NSSLHA Chapter Spotlight: Midwestern University

NSSLHA Chapter Spotlight: Midwestern University
Published in the January 2026 issue of the ISHA Voice.

By Sarah Mueller, ISHA Student Involvement Committee Member & Zaina Ahmed, SLP Graduate Student at Midwestern University Class of 2027

Midwestern University’s NSSLHA chapter is dedicated to supporting graduate students in speech-language pathology while promoting professional growth and community engagement. Sarah Mueller, a member of ISHA’s Student Involvement Committee and an alumna of their program, had the opportunity to connect with Zaina Ahmed, a current speech-language pathology graduate student at Midwestern University and President of the university’s NSSLHA chapter. According to Ahmed, "the chapter provides opportunities for leadership, advocacy, and collaboration across healthcare and educational settings, preparing students to make a meaningful impact in the field."

During the 2025–2026 academic year, the Midwestern University NSSLHA chapter kicked off with two major events. In September, students volunteered at the Apraxia Kids Walk for Apraxia, helping set up the course, hand out t-shirts, and support attendees. The chapter raised over $500 for Apraxia Kids, demonstrating their commitment to advocacy and awareness. In October, they hosted the 10th Annual Aphasia and Stroke Awareness Night at the Midwestern University multidisciplinary clinic. Ahmed shares that "this event includes presentations from different Midwestern programs, encouraging interdisciplinary relationships for improved patient outcomes, personal experiences shared by patients, families, and friends, and resources and strategies for implementation."

The chapter’s service initiatives continued through the holiday season. They organized a food drive for a local pantry and later hosted a holiday party and cookie exchange. Ahmed highlights that "the purpose of this event was to get together, mingle, and talk as a group about cultural considerations. Our students and faculty presented on different holidays that occur throughout the year to remind us to deliver sensitive, considerate, and appropriate care to patients during each holiday season."

Midwestern University’s NSSLHA chapter exemplifies how student organizations can both uplift their members and impact the wider community. Through advocacy, education, service, and leadership, these students are enriching their graduate experience while helping to shape the future of the profession. Sarah Mueller’s conversation with Zaina Ahmed highlights the dedication and passion of these emerging speech-language pathologists and underscores the meaningful work being done at Midwestern University.