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Ky E. Kugler, Ed.D., ATC

Senior Associate Dean

College of Educational Studies



Each day, I have the privilege of working with my colleagues in the College of Educational Studies.
Dean Cardinal
and our faculty provide an environment of learning and leading that is second to none. To continue with his theme that the
CES is a special place
, I think you will enjoy a letter written to the director of our
Communication Sciences & Disorders program
, Judy Montgomery, Ph.D., from one of our CSD students.  After reading the letter, I believe you will understand part of what makes the College of Educational Studies unique, and how we strive everyday to achieve our mission of “Changing Education, Changing the World.”

Dear Dr. Montgomery,

Graduate school has been one of the best experiences of my life. To start, I have the honor of serving as one of NSSLHA’s community service officers.  This position has led me to participate in ten community service projects, with more to come.  On top of being able to help others, it has given me the unique opportunity to learn about cultures and interact with communities across Southern California.

Because of the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program, I have worked with children and adults from various socioeconomic backgrounds–from the wealthy Orange Hills to the less-fortunate Downtown Santa Ana.  These experiences have taught me the importance of being flexible, persistent, and confident.  Currently, I work with preschoolers and their parents, who are eager to ensure the best for their children who have speech and language delays or disorders.

Graduate school does not stop there!  I am happy to provide speech and language services to the children of the Childhood Language Center of Orange County.  I have been lucky enough to provide services for the wonderful Scottish Rite program in Orange County (I had worked with them previously in Baltimore in 2012).

My job throughout graduate school has enhanced my professional learning experience. Babysitting has enabled me to work closely and informally in the area of normal and abnormal child development.  The families I work with are constantly asking questions and seeking advice for their children.  They truly value my knowledge (hopefully they will soon call it “expertise”), and their children benefit from it; that is the most rewarding part of this job.

Academically speaking, there has been a steady progression over my career. In high school I was content with earning a 2.7 GPA, but that could not turn my 7th grade dream of becoming a speech-language pathologist into a reality. I studied relentlessly in college, earning a 3.5 GPA at Towson University. I am thrilled to now have earned a 3.7 GPA in graduate school, continuing this upward trend.I am convinced graduate school in Chapman’s CSD program will remain the best time of my life for years to come. Teachers, mentors, and peers have supported my journey each step of the way. I will savor every moment of the 10 months we have left in this chapter of our lives. I will continue to grow with this enthusiastic community. Thank you for the opportunities you have given me.