CSD Faculty and Staff

Leigh Anne Roden is a Clinical Associate Professor who has been with WKU since 2012 when she began teaching as an adjunct faculty member.  A proud Hilltopper, She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Rank I, Director of Special Education Endorsement, Autism Certificate, and Doctorate in Educational Leadership at WKU.

Dr. Roden continues to practice in acute care and early intervention, keeping her teaching closely connected to current clinical practice. She is dedicated to preparing students to become thoughtful, skilled, and compassionate clinicians by creating interactive learning experiences that emphasize critical thinking, professional identity, and advocacy. As a Past President and active member of the Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association, she works to model for students how leadership and service strengthen the profession.

At WKU, Dr. Roden teaches, advises, supervises, and serves as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator. 

Engagement of Speech-Language Pathology Students | Early Intervention | Clinical Supervision | Behavior Management

I believe in the philosophy of "learning by teaching:" Hear one, see one, do one, teach one. Learners hear a concept, key word, or explanation of a therapy technique and then see the concept visually represented, the word defined, or the therapy technique demonstrated. Learners may independently illustrate the concept, write a sentence with the word, or perform the technique with a client. After following this sequence, learners then become teachers by sharing their knowledge with others.

My goal is to use real-world experiences to help students learn. Through case studies, videos, interviews, demonstrations, sample documentation, and practice students are given various channels to help with retention of information. I strive to create an environment where students are challenged, yet comfortable, and instilled with the desire to learn as much as they can about the field of speech-language pathology.

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." - Mark Twain