Program Puts Students on Path to One of U.S. News’ Top 10 Jobs

03.17.2025

Assistant professor of practice Hannah Pourchot Neale MS’13, PhD’18, shown supervising an Accent Modification Program session, spoke of the vast options available within the field of speech-language pathology.

One of The University of Texas at Dallas’ highest-ranked areas of study is also among the top 10 careers in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The publication’s “100 Best Jobs” list, released in January, ranked speech-language pathologist ninth in terms of pay, room for advancement, a satisfying work-life balance and challenging work.

Like many hopeful speech-language pathologists, UT Dallas speech, language, and hearing sciences senior Kate Christi Sampang found her calling after witnessing the healing possibilities of the role. She has spent recent semesters building a strong foundation for graduate school through various clinical and observational experiences.

“I had a speech therapist starting from preschool all the way through second grade,” said Sampang, who is on track to graduate in May from the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS). “I had selective mutism, so I grew up in speech therapy and then just always had it in the back of my mind.”

Last April, U.S. News ranked UTD’s speech-language pathology graduate program 21st nationwide. The University’s Doctor of Audiology program tied for third.

Hannah Pourchot Neale MS’13, PhD’18 was drawn to speech-language pathology in high school when she witnessed a speech pathologist help her grandmother regain language skills after a stroke. She was inspired to pursue a bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders before attending UT Dallas for her graduate studies.

Today, Pourchot Neale works as an assistant professor of practice of speech, language, and hearing at BBS and as a clinical supervisor. She believes that the drive to improve the lives of patients with communication disorders — along with the demand for specialized skills, competitive wages and job stability — make speech-language pathology a desirable career.

“The field is vast, and there’s no lack of need,” Pourchot Neale said. “You could work with infants who have a swallowing disorder or with adults who are struggling to communicate after a stroke. Or you could work with elementary school children who struggle to say specific sounds. A day in the life for each speech pathologist is so different, which is what makes the field exciting.”

Pourchot Neale also teaches courses in which undergraduate students observe and participate in clinical sessions with individuals who have communication disorders. Through these practicums, undergraduates gain firsthand experience while building a strong foundation for graduate studies.

Sampang is one of Pourchot Neale’s students in a practicum focused on non-native English speakers. Offered by the Callier Center for Communication Disorders and UT Dallas Intercultural Programs, the Accent Modification Program provides international students with opportunities to improve their spoken English through individual and group activities.

Sampang took part in another practicum under Pourchot Neale in Callier Center’s Super Speech program, which helps preschool and kindergarten children with speech sound errors.

“I really like how personal the speech program at UTD is,” Sampang said. “I’ve taken six classes with Dr. Neale, so I’ve known her for two or three years. You really get to know the professors and the students, and everyone is super supportive.”

–Javier Giribet-Vargas