Transferring from a larger school to Viterbo University turned out to be a great decision for Madilynn Tesmer.
“I love it here,” said Tesmer, a junior from Marshfield. “I found that I do better in a smaller school setting, and I’ve made many great connections with peers and faculty. Communication disorders and sciences is a close-knit program, and it was easy to get to know everyone.”
Launched in fall 2023, communication disorders and sciences prepares students for graduate school and future careers in speech-language pathology, audiology, and speech and hearing science. It is a natural precursor to the university’s graduate program in speech-language pathology.
“It is a very diverse, in-demand field with many employment settings—schools, hospitals, outpatient, and private practice,” Tesmer said. “I have always found helping people to be very rewarding, and it’s interesting and enjoyable to work with patients and get to know them on a deeper level.”
Tesmer, who is minoring in American Sign Language/deaf studies, is the president of the Viterbo chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and a member of the university’s American Sign Language Club. Phonetics is her favorite, but she is learning a great deal in all her classes, she said.
“The professors have impressive backgrounds, and their teaching comes from their experience in the field,” Tesmer said. “The program brings scientific knowledge and creativity together, and faculty really help you work toward your goals.”
Outside of Viterbo, Tesmer works at Chileda, an organization dedicated to helping children and adults with cognitive and behavioral challenges reach their full potential. In her spare time, she enjoys card and board games, playing intramural volleyball, spending time with friends, and doing nails.
“I plan to attend graduate school and become a speech-language pathologist,” she said of her career goals. “I would like to start in a hospital, working with patients in stroke care or with dementia, or in an outpatient setting helping kids with autism.”
