Katie Conn Suggs

Biography

Katie Conn Suggs, M.S., CCC-SLP, is the Assistant Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Clinical Professor in the School of Speech-Language Pathology in the College of Health Science.  Katie is a highly experienced, licensed speech-language pathology leader, clinician, educator, and mentor and is dedicated to excellence in the treatment of patients, the advancement of the field, and the highest levels of education for future generations of SLPs.  Katie has a diverse background in hands-on clinical and hospital settings, virtual therapy, and public education, as well as corporate communications, public relations, government, and international affairs.  She has extensive experience within the California and North Carolina public school systems.  While working in the public schools, she was awarded multiple grants for therapists and teachers working with children with autism and organized literacy events, including participation from former North Carolina State Treasurer and Co-Chair of the National Institute of Public Finance.

Katie has written multiple clinical articles published by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and has appeared on major-market television news stations to discuss speech and language issues facing children.  She is particularly passionate about increased technology use and its impact on children’s speech and language skills, fluency therapy, and speech and language changes in athletes with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). She is an enthusiastic supporter of public education and higher education.  As a native of West Virginia, she is also acutely aware of poverty, its impact on speech-and-language development, and how the opioid epidemic is affecting speech and language development in children in her home state.

Katie’s educational background includes a master's of science in communications sciences and disorders from East Carolina University, a master's of arts in international affairs from Florida State University, and a bachelor's of science in communications from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.  Prior to working as an SLP, Katie served as director of marketing and communications at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, served on the executive team at Lowe’s Corporate, and worked with various Fortune 500 and government organizations.

Katie has been married to her husband, Jason Suggs, for nearly twenty years.  She is a travel-enthusiast and loves all animals (particularly dogs).  She and Jason also love music and attend any live concert they can find!

Education

• M.S., Communications Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University
• M.A., International Affairs, Florida State University
• B.S., Communications, University of Tennessee-Knoxville