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Meet Louise Keegan, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at Moravian College who was instrumental in developing the Master of Science program at the Pennsylvania-based institution. In this episode of The Missing Link for SLPs, Louise walks us through the problem-based learning structure her graduate program embraces, how her background led her to that approach, and what advice she’d give to students seeking out an accredited Master’s program.
Discussion & Reflection Questions
- Can you tell us why you became a speech-language pathologist and why you chose to go the Ph.D. route?
- You recently founded your own Master’s program at Moravian College. Tell us about what makes your program so special.
- Your program embraces problem-based learning and includes a lot of group work. Can you give us an example of a group problem?
- What are some words of wisdom you have for students who are going to be starting a graduate program?
- You mentioned highlighting more mundane skills on your path to becoming an SLP. Can you give some examples of that?
- What words of advice do you have for the student who needs to reach out to a professor for whatever reason?
- When you have students who are getting ready to graduate, and they’re getting ready to leave your program and launch their own careers, what words of advice do you have for them?
Quote of the Conversation
“Do the best you can because if you’re graduating from an accredited program, you’ve got the tools you need. It’s just a case of learning how to listen to others and apply them in the best possible way.”
– Louise Keegan, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS
Louise Keegan, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS
Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology and Founding Program Director at Moravian College

Louise Keegan, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, is an Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology and the Founding Program Director of the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Moravian College. Her primary research examines assessment and treatment of social and cognitive communication disorders after traumatic brain injury. In addition to clinical research, she also conducts research in the scholarship of teaching and learning specifically as related to the areas of experiential learning and problem-based learning. Louise has numerous peer-reviewed publications, has received funding from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and has presented her work at many national and international conferences. In her free time Louise likes to play the flute, travel, and spend time outdoors with her family.
Keep the Conversation Going
Louise Keegan, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS
Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology and Founding Program Director at Moravian College
Sanders, E., Culshaw, M. & Keegan, L.C. (2021). The Flipped Classroom Model: Empowering Future Clinicians. In J.C. Friberg, C.F. Visconti & S.M. Ginsberg (Eds.) Case Studies in Evidence Based Education: A Resource for Teaching in Clinical Professions. Slack Inc.
Meulenbroek, P. & Keegan, L.C. (2020). The life participation approach and social reintegration after traumatic brain injury. In A.L. Holland & R.J. Elman (Eds). Neurogenic Communication Disorders and the Life Participation Approach: The Social Imperative in Supporting Individuals and Families (pp. 181-207). Plural Publishing.
Keegan, L.C. & Togher, L (2018). An innovative clinical training model for students, using the context of a cognitive communication skills group. Perspectives of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Groups, 3 (SIG 2), 21-30. doi:10.1044/persp3.SIG2.21
Keegan, L.C., Losardo, A. & McCullough, K. (2017). Problem based learning and civic engagement in undergraduate education. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 39, 1, 312-319. doi: 10.1177/1525740116685184
Aphasia Access Podcast Interview Episode #59 – LPA for Traumatic Brain Injury: INSIGHT’s from brain injury groups and collaborative learning contexts: In Conversation with Louise Keegan. Aphasia Access. Available at aphasiaaccess.org/podcasts
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