Mrs. Kathy Charleston was recently awarded the Friend of Longwood’s Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program by Longwood alumnus Tori Bunch, CSD Advisory Committee Chair. Mrs. Charleston is the Associate Dean in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and has supported the CSD’s graduate program since its creation. She has been the CSD program’s “go to” person, since the university first approved moving forward with creation of a graduate program in CSD. Mrs. Charleston has been the point of contact for graduate admissions, which quickly became a daunting process as the number of applicants for CSD began to exceed 200 annually. She was actively involved in Longwood’s decision to move to the CSD Computerized Application Service and facilitates the efficient management of the online site.
She is a solution-oriented administrator, looking for ways to address problems that resolve the issue and has an eye to improving processes to prevent and/or minimize future challenges. Building on her experience at Longwood, and her eye for detail, she has been a valuable guide to the faculty and students. She regularly meets with students to support them in navigating unusual situations, with a goal of resolution to benefit both the student and the program. Dr. Lissa Power-deFur, CSD Graduate Coordinator and SW and CSD Department Chair, commented, “Kathy is a perfect example of a servant leader. She works with all students and faculty through her lens of service, working to find solutions that facilitate the work of the graduate program and the students’ experience at Longwood. It is a pleasure working with her.”