“If you had known me in high school, I always said I never wanted to teach,” Dr. Morgan recalled.
For most of her life, Dr. Ashley Morgan never imagined herself standing in front of a classroom, much less teaching the next generation of speech-language pathologists. As an audiologist, she found a career she loved, helping patients navigate hearing and balance challenges. But when an unexpected opportunity led her to Abilene Christian University (ACU), Dr. Morgan discovered that her passion for helping others could extend beyond patient care and into the lives of students preparing for their own careers.
Today, as a faculty member and professor in ACU’s online Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dr. Morgan combines her clinical expertise with a growing passion for education, mentoring students and introducing them to the possibilities within audiology and speech-language pathology.
Joining the Wildcat Family
With nearly five years of experience as an audiologist, Dr. Morgan has built a career around helping patients understand their hearing and balance. She enjoyed her work and once believed she had found a position where she would remain for years to come. However, as her professional interests evolved, she began exploring opportunities to share her knowledge in a different setting.
Although she originally thought she’d be a practicing audiologist rather than a professor, Dr. Morgan began to see how the experience was a new start for her. “You find this job that you think you’re going to work in forever, but things change,” she reflected.
After expressing an interest in teaching through a Facebook group for audiologists, Dr. Morgan began adjuncting at ACU and one other university that she thought she’d end up at full time, but the program was later shut down. The very next day, her program director at ACU reached out to her about a faculty opportunity, and for Dr. Morgan, the timing felt like an answer to a prayer.
During Bible study with her colleagues, a reflection on a passage from Psalms prompted her to share how the unexpected opportunity had reminded her of God’s faithfulness.
“He [God] is a giver,” she said. “It feels really good here.”
Creating Connections That Go Beyond the Screen
For Dr. Morgan, one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching at ACU is building meaningful relationships with students, even when they are learning from different locations. She understands that online education requires intentional opportunities for connection. From the beginning of each course, she encourages students to engage with their classmates through introductory discussions, helping them discover shared interests or experiences.
“I like seeing them interact with one another and create conversation,” she said.
Dr. Morgan also incorporates vocational reflection into her teaching, inviting students to explore how their interests, experiences and personal values influence their career goals. Rather than simply asking students to reflect, she shares her own experiences, including the challenges and uncertainties she’s faced throughout her professional journey.
This openness has encouraged her students to recognize that their professors are also learning and growing, creating an environment where they feel comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance. Through these conversations, Dr. Morgan hopes students understand that finding and stepping into their calling is not always a straightforward process. Sometimes, it involves unexpected changes, difficult decisions, and opportunities that make them grow.
Bringing Patient Care Into the Classroom
Dr. Morgan has spent years working directly with patients who experience hearing and balance issues. Those experiences continue to shape her teaching, allowing her to connect academic concepts with the realities of clinical practice.
“I’m always leaning into my previous experience and sharing stories about the things I see in clinics,” she explained.
By incorporating real-world examples into her lessons, she’s able to demonstrate the importance of their coursework and how it connects to patient care and the responsibilities they’ll have as future professionals in speech and hearing-related helping professions. Her approach also emphasizes the need for compassion, encouraging students to understand the individual’s needs.
“My students have taught me some new things as well,” she shared.
From exploring digital tools such as Canva to developing more detailed presentations, she welcomes new ideas and tools to strengthen her teaching methods and create a more interactive online learning environment.
The Future of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Looking ahead, Dr. Morgan hopes to introduce more students to audiology, a field she believes deserves greater awareness and recognition. Although audiologists play an essential role in identifying and managing hearing and balance disorders, she recognizes that many students are unfamiliar with the profession and its career opportunities.
“We are very hard to find,” Dr. Morgan emphasized.
To help address this challenge, Dr. Morgan has begun exploring the possibility of developing an audiology pathway at ACU. She is also leading efforts to update speech science coursework, using her clinical experience to help strengthen students’ academic preparation.
Beyond curriculum development, Dr. Morgan is interested in how technology can expand opportunities for patient care. She points to teletherapy in speech-language pathology as an example of how healthcare professionals can connect with individuals outside traditional clinical settings. As technology continues to evolve, she hopes audiology will find additional ways to support patients in their everyday lives.
Celebrating Student Success and Her Advice
While Dr. Morgan never planned to become a teacher, witnessing her students achieve their goals has become one of the most meaningful parts of her career.
One experience that stands out involved a student she mentored throughout her academic journey. After seeing the student’s dedication and determination, Dr. Morgan wrote a letter of recommendation supporting her application to graduate school. When the student was accepted, Dr. Morgan felt an overwhelming sense of pride.
“I was so proud of her; she works incredibly hard,” she said.
The moment reminded Dr. Morgan of the mentors who had encouraged her throughout her own education and professional development. “I get to give back and be on the other side of that feeling,” she shared.
For students considering careers in audiology or speech-language pathology, Dr. Morgan encourages them to remain curious, ask questions and seek opportunities to learn from professionals in their communities. Her own journey serves as a reminder that professional paths can take unexpected turns, often leading to opportunities that are more meaningful than originally imagined.
What began as a career change has become an opportunity for Dr. Morgan to share her expertise, encourage future healthcare professionals and discover a new way to serve others. And for someone who once insisted she would never become a teacher, Dr. Morgan has found that sometimes the most rewarding opportunities are the ones we never expected.
If you’re interested in a career helping others with their communication challenges and needs, visit our website to learn more about our online speech-language pathology programs.