CSD Colloquium

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, with the support of Erwin and Colleen Martens, hosts a colloquium each fall.

This one day learning event is offered to invited guests as a “thank you” for service to our department. Our students rely on a network of speech-language pathologists invested in helping to educate future speech-language pathologists through clinical supervision. We appreciate your efforts and will continue to offer the colloquium to show our gratitude.

The colloquium has been approved for 6 hrs of continuing education through the ND State Board of Examiners on Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

September 11, 2026

• Speaker: Bonnie Singer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
• Topic: What Goes Into Academic Writing: The Unique Role of SLPs in Assessment and Intervention

Presentation Overview 

This presentation offers SLPs concrete frameworks to guide assessment as well as intervention for individuals whose language-learning challenges affect academic writing. We will explore key terminology and the numerous cognitive and linguistic systems involved in writing across the lifespan.  We will argue that SLPs have a rightful place in writing instruction, but their role must be unique to that of the classroom teacher and other professionals.  Intervention strategies targeting the executive function and language underpinnings of writing will be shared.  Participants will walk away with intervention practices they can use immediately across all intervention settings with school-age students, adolescents, and adults to support written expression.       

Speaker Bio 

Bonnie Singer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL has been dedicated to clinical service, teaching, research, publishing, and professional education for nearly 40 years.  Dr. Singer holds a special passion for serving students who struggle with writing, reading comprehension, and executive functions.  Her research and numerous publications focus on the relationship between spoken and written language, spatial processing, executive functions, cognition, and self-regulated learning.  In 1996, she founded Architects For Learning, where she led an interdisciplinary staff serving school-age and college students in the Boston area for 30 years.  She also launched a sister company, Vivido, which developed professional learning for speech-language pathologists and educators in evidence-based instructional methods for language, literacy, and learning.  Dr. Singer is a board-certified specialist in child language.  She received the 2023 award for Outstanding Contributions in Clinical Achievement by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.  In 2024, Vivido merged with Wilson Language Training, where Dr. Singer currently serves as the Head of Writing Science & Instruction. 

CSD Event Speakers

• 2025- Cari Ebert, Greenwood, MO
• 2024- Laura Hayes, Valley Park, MO
• 2023- Sucheta Kamath, Atlanta, GA
• 2022- Amy Graham, Colorado Springs, CO
• 2021- The Swingset Mamas- Marlowe Bechmann and Lizzie Swan
• 2020- The CSD annual colloquium was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• 2019 - Dr. Robert Owens, Albany, NY*
• 2018 - Ellen Engstrom & Meghan Miller, Groves Academy, St. Louis Park, MN*
• 2017 - Anne Carlson Center, Bismarck, ND*
• 2016 - Dr. Jerry Hoepner, Eau Claire, WI*
• 2015 - Mrs. Monica Gustafson, Winnipeg, MB*
• 2014 - Ms. Nancy Shippam & Ms. Carole Conyers, Winnipeg, MB*
• 2013 - Mrs. Pam Marshalla, Private Practice, Millcreek, WA*
• 2012 - Dr. Tommie Robinson, Director, Scottish Rite Center, Washington, DC*
• 2011 - Mrs. Sarah Ward, Private Practice, Boston, MA*
• 2010 - Dr. Suzanne Moineau, Prof. California State University, San Marcos, CA*
• 2009 - Mrs. Jen Taps, M. S. School Practice, San Diego USD, CA*
• 2008 - Dr. Rita Bailey, Prof. Illinois State University*
• 2007 - Mrs. Mary Kay Therres, Children's Hospital, Philadelphia, PA*
• 2006 - Mrs. Rachel Arntson, Private Practice, Minneapolis, MN*
• 2005 - Dr. Heather Clark, Prof. Appalachian State University, NC (Supported by CSD, UND)
• 2005 - Dr. Hanna Ulatowska, Prof. University of Texas, Dallas, TX (Supported by EpsCoR, ND)
• 2004 - Dr. Richard Shine, Prof. Emeritus, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC (Supported by ORPD, UND)
• 2003 - Dr. Richard Hurtig, Prof. University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (Supported by OID, UND)

*Supported by Colleen & Erwin Martens Endowment