Michael Susca, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-F
Associate Professor
Education
BS in Speech and Hearing Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1975
MS in Communication Disorders, University of New Mexico, 1977
PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Nebraska
At Pacific Since: 2001
Michael Susca, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-F earned his bachelor of science from University of Santa Barbara, master of science from University of New Mexico, and his doctor of philosophy from University of Nebraska. He is also one of approximately 160 Board Recognized Specialists in Fluency Disorders in the United States. Dr. Susca joined the Pacific Speech-Language Pathology family in 2001.
Dr. Susca has taught many courses for the department's undergraduate and graduate programs. He enjoys developing students' research abilities. At the state and national levels, he holds memberships with the International Fluency Association, American Speech and Hearing Association, California Speech and Hearing Association and takes part in many special interest divisions.
Dr. Susca is an organic gardener and enjoys carving pumpkins for leisure and is competitively known as "Mike the Knife." He also enjoys sailing, poetry, and the thrill of skydiving which includes a total of 128 jumps.
Dr. Susca has authored a non-fictional book, The Professor's Tumor: Recovery from Aphasia and More. In it, he provides the reader a first person perspective of recovery from communicative limitations in aphasia, aphonia and other medically-related challenges.
Teaching Philosophy: “My teaching philosophy is to develop students as thinkers, problem solvers, analyzers, evaluators, synthesizers, and synergizers. Communication disorders come in many forms, under many conditions, with idiosyncratic and custom derivations unique to individuals of all ages. My hope is that students leave school with not only knowledge but a thirst for additional knowledge so our students may flex and adapt to the protean characteristics of the individuals they serve with the challenges they present.”
Courses:
SLPA 145 – Disorders of Fluency
SLPA 151 – Behavior Modification for
SLPs SLPA 205 – Adult Neurological Disorders I
SLPA 241 – Research Methods
SLPA 245 – Disorders of Fluency
SLPA 255 – Counseling Skills for SLPs
Independent research, as requested
Research Interests:
- Fluency Disorders
- Speech and Time Perception
- Clinical Applications in Aphasia Recovery
- Assisting in Student Research