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Catherine Clark

Catherine Clark walks around campus with a smile on her face.

For the past 23 years Clark, an assistant professor, audiologist and coordinator of the cochlear implant program in NTID’s Department of Communication Studies and Services, says she’s thrilled working at RIT/NTID because the environment and her job responsibilities are so unique.

Clark provides speechreading and auditory training, performs hearing evaluations and services related to cochlear implants, facilitates RIT/NTID’s Cochlear Implant Support Group and co-teaches a black history course.

She derives great satisfaction from her clinical work and teaching.

“The dual role of clinician and teacher at NTID has provided me with unique experiences as an audiologist,” says Clark. “The interaction I have with my students inside and outside the classroom is wonderful, and the collegiality among the faculty and staff at NTID is outstanding.”

Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing services from Bradley University, a master’s degree in audiology from the University of Louisville, and completed her clinical fellowship at the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles where she worked in the children’s cochlear implant program. This past winter she received her clinical doctorate in audiology (Au.D.) from Salus University.

“The interaction I have with my students inside and outside the classroom is wonderful, and the collegiality among the faculty and staff at NTID is outstanding.”

Clark’s interest in audiology springs from her desire to work with people and use technology.

“The field of audiology combines both of these features,” she says. “I’m happiest when I’m working with my students, and striving to be at the forefront of new technological advancements related to communication, hearing aids and cochlear implants.”

Her professional accomplishments include co-developing (with NTID Audiologist Dr. Donald Sims) a new auditory training program for RIT/NTID cochlear implant students; receiving the Award of Excellence from NTID’s Deaf Professional Group in recognition of her ongoing commitment to deaf and hard-of-hearing people; and winning the Glover-Crask Charitable Trust Grant to purchase $10,000 of cochlear implant mapping equipment.

Outside of RIT/NTID, Clark enjoys interacting with the African-American deaf community, and that has resulted in enriching experiences, such as serving as a Big Sister for nearly 10 years. In her free time, she also enjoys tennis.

Clark says every day at RIT/NTID brings her new opportunities and learning experiences that are very gratifying.

“I’m always smiling because I’m so happy working at this magical place,” she says.

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