Alumni Q&A: Hayley Harris - Communication Sciences and Disorders

Will you tell us about how you came to choose communication sciences and disorders as your career?

My mom, Michelle Besten ’81 and ’85, worked as a speech language pathologist for more than 30 years in the Fayette County Public Schools. I loved seeing her with her students. Before I shadowed her working, I pictured speech therapy as mostly helping children correct speech sound errors. I realized after observing her that speech therapy is much more. It was exciting to see speech therapy that involved working with children with disabilities like autism and apraxia. My mom was using play-dough to integrate sensory needs with communication and the students were happy and vocalizing. It was inspiring. What I love now about working with preschool students is very much the same. We have play-based learning. We address sensory needs with speech therapy. I work closely with occupational and physical therapists. It all goes hand-in-hand.

Why did you choose UK’s CSD program?

UK was an easy choice for me. I am from Lexington and I always pictured myself at UK. I was in a sorority and my best friend there encouraged me to apply with her. It was great to start the program with my best friend and, of course, we made many other friends through the program. There is a relatively small number of students so it becomes a tight community working together and learning together. And we have the best professors at UK.

Will you tell us about your career and how your education prepared you for your work?

I work at the Scott County Preschool Center, serving the entire county with 13 preschool classrooms. I was well-prepared for my job thanks to the CSD program at UK. I think observing in the clinic at UK made a big difference. It was an opportunity to see a lot of therapists at work.

Congratulations on receiving the Scott County Outstanding Educator Award from Central Kentucky Education Cooperative! What do you think it takes to be a leader in schools and community organizations as you have?

I think you need to be a really good collaborator to be a leader. In my work, I help my students meet their goals through therapy. I work with teachers on how to integrate strategies for a student’s success into the classroom. I work with the family to bring the strategies into the home. I work with leadership to gain support throughout the entire process which helps in meeting goals as efficiently as possible.

Our alumni are the leading advocates for the College. As an alum, what do you consider to be best points-of-pride for the College of Health Sciences?

The College has a great staff-to-student ratio. More than that, the professors want students to be successful. The overall attitude of faculty and students is that you are not in this program for yourself, but to help others. I also love the screens in the lobby of the Wethington Building. The screens show the statistics behind the accomplishments of the College. I like the push for research as well. It shows that the students, faculty, and staff have a vested interest in making a difference in the long term for people and healthcare.