Speech Pathology: Jeffrey Meeks

Jeff Meeks (MS Clinical Speech Pathology 2006) came to Arizona as a speech-language technician for the Navajo County Superintendent of Schools just after earning his bachelor’s from California State University, Northridge. The following summer he began his master’s work at NAU while continuing his work with the children of Navajo County. As a subsequent doctoral student, Meeks worked in public schools as well as doing part-time work in hospitals and nursing homes. Last fall he completed his final degree.

Meeks is currently the Director of Special Services for the Navajo County Education Service Agency, where he oversees speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, counseling, and nursing services for 26 districts in northeastern Arizona. It is a busy job, he says, but he enjoys working with such a great group of professionals and helping to meet the needs of local school children. In addition to administering this program, he teaches part-time at both NAU and Estrella Mountain Community College.  On the side, he serves as president of the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

"At NAU, I established friendships with caring professors who have demonstrated genuine concern for my professional success," Meeks says. "I had my first research opportunity as a master’s student, and my professors were instrumental in inspiring me to purse a doctoral-level education. My relationship with them has continued since graduation, and we continue to collaborate as researchers. My experience at NAU proved much more than the completion of requirements for a graduate degree; I became part of an extended family that will last a lifetime."