UTRGV celebrates “50 years of Voices Heard and Lives Changed” with gala and continuing education conference

By Karen Villarreal

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – AUG. 24, 2026 – A multi-class reunion brought alumni together to celebrate the UTRGV Speech & Hearing Center’s 50 years of serving the community, and the careers that began with the center’s clinical training.

The Speech & Hearing Center, an on-campus practicum facility under the Department of Communication Disorders, hosted a gala dinner in the UTRGV Edinburg Ballroom on Friday, July 31, to celebrate “50 Years of Voices Heard and Lives Changed.”

Dr. Ruth Crutchfield, chair of the Department of Communication Disorders, said the university’s support for the center has enabled 50 “generations” of students to complete the requisite 400 clinical hours and go on to serve as speech-language pathologists in local hospitals, schools and clinics.    

“We celebrate all those lives touched – and celebrate the opportunities that were opened for us through the Center,” Crutchfield said. “We’ve been able to create a life with our profession because of the people who started the program at Pan-American University 50 years ago.”

Javier Perales, Class of 2012, flew out for the reunion from Arizona, where he is the area director of operations at Functional Pathways, a national contract therapy solutions provider.

“It was so amazing – from treating patients as a speech-language pathologist to working my way into management,” he said. “It's just been great, so I had to come.”

He now oversees nine nursing homes and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) in Arizona, along with facilities in California and Washington.

Perales, who is from Rio Hondo, remembered that he got a special mention at his commencement.  “Over the speaker I heard, ‘It took him nine years, but he finished!’” he said, laughing. “I’m glad I did. I love what I do. This profession opened a lot of doors.”

REMINISCING ON THE PAST

Alumni gathered around the historical photos lining the ballroom walls, pointing out themselves and former classmates before greeting one another with uncontained joy.

Eeman Khan, Class of 2013, said seeing her former professors at the gala – who saw her grow from a stressed-out student into a professional – brought a tear to her eye. 

“It's so beautiful because I attribute so much of my knowledge to them,” said Khan, now a speech-language pathologist working at both a school – leading an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) program – and a private clinic in the Rio Grande Valley.

She said she loves the flexibility that her career affords her, especially now that she’s raising young children. After more than 10 years as a professional, she said she is still passionate about her work, especially teaching her students and young clients about AAC.

“I've been really growing in that area,” she said. “They can use electronic devices, like tablets, to communicate – using pictures or icons.”

Khan’s close friend and former classmate, Gladis Rivera, Class of 2015, is also a speech pathologist who works with AAC devices at Kid'N Around Therapy in Edinburg.

“There's so much technology now that gives the patients their voice,” Rivera said. “I think that's the best part of our field. It's very rewarding because we're literally giving them a voice, and it's so beneficial to the families.”

Rivera said it felt sweet to see all the classes gathered and cherished the opportunity to spend the evening with her old classmates. 

“Honestly, we're like a family,” Rivera said. “I met friends in the program who are like sisters at this point.”

BACK ON CAMPUS

To end the night, guests were invited on a nostalgic walking tour of the campus – including the current Speech & Language Clinic location.

Crutchfield said because the clinic moved locations and upgraded over the years, pre-2003 graduates have likely not seen the newest state-of-the-art equipment, observation halls, and audiological suites at Edinburg Health Affairs Building West (EHABW) 1.206.

“People may have not been on campus since they were students, and it's vastly different now,” Crutchfield said. “It was very exciting to welcome all those alumni back and recognize where we were then, and where we are now at the Speech and Hearing Center.”

Niomi Gamez, Class of 2025 and three-year chapter president of the student speech-language organization, NSSLHA, was touched to see that her suggestion of a Zen Room for students was implemented at the center.

“Seeing all the opportunities that the new students get feels like we’re continuing the tradition of greatness,” said Gamez, who is now a speech-language pathologist at Mercy Kids Rehab and Treasure Hills Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, both in Harlingen.

For more information about the UTRGV Speech & Hearing Center, contact Dr. Ruth Crutchfield at Ruth.crutchfield@utrgv.edu or (956) 665-2387.