Rechelle Aguayo
Department Coordinator, Communication Disorders and Sciences
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Rechelle Aguayo began working at CSUN 30 years ago as staff in the Language, Speech and Hearing Center. In those days, the Center and the Department offices were located in three converted tract houses on Plummer Street. Within a few years she was promoted to the Department office. Rechelle carries a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge as well as expertise in the workings of the department and savvy with campus dynamics. Rechelle has served through some grand historical changes in the Department, as the new Doctoral Program in Audiology (AuD) is now available-- Rechelle has been involved all along the way.
Q: How does your work strengthen student success?
A: As our Department has continued to grow over the years, my work for student success has increasingly focused on ensuring smooth admissions to the graduate program, as well as ensuring that advisement, which occurs every semester for undergraduate and graduates, assists students towards timely graduation.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: The best and most satisfying part of the my job is planning and participating in our Department Hooding and Recognition Ceremony. Students who graduate in the fall and spring semesters participate in this event. This is an exciting time for the students and their families. I am so happy the department is able to host this event for them. We usually have close to 1,000 in attendance including the graduates and their families.
Q: What do you like best about your team in CDS?
A: The key word here would be: “Respect” within the CDS team. I have enjoyed working with CDS Team for the 30 years I have been on campus. The faculty and staff work well together for the benefit of the department and the students. The respect we have for one another is the key ingredient for a successful team environment.
Q: Is there anything else you want to say about your skills set, breadth of experience, ideas for your future with CSUN?
A: My position in the department has allowed me many opportunities to advance new ideas, develop new skills to meet the ever changing environment, and to collaborate within the University community, the community surrounding CSUN, as well as communities that are national and international. The CDS Team is supportive of change, and I have the lead as Office Coordinator to collaborate in expansions.
Q: Anything else you want to say at all about CSUN, the department, and/or your role?
A: When I started working in the Department we were located in 3 houses on Plummer Street with approximately 12 master’s degree students in the program.
Thirty years later, we now reside in Monterey Hall, and our programs have grown substantially over the years. The Department now admits approximately 45 students annually to our Residential Master’s Degree Program, approximately 60 students annually to our Online Master’s Degree Program, 45 to our Online Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Fieldwork Experience Certificate, and 45 students to our Online Certificate of Preparation for Advanced Studies in Speech-Language Pathology.
In fall 2016, the Department began preparations for opening a doctoral program in audiology. After assisting the Department with information to present at meetings with the Chancellor’s office, two agencies associated with accreditation, and collaboration with many departments on campus, Fall 2019 the Department admitted its first cohort for our newest program, the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Program. We will be accepting a new cohort annually for this program.
To my amazement and enjoyment I have been involved in all of the changes that have occurred in this growth.
Q: Thank you, Rechelle!
A: You're welcome. Thank you!
F 2019
Rechelle Aguayo and Jean O'Sullivan