Karen Flynn joined Samford University in 2014 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Flynn holds a Doctor of Education in Special Education, as well as a clinical Master of Arts in Speech-Language-Pathology. In addition, Dr. Flynn is an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Her primary areas of interest are child language development and disorders and neuro-progressive disorders.  Dr. Flynn also provides speech-language pathology services to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence.

Degrees and Certifications

• EdD, special education, Ball State University
• MS, speech pathology, Ball State University
• BS, speech pathology and audiology, Ball State University

Expertise

• Child language
• Child language disorders
• Neuro-progressive disorders
• Huntington’s Disease patient population

Courses Taught

• Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders (undergraduate)
• Language Development in Children (undergraduate)
• Language Disorders in Children (undergraduate)
• Language Disorders: Birth to Five (graduate)
• Language Disorders: School Age (graduate)
• Prevention and Diagnosis of Speech, Language, and Cognitive Disorders (graduate)
• Cognitive-Communication Disorders in Adults (graduate)

Publications

• Day, L. & Flynn, K. (2022). Educating communication sciences and disorders students to use evidence-based practice literature: A collaboration between a library liaison and a CSD professor. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 29 (3/4).
• Thatcher, K. (2019). 20Q: Incorporating Literacy into Early Intervention, Preschool & Home. SpeechPathology.com, Article 20138.
• Thatcher, K. (2017). Fun with literacy. 100s of Activities, Exercises, and Tips for the Classroom & Therapy (Birth-Preschool). PESI Publishing, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Presentations

• Day, L. & Flynn, K. (2023). Teaching Communication Sciences and Disorders Students Evidence-based Practice Access and Utilization:  A Library Liaison and CSD Professor Collaboration. Poster presentation at the 2023 Joint South Central and Southern Chapter of the Medical Library Association meeting. New Orleans, LA.
• Flynn, K. (2022). Communication and Swallowing in Patients with Huntington’s Disease. Invited speaker to Facing the Future Together: 1^St Annual Huntington Disease Africa Conference 2022. September 2022.