Someone You Should Know

Kim Hoffer, speech pathologist and clinical faculty for the Department of Communicative Disorders, joined NIU in February 1989. She specializes in stuttering disorders and coordinates two continuing education courses offered to practicing clinicians in the suburbs. She is a graduate of Augustana College and Northwestern University.

What are the responsibilities of your position?
I coordinate and monitor full-time practicum experiences, as well as coordinate a number of part-time practices for on-campus students. I also teach a graduate level course on how to function effectively as a school-based speech pathologist and supervise graduate students working with Speech and Hearing Clinic clients.

How did you choose your profession?
I was interested in a profession that combined my interests in language, speech communication and music. When I was in high school, my minister mentioned something about the work of a speech language pathologist in a sermon and it caught my attention.

What's the best part about your job?
I enjoy helping students see that they have impacted the quality of life of the families they serve. I also enjoy the reward in helping individuals increase their ability to communicate and make connections through speech. One of my absolute favorite parts of this job is hearing positive feedback from students doing their off-campus practicums who recognize that their time and investment pursuing this career has been worth it.

What's something unique about your position?
Within our department, we have much diversity in expertise and interests, thus no one has the same combination of tasks.

If you weren't in your current job field, what would you be doing?
Touring the country with the company of the musical "ABBA." Okay, I'd probably be doing something more realistic, like teaching English literature or continuing to design, manufacture and market children's clothing with our "Prince of Whales" line. I love working with colors and fabrics.

What are you reading?
I have just started James Redfield's "The Celestine Vision." I also read a series of mysteries by Tamar Myers and enjoy Elizabeth Peters, Dorothy L. Sayers and Jan Karon' s Town of Mitford series.

What music are you listening to lately?
In my car, I have ABBA, the BeeGees, Otis Retting, Roy Orbison, a collection of opera arias and Rosemary Clooney. I like just about anything.

What good movies have you seen lately?
I haven't been to any recently, but "Bridget Jones' Diary" was the last one I actually chose to see twice, which is extremely rare.

Do you have a favorite TV show?
"The West Wing," no question. I also try to watch "Hardball" with Chris Matthews, but since it's on every night, I miss it often.

Any words to live by?
All of the things that I know so well and can forget so easily: Live your life with joy. Hug your family. Live in the moment and appreciate the little things of life. Be grateful to God. Be glad for the opportunity to use your life in a meaningful way. Do your best and, as a song says, try to keep your feet on the sunny side of the street.