Spotlight on the Professional Relations Committee: Megan Young’s Journey as an Ally and Advocate

The NSA community includes people who stutter and allies who stand beside them. Today, we’re spotlighting Megan Young, a powerful voice in the NSA’s Professional Relations Committee and someone who has built her career around supporting people who stutter.

Megan joined the NSA in 2019 during her doctoral program at The University of Texas at Austin. “I wanted to get more connected with the stuttering community,” she recalls, “so I started attending the Austin Chapter meetings occasionally as an ally.”

Since then, Megan has been involved with the NSA for 6 years, growing her professional work and personal connections. In 2023, she successfully defended her dissertation and earned her Ph.D. in speech, language, and hearing sciences—an achievement we celebrate with her!

Megan now serves on the Professional Relations Committee, a group focused on building bridges between the NSA and the wider professional world—especially speech-language pathologists (SLPs). The committee provides resources, creates continuing education content, and advocates for greater SLP participation in the stuttering community. “We want every single SLP to know about the NSA,” Megan explains, “and to feel empowered to engage with our work and our members.”

For Megan, the NSA has been more than a professional network—it’s been a transformative personal experience.

"I’ve been involved with the NSA for 6 years, initially joining to connect with the stuttering community during my doctoral program. As someone who doesn’t stutter, I’m deeply humbled by how welcoming and vibrant this community is. It’s been an incredible journey that’s shaped my work as a clinician, researcher, and advocate.”

Her message to anyone new to the NSA?
“You won’t regret coming to your first event — you’ll be welcomed with open arms!”

And when Megan isn’t making waves in research or outreach, she’s embracing a life full of creativity and nature.

Get to know Megan:

Favorite ice cream flavor: S’mores

Beach, mountains, or desert? Mountains, always.

Go-to karaoke song: "Dancing in the Dark" – Bruce Springsteen

Favorite rewatch: The Sopranos

Pets: Two cats—Uma and Tito

Hidden talent: Painting and ceramics

Dream vacation: Exploring Patagonia

We’re so grateful to have Megan’s dedication, passion, and perspective on the team. Her work continues to elevate the NSA’s mission—and we’re lucky to have her.

Thank you, Megan!