Paula S. Cochran, Ph.D.,CCC-SLP

Professor Paula Cochran joined the communication disorders faculty at Truman State in 1987. When not surfing the web or fiddling around with a new piece of software on her computer, she teaches undergraduate classes in language development and graduate level classes in research methodology, language disorders in children, and clinical applications of computers/assistive technology.

She graduated with her BA from the College of Wooster, her MA from Ohio University, a Diploma in Linguistics from the University of Cambridge and her Ph.D. in Communication Disorders from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Cochran has worked as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in many different settings including a school system, community mental health center, home care facility, rehabilitation center, and currently the university clinic. Dr. Cochran was on sabbatical leave from Truman for the 1997-98 academic year.

Dr. Cochran's undergraduate student research group, TSR, has been meeting as an ongoing learning community for more than 20 years. Each semester they explore the clinical applications of a new technology. Annually, they present their work as a group at the Truman Student Research Conference. Dr. Cochran also frequently advises individual undergraduate and graduate student research studies. In May 2009, Kia Hartfield Johnson, one of Dr. C's former McNair research students, returned to Truman to present the keynote speech at Truman's annual McNair Scholar dinner (pictured below: 2009 Dr. C's 2009 Undergraduate Research Stipend recipients; Dr. C, Kia, President Krueger; 2009 TSR students with Dr. C.).

       

In 2007, Cochran was awarded Honors of the Association by the Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Dr. C’s book entitled "Clinical Computing Competency for Speech-Language Pathologists” is published by Paul H. Brookes Publishing. The link below tells more about the book, has podcasts related to some chapters, links to many online therapy resources, and ordering information: http://cccslp.truman.edu

Besides computers, dogs, and dog training, Dr. C's hobbies include card making, working in her garden, and touring historic gardens. Dr. C's favorite places to visit include her home town, Lancaster Ohio, and Thomas Jefferson's home and garden at Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia, and the beach in N.C. She often spends part of the summer in Charlottesville updating her technology skills, writing, and having fun. Dr. Cochran does volunteer work with Victim Support Services, a local non-profit organization that provides a safehouse for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

Selected presentations:

Cochran, P.S. (March, 2008). Technology, Language, Literacy, and SLP’s: Putting All the Pieces Together. An invited seminar for the annual convention of the Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Osage Beach, MO.

Cochran, P.S., & Appert, C. A. (October, 2007). A Bounty of Online Activities for Language and Literacy Development.  A seminar presented at the Closing the Gap Assistive Technology Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Cochran, P.S., (October, 2006). Say what? Podcasting for SLP’s. A seminar presented at Closing the Gap Assistive Techology Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Appert, C.L., & Cochran, P.S., (October, 2006). Treasure Hunt of Online Activities for Language Development.  A seminar presentation at Closing the Gap Assistive Techology Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Cochran, P.S. (November, 2005). How’d You Do THAT? Using computers to generate therapy materials. An invited workshop for Special School District, St. Louis, MO.

Additional selected  publications:

Cochran, P. S. (2008). Technology for individuals with speech and language disorders. In J. D. Lindsey (Ed.), Technology and exceptional individuals 4th Ed.(pp. 303-325). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

Cochran, P.S. (April/May, 2008). A bounty of online activities for language and literacy (editorial feature article) Closing the Gap Assistive Technology for Special Populations.

Cochran, P.S. (2006, Aug-Sept). Podcasts: What are you missing? (editorial feature article) Closing the Gap Assistive Technology for Special Populations, 25 (3), 1, 13.

Cochran, P. S. (May, 2004). Ten recommended clinical computing competencies for SLP’s. Asha Leader, 9 (10), 6-7, 13.

You can reach Dr. Cochran via e-mail at: paula@ truman.edu