From clinical care to advocacy

A Longwood graduate is turning clinical preparation and lasting mentorship into a career of service, leadership, and advocacy. 

When Emily Bromer (MS ’20) got a 9 p.m. phone call from Longwood University professor Dr. Alison King, she wasn’t looking for her next professional challenge. King had one for her: Run for a statewide leadership position on the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (SHAV) Board. The call reflected a relationship — and a belief in Emily’s potential — that began while she was earning her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at Longwood. 

That kind of mentorship and support has helped propel Emily from graduate student to lead speech-language pathologist at Appromattox County Public Schools, private practice owner at Hill City Speech Services, PLLC, and national advocate.

“Dr. King saw leadership potential in me before I fully recognized it in myself,” Emily said. “Since then, she has continued to challenge me, encourage me, and cheer me on. Even now, she is someone I can call when I need to problem solve a school-based issue or talk through a difficult case for the business.”

Learning by Doing

At Longwood, Emily began gaining hands-on clinical experience in her first semester, providing therapy and conducting assessments while learning the theory and skills behind them in the classroom.

“That early clinical experience challenged me to think critically, collaborate with clinical educators and classmates, trust my clinical instincts, and ultimately believe in myself as a clinician,” she said. “It helped bridge the gap between learning something in a classroom and applying it in real-world situations.”

The CSD program’s small cohort and approachable faculty gave Emily a supportive environment to learn, ask questions, and build confidence.

Mentorship That Moves You Forward

For Emily one of Longwood’s lasting benefits has been the relationships that continue to shape her career. During her final year she worked with King as a research graduate assistant, beginning a mentorship that has grown alongside her career.

King has remained a trusted sounding board, encouraging Emily to pursue leadership opportunities and contribute to the profession in new ways. 

“Her mentorship has shaped not only the opportunities I have pursued but also the kind of mentor I hope to be for others,” Emily said.

Today Emily pays that support forward through guest lectures, clinical education, and mentoring graduate students at Longwood. Her own experience taught her that preparing future clinicians isn’t about having every answer.

“The faculty made sure I was prepared to enter the workforce while also teaching me that I didn’t need to know every answer. I needed to know how to find it,” Emily said. “That mindset has stayed with me throughout my career.”

Making an Impact Beyond the Therapy Room

As Emily’s career has grown, so has her commitment to improving access to care. Through Hill City Speech Services, she brings mobile speech therapy directly to families who may face transportation or technology barriers. Her advocacy also extends beyond clinical practice to challenges facing the profession.

“I have learned that being a strong clinician is only one part of being a strong advocate for the individuals and families we serve,” Emily said. “Many of the challenges our profession faces, such as access to services, reimbursement, workforce shortages, and policies that affect the delivery of care, extend far beyond the therapy room.”

In 2025 Emily was selected as one of two Virginia representatives for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Advocacy Day. There she met with legislators to advocate for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and share the experiences of school-based speech-language pathologists.

“Advocacy is part of our professional responsibility,” she said. “If we want to improve access to services and ensure that our patients and families have a voice, we have to be willing to advocate not only for them but also for the profession as a whole.”

Ready for What Comes Next

Looking back, Emily credits Longwood with preparing her not only for clinical practice but also for a career that continues to grow in new directions.

“Longwood not only prepared me to become a speech-language pathologist; it gave me the confidence, curiosity, and foundation to continue growing throughout my career.”