From Student to Instructor

As a student in Longwood’s Communication Sciences and Disorders, M.S. program, Acey Holmes benefited firsthand from the department’s emphasis on connection and collaboration.

Since receiving her master’s in 2011, Holmes’ career has blossomed. She now works as an online instructor in Longwood’s program and a home health speech-language pathologist. She has also founded Solve Learn Play, a company that helps toy, game and app designers ensure that their products are accessible for all children.

“I started Solve Learn Play when I realized my clients with language disorders often struggled with some educational apps,” Holmes explained. “I'm about to start working with my second client!”

Working closely with graduate faculty and students, Holmes has formed important connections that have supported her throughout her career. Mentorships with her professors gave her the confidence to pursue an impressive acute care clinical fellow position at a highly esteemed, out-of-state hospital. 

“The faculty at Longwood is filled with individuals with extensive and impressive experience in our field,” Holmes said. “They are truly dedicated, turning students into successful clinicians. They are constantly working to improve the program through resources they can provide their students, course options and clinic/placement experiences.”

Holmes maintains that it is this collaborative spirit that is the bedrock of Longwood’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program. 

“Even when I transitioned out of the medical setting,” Holmes explained, “I felt that same confidence in returning to work with pediatrics because of Longwood's education and training, as well as the direct support and feedback from my professors and advisors.”

In her current role teaching online in the CSD program, Holmes instructs aural rehabilitation, a unique course that covers everything from hearing loss to deaf culture to amplification technology.

“Students are in the best time of their careers, in my opinion. It's a time to explore and learn all the things that will shape your professional life,” Holmes explained. “My favorite thing is watching biases change for the positive.”

“As a student, it was clear that the faculty was dedicated to continuing the growth of the program,” said Holmes. “I knew my own success was a direct result of my time there, so I wanted to be sure that I supported that growth in any way I could.”