Pictured: James Richard Andrews, circa 1996

Introducing the James Richard Andrews Graduate Student Clinical Award Fund, a newly established Fund at the DeKalb County Community Foundation. Created by friends, colleagues, and former students, this Designated Fund provides an annual award to a second-year graduate student in Speech-Language Pathology at Northern Illinois University.

James Andrews, Ph.D., NIU Professor Emeritus

The student receiving this award will have demonstrated the ability to include family members and/or significant others as partners in the treatment process. He/she will clearly advocate for clients and their family members as they collaborate to promote speech-language change. An ability to listen carefully, respect differences, show creativity, and emphasize the unique characteristics of the client and family members will be evident in the student’s work – as it was for Dr. Andrews.

James Andrews, Ph.D., NIU Professor Emeritus, passed away on February 16, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. He was a faculty member in the Department of Communicative Disorders from 1970-2000. He was the Director of the Speech and Hearing Clinic and served as Department Chair from 1980-1990. Deeply respected by faculty, students, and clients, he modeled the behavior of a caring professional in all of his interactions.

Dr. Andrews was a leader in building a highly regarded speech-language-hearing program at NIU. He pioneered the Family Based Treatment approach, along with his wife Mary- a family therapist. Together, they gave over 150 workshops in the United States and Canada and co-authored the book, “Family Based Treatment in Communicative Disorders: A Systemic Approach.” Students recount the “family feeling” that pervaded their work with Dr. Andrews in the NIU Clinic and during many of their co-led home-based visits.

Dr. Andrews advocated for the profession and for clients at national and state levels. He was a Fellow by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) in 1980 and was a Charter Fellow of the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ISHA) where he served as President of the Association in 1975. He received ISHA Honors of the Association in 1984 and the Outstanding Clinical Achievement award in 1990.

The guidance of Dr. Andrews has shaped the philosophy of the Department of Communicative Disorders at NIU. His tireless dedication to students, individuals with communication disorders and their families continues to impact many of those who knew him in the Northern Illinois region and across the country.

“We all remember Jim as a great friend, mentor, teacher and clinician,” said Gip Seaver, Professor Emeritus, former Chair of the Department of Communicative Disorders and close friend. “He greatly impacted the lives of colleagues, students, and families throughout his professional career and lifetime.”

Designated Funds are a powerful way to honor educators like Dr. Andrews in our community. If giving the gift of education is of interest to you, consider making a donation to the James Richard Andrews Graduate Student Clinical Award Fund. To discuss setting up a Fund that meets your charitable interests, or to contribute to an existing fund, please contact Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.