Susan Ellis Weismer, Oros-Bascom Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders and principal investigator at the Waisman Center, received the 2017 Alfred K. Kawana Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This award, named after the former director of ASHA publications, recognizes a sustained history of exemplary publication by a scholar whose journal contributions span a period of at least 10 years and are meritorious in their educational, scientific or clinical value.
Dr. Ellis Weismer has focused her research on investigating the developmental course and nature of language processing in typically developing children, late talkers, children with specific language impairment, and children with autism. Her research has contributed greatly to expanding what is known about the relationship between language and aspects of cognitive functioning, such as working memory capacity. She has published in and provided editorial leadership to the ASHA journals for more than 30 years.
The Kawana Award recognizes her exceptionally impactful and prolific scientific contributions as well as her generous service to the ASHA Journals Program.