Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders; Department Head
Phone: 828-227-3379
Email: ogletree@wcu.edu
Office Address: 158A Health and Human Sciences Building
Education:
- Ph.D., Florida State University
- M.S., University of Memphis
- B.S., University of Southern Mississippi
Biography:
I came to Western in 1992 from the University of Kansas Medical Center where I served as coordinator for speech and language services in the Children Rehabilitation Unit (now the Child Development Unit). I received my B.S. from the University of Southern Mississippi, my M.S. from the University of Memphis, and my Ph.D. from Florida State University. Courses I am teaching or have taught recently are: Introduction to Speech and Hearing Sciences, AAC, Infant Toddler Communication, and Severe Disabilities Seminars.
My research interests center around the communication abilities and needs of persons with severe disabilities and autism. In the past three years, I have had publications related to these populations in the American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the Journal of Communication Disorders, Communication Disorders Quarterly, and the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities
I am an ASHA Fellow, and I serve as the ASHA representative to the National Joint Committee for the Communicative Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities. I also chaired ASHA conference submissions in the area of AAC this year, and I have been named an Associate Editor of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication journal. Drs. Hambrecht, Shapiro, and I learned of US Department of Education funding ($786,219) for a preprofessional and professional training program in the area of severe disabilities and autism in 2008. The final semester of this project begins this fall.
On a personal note, when not in the office, I enjoy my family (two kids, wife, and
four pets), guitars, and fly-fishing. I also like following the Cats and Southern
Miss athletics.