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By Dan Nonte, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-4314
Dr. Robert Mayo
Posted 9-16-09
GREENSBORO, N.C. — During the past two decades, Dr. Robert Mayo, chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, has mentored more than 200 students of color in the fields of communication sciences and disorders, allied health, medicine, dentistry and the arts.
In recognition of this sustained leadership, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has named him a Diversity Champion. He will be recognized during ASHA’s fall convention Nov. 19-21 in New Orleans.
Throughout his career, Mayo has inspired students to conduct their own research and guided them during that learning process, which often serves as a springboard to further educational and professional success. More than half of the students he has mentored have presented the results of their research at professional conferences.
“I have worked with Robert Mayo at two universities, for a total of almost 20 years, and I continue to learn from him and admire him in his mentoring of students,” said Celia Hooper, dean of the UNCG School of Health and Human Performance, who also worked with Mayo at UNC Chapel Hill. “He helps them learn the culture of the university and how to negotiate academic waters. He has a special passion for those who are underrepresented and helps them with dedication and humor.
“Robert is in his sixth year at UNCG, and it is no accident that the student body in our Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is among the most diverse in the country. Robert Mayo has helped make that possible, one student at a time.”
In 2004, Mayo developed the Research Mentoring Program, an inter-institutional initiative between UNCG and two historically black colleges and universities with the goal of enhancing opportunities for students of color to gain admission to graduate and professional school.
Last academic year, he encouraged five undergraduates and six graduate students to submit papers for the 2009 National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing convention in Atlanta. All 11 students presented at the convention; two received awards for their scholarship.
Those students offered their thoughts about Mayo:
• “He is a great mentor and makes valuable contributions in the lives of every student he meets.”
• “Dr. Mayo is a great inspiration in my life. He encouraged, motivated and increased my knowledge in the field.”
• “He advised my project that I did for the NBASLH Conference and it turned out really well. He provided his honest feedback and made sure that it was organized and followed all the conference guidelines.”
• “I would be writing for days if I talked about all of the contributions Dr. Mayo has made for all of the underrepresented minorities in our department. … He has been an academic/research advisor, a friend, and a father away from home to me.”
• “The impact that Dr. Mayo has made on my life is immeasurable. The imprint that he has made on my heart is indelible.”
Mayo teaches the graduate fluency disorders course and the professional issues and ethics course for the department. His clinical interests include fluency disorders, craniofacial anomalies and motor speech disorders.
His recent research has focused on public perceptions of communication disorders and differences – specifically, stuttering, voice disorders and dialects. Additional research has focused on public awareness of stuttering across cultures and modifying attitudes toward persons who stutter.
He received his bachelor’s degree from George Washington University, his master’s from The Ohio State University and his doctorate from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis). He completed a NIH postdoctoral fellowship in Craniofacial Anomalies at the University of North Carolina Craniofacial Center.