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A newly-established endowed scholarship honors Melody Harrison Savage, PhD, a faculty member for nearly 40 years in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, who retired from the UNC School of Medicine in 2018 following a distinguished career. The scholarship has been made possible by the generous support of an anonymous donor to impact the division for years to come.

Melody Harrison Savage and her colleagues at her 2018 retirement party.
Melody Harrison Savage and her colleagues at her 2018 retirement party.

The Harrison Savage Childhood Hearing Loss in Speech-Language Pathology Endowed Scholarship Fund honors Harrison’s legacy by providing scholarship support for students who have an interest in childhood hearing loss.

Sharon Wallace Williams, PhD, CCC-A, and the division’s director, said this transformational gift will positively impact students who choose to pursue speech-language pathology with a primary focus on children and hearing loss. “By way of this endowment, current and future students will be able to carry Harrison’s legacy into classroom, clinics, and research institutions across North Carolina and beyond,” she said.

“This endowed scholarship is a wonderful way to acknowledge Melody’s long-lasting impact in our division,” Williams said. “It will open doors for those who wish to pursue speech-language pathology and transform the lives of children, and their families.”

Harrison arrived at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1980 and within a few years had developed one of the nation’s few training programs where speech-language pathology students could learn to work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Her former students now practice throughout North Carolina and the United States.

Her career at the University included excellence in components of teaching, research, and service. Harrison’s research ranged from studies addressing the needs of children, parents, and families, to language and communication development. Her publications and presentations enabled her to share her expertise on a national and international stage.

Williams said Harrison’s creative ideas and work ethic shaped every aspect of the division’s programs. “In the area of service to the University, she worked tirelessly on the many administrative responsibilities associated with her role as coordinator of the master’s program. In service to the profession, she became well known as an influential figure on the national stage,” Williams said. During her career, Harrison served as president of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She was recognized in 2016 with Honors of the Council.

In his remarks at Harrison’s retirement celebration, Jackson Roush, PhD and former division director, described Harrison as a gifted educator, clinician, and scholar, who always championed her students. “Her impact will continue through her contributions to our programs and through the many students she mentored and inspired,” Roush said.

In honor of Melody’s recent retirement, her contributions to our division and to the profession, and in recognition of this outstanding tribute, we hope you consider making a gift to the Harrison Savage Childhood Hearing Loss in Speech-Language Pathology Endowed Scholarship Fund to become part of this transformational time in the division.

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