Dr. Jessica Wacker, SLPD, CCC-SLP/LBS1 is a Clinical Assistant Professor in DePaul University Speech Language Pathology Program and Speech and Language Clinic. Dr. Wacker earned her clinical doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology from Northwestern University, in addition to her Speech-Language Pathology degrees from Northwestern University (Master of Art) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill (Bachelor of Art). Dr. Wacker also earned her Master of Executive Business Administration from Quantic University. She is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist and Learning Specialist in Illinois and has practiced in urban and suburban public schools and private practice. Dr. Wacker is passionate about language and literacy and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on speech sound disorders, child language development and disorders, language, literacy, and language development, and business for SLPs.
Prior to starting at DePaul, Dr. Wacker founded The Loop Speech, Language, and Learning in 2013 where she overall all business operations and managed a multidisciplinary team of speech, occupational, and behavioral therapists and learning specialists. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of FundEd Chicago, a local nonprofit that equalizes access to specialized learning supports for students in Chicago with limited economic means.
Education
eM.B.A., Master of Executive Business Administration, Quantic University
SLPD, Speech Language Pathology, Northwestern University
M.A., Speech Language Pathology, Northwestern University
B.A., Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Certifications
American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA): Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech-Language Pathology
State of Illinois Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation, Speech Language Pathologist
Illinois State Board of Education, Professional Educators License in Speech-Language Pathology and Learning Behavior Specialist 1
Wilson Reading Systems, Wilson Level 1 Certified Clinician
Kellogg Executive Education, Certificate of Nonprofit Management
Professional Affiliations
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ISHA)
Professionals in Learning Disabilities and Special Education
Courses Taught
SLP 310: Normal Child Language Development
SLP 320: Speech and Sound Disorders
SLP 421: Language Disorders in Early Childhood
SLP 424: Language, Literacy, and Learning
SLP 481: Clinic Practicum 1
SLP 482: Clinic Practicum 2
SLP 483: Clinic Practicum 3
SLP 484: Clinic Practicum 4
SLP 490: Business in SLP