Amanda Stead

Amanda Stead, PhD, CCC-SLP, CHSE, is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Pacific University. She coordinates the school's simulation program and holds certifications as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). Her research focuses on pedagogical strategies for geriatric patient care and the development of high-quality healthcare simulations. She teaches courses in progressive illness and dementia care, communication and aging, counseling, and aphasia. Dr. Stead is passionate about educating students and communities about the role of speech-language pathologists in dementia and end-of-life care, driven by personal and professional experiences in long-term care settings.

Dr. Stead earned her doctorate from Louisiana State University. Her awards include the 2013 Oregon Speech-Language and Hearing Association Teaching Award, the 2019 Pacific University President's Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, and the 2022 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Certificate of Recognition for Special Contributions in Higher Education. She actively engages students in community interactions with older adults, emphasizing naturalistic clinical experiences.

Her academic contributions include pioneering work in simulation-based training for speech-language pathologists, particularly in end-of-life care and aphasia therapy. Dr. Stead collaborates with interprofessional teams to enhance clinical communication skills and advocates for the integration of empathy and ethical practices in healthcare education.