July 10, 2026
Elizabeth Kelley, PhD, CCC-SLP, has been named associate dean for graduate studies in the Mizzou College of Health Sciences, effective Aug. 1. A faculty member in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences since 2014, Kelley previously served as director of graduate studies and oversaw admissions for the SLHS master’s program.
In this new role, Kelley will serve as program director for the college’s interdisciplinary PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science while providing support for graduate and professional programs and students across the college. She will collaborate with campus partners to advance graduate education and with other CHS associate deans to strengthen connections among graduate education, undergraduate education, research and clinical education.
“Our graduate and professional programs deserve strong support and advocacy at the college level,” said Stephanie Reid-Arndt, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “Dr. Kelley will work alongside program directors to identify opportunities, share effective practices and help connect faculty with the resources they need to advance their programs.”
After graduating from Mizzou with a bachelor’s degree in communication science and disorders, Kelley completed master’s and doctoral degrees in speech-language pathology at Vanderbilt University. While pursuing her doctorate, she worked as a speech-language pathologist. Following graduation, she conducted research on language and literacy interventions at The Ohio State University.
Kelley returned to Mizzou in 2014 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2021. She was recently named the inaugural Fritz Faculty Scholar for excellence in teaching, research and service.
“Graduate education is always evolving, and that’s what makes this work so interesting,” Kelley said. “My research focuses on translating research into practice, and I see a similar opportunity in this role. I’m looking forward to leading the college’s interdisciplinary PhD program and working with other programs to respond to the changing needs of students and employers.”
