and exercise science professionals.