Major: Communication Science and Psychology
Year: Rising Fourth Year
From an early age, Jameia Tyler loved helping others and knew she wanted to do so professionally. Her only problem? She didn’t know which career path to take. Now a rising fourth-year student majoring in communication science and psychology, Tyler credits her experiences at Case Western Reserve University with helping her find the answer.
Like many college students, Tyler came to campus unsure of which major she wanted to pursue. Although she had interests in psychology and healthcare, she spent her first year taking a number of introductory classes in other fields. It wasn’t until she enrolled in an Introduction to Communication Disorders course and learned about the injustices individuals with communicative challenges face that Tyler knew what field she’d pursue: a career as a speech-language pathologist.
“For so long, intelligence has been determined in this country by how fluently and properly one speaks English,” Tyler said. “I desire the ability to bring individuals confidence in any way they choose to communicate.”
Tyler understood her privilege as someone who could be clearly understood—compared to her younger sister, who was often ignored because people couldn’t understand what she was saying—and became determined to grow her skills as an advocate.
“The reality is that many people are not patient enough when it comes to communicating with those who may have a stutter or apraxia of speech due to stroke,” she noted. “I am passionate about being the listening ear to others when no one else will listen.”
Outside the classroom, Tyler serves as secretary of the American Sign Language Club, an organization designed to raise awareness about ASL and deaf culture—but her advocacy doesn’t end there. She also works to highlight discriminatory and racial issues by participating as a member of the Black Student Union and the president of The Sisterhood, which aims to support and empower Black women on Case Western Reserve’s campus.
As a participating member of these organizations, she became more knowledgeable about racial disparities and how to speak up more regarding those issues—a critical skill that she’ll need as a speech-language pathologist.
“It is important that I serve as an ally,” Tyler said, “while also helping others recognize how they can serve as allies to Black women and other minority groups.”
This summer, Tyler will conduct research at the University of Pittsburgh and Northwestern University through IMPACT—a collaborative program between CWRU and Hampton University that equips minority communication science students with the proper tools needed to attend graduate school to become successful clinicians.
After completing her undergraduate studies, she hopes to attend graduate school to help reach her goal as a speech-language pathologist in a hospital setting. Until then, you can catch her around campus participating in a host of university clubs. Or, you can find her enjoying ice cream from Mitchell’s with friends.