From the clinic to the classroom — and back again

Amid the 2020 pandemic, Shireen Takkouch ’26 walked into Playworks Center for Development and Learning with no formal plan for a college major, let alone a career. A junior in high school at the time, Takkouch arrived ready to help a friend who was on staff.

What began as a well-intentioned favor turned into something unexpected — five years working in a clinical setting, an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders (CDIS) at University of Redlands, and the foundation of an eventual career as a speech-language pathologist (SLP).

“I found SLP by working and thought it would be a great field to get into — these therapists were changing people's lives,” Takkouch said.

When she arrived at U of R in fall 2022, Takkouch brought clinical experience that would serve as a foundation to be built upon by classroom curriculum.

“Having started at Playworks before Redlands — I was kind of learning before I was learning at Redlands,” Takkouch said. While most students went home after class, Takkouch returned to her job, putting classroom lessons into practice. “I was gaining knowledge about human behavior, insurance, and medical billing. Then at Redlands, I was learning all the background information about SLP, like phonetics. The classroom work at Redlands allowed me to add even more skills at work.”

The exchange ran in both directions. Takkouch found essential lessons in anatomy and physiology classes, understanding that a patient’s medical history can manifest in their speech. Furthering the SLP dynamic, Takkouch took on a second major in psychology, drawing on research methods and human behavior. She became a teaching assistant for psychology professor Jessica Hehman, building the kind of evidence-based fluency that SLP practice demands. 

“Courses like clinical psychology provide a well-rounded foundation for understanding what a patient may be going through,” Takkouch said. “With statistics, you have to understand research and stay up to date with clinical methods to provide better care.” 

Mentorship at Redlands wove through it all. CDIS associate professor Sujin Shin shared with Takkouch a perspective on the many settings in which an SLP might work beyond pediatrics. Professor Hehman reviewed Takkouch's graduate school application essays and wrote letters of recommendation, going beyond what was asked of her. 

“I’ve carried the knowledge Professor Shin gave me all four years at Redlands,” Takkouch said. “Finding a mentor and making them part of your journey is important. Faculty have resources, and they will help you if you ask.”

Takkouch carries with her more than five years of clinical experience, a researcher’s instincts, and a network of mentors who invested in her success. She arrived at Playworks not knowing what she was walking into. She leaves Redlands knowing exactly what she built.

Discover Communication Science and Disorders and Psychology at Redlands.