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.
She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts from the College of Wooster, her Master of Arts 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 for the 1997-98 academic year.
Dr. Cochran has served frequently on the program committee for the annual convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, in the area of technology applications. In 2007, she 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

Samples of her publications that are available online include:
A Bounty of Online Activities for Language and Literacy,
an invited article for Closing the Gap Technology Publication, April/May 2008
http://www.closingthegap.com/home/homedetail_full.lasso?EditorialID=E1609
The Power of Portable Information:
The potential of podcasting in continuing education (an interview
with
Alyssa Banotai)
ADVANCE, June 2006
Vol. 16 •Issue 23 • Page 6
View at:
http://speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/common/EditorialSearch/AViewer.aspx?AN=SP_06jun5_spp6.html&AD=06-05-2006
Cochran, P. S. (2004, May 25). Ten recommended clinical computing
competencies for SLPs.
The ASHA Leader, pp. 6-7, 13.)
You can view it online at:
http://www.asha.org/about/publications/leader-online/archives/2004/040525/f040525b.htm
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.
You can reach Dr. Cochran via e-mail at: paula@ truman.edu