UM alumna Abi Voyles, who is pursuing a Doctor of Audiology degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, aims to work with pediatric cochlear implant patients. Submitted photo
OXFORD, Miss – Abi Voyles, a 2020 graduate of the University of Mississippi‘s communication sciences and disorders program, fell in love with the Ole Miss campus after making some trips to the school’s Speech and Hearing Clinic with her sister, who was getting fitted for hearing aids.
The Corinth native’s experience inspired her to learn more about audiology, particularly from the faculty members in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders who helped her sister.
“I became interested in the field because my little sister was born deaf bilaterally and has a cochlear implant,” Voyles said. “My little sister always came to Ole Miss to be fitted for hearing aids.”
Voyles is passionate about helping people and her chosen profession, said Anne Williams, a clinical audiologist and instructor in the department.
“Abi is one of the most caring and outgoing people I know,” Williams said. “She was part of the spring 2020 class that was affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. I remember Abi working hard to keep everyone’s spirits up during our online classes. I am so proud of her and her accomplishments.”
After completing her bachelor’s degree at Ole Miss in 2020, Voyles went to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where she is in the doctoral program for communication sciences and disorders.
Voyles is in her second year of the four-year program, and she expects to graduate with her Doctor of Audiology in May 2024. Her career goal is to be able to work with pediatric cochlear implant patients.
“The thing that interests me most is how audiology helps a deaf or hard-of-hearing individual to hear,” she said. “I have been blessed to see through personal experience how much of an impact a hearing device can have on someone.”
Voyles is president of the Student Academy of Audiology at UAMS. She has several roles as president, including presiding over all chapter meetings and acting as a spokesperson for the chapter.
She appoints committees and committee members as needed. She assumes responsibility for chapter operations and compliance with the SAA chapter policies and procedures. She also serves as a liaison between the chapter and the chair of the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology.
For more information about communication sciences and disorders programs at UM, visit https://csd.olemiss.edu/.