Biography

Heather Ferguson is the Chair and Graduate Program Director for the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Andrews University.  Dr. Ferguson has 23 years of experience in rehabilitation, school-based services, and higher education instruction, administration, and supervision.  Student resiliency and success from preschool to higher education has been one of her areas of interest for most of her career. Prior to joining the faculty of Andrews University Heather worked as a school based speech-language pathologist for Bridgeport Public Schools in Bridgeport, Connecticut for 12 years.

While working for Bridgeport Public Schools Heather served as a team member for a cooperative early intervention and education program for Bridgeport Public School and the Royal Bafokeng of South Africa.  Her areas of interest and specialty are in language disabilities and their impact on literacy for school-aged children.  She has also conducted research on mindset, academic self-efficacy and academic motivation as correlates of academic achievement among undergraduate communication sciences and disorders students.  Other research interests include minority student achievement, modifications and accommodations for students in Seventh-day Adventist schools, and voice disorders and risk factors for teachers and preachers.

Heather was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  She is married to Mario Ferguson and together they have two children, Micah and Malaika.

Current Research or Professional Activities

Completed her Ph.D. at Andrews University

Teaches the following undergraduate classes:

• Clinical Application in Speech-Language Pathology
• Clinical Principles and Practice
• Preclinical Observation

In addition, she teaches the following graduate and 5-year classes:

• Comprehensive Examination
• Diagnostics in Speech-Language Pathology
• Orientation in Speech-Language Pathology
• Praxis Preparatory Class
• Research Project in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
• Thesis Option I and III

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