For Maddie Cowie, choosing a college major wasn’t a question of what she wanted to do—it was a matter of who she already was.
A native of Mentor, Ohio, and now a soon-to-be graduate of PennWest University with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Cowie has built her academic and personal journey around a deeply personal mission: serving individuals with special needs.
“My brother has autism, and I have personally seen the deep implications of speech therapy,” Cowie said. “Combined with my interests in science and teaching, the career of Speech Language Pathology was the perfect fit for me.”
From her first semester on campus, Cowie immersed herself in both academics and community, turning every opportunity into a steppingstone toward her goals. Her involvement in the women’s club basketball team, where she served as secretary, reignited her love for the sport and brought together a close-knit group of friends and teammates.
She also found a spiritual home in Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, where she served as congress representative. There, she cultivated a deeper connection with her faith and found others who shared her devotion.
Participation in the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) opened doors for her to engage with others equally driven to make a difference in the world of communication disorders. Through advocacy and education, she helped raise awareness about the importance of communication rights and community involvement.
When asked about what stands out most in her academic journey, Cowie points to her time at the Leader Center, where she observed live therapy sessions between clients and clinicians.
“It was neat to see past classmates and how they have grown as practicing clinicians,” she said.
Beyond her coursework and extracurriculars, Cowie is grateful for the mentors who helped guide her. Professors Cyndi Reyes-Pabon and Mary Weidner played pivotal roles in her academic development, while coach Mike Engdahl and Chi Alpha small group leader Nicole Schaeffer provided personal and spiritual encouragement.
As for the road ahead, Maddie is full of purpose and possibility. In the short term, she hopes to work in a private practice, focusing on individuals with special needs. Long-term, she envisions pursuing further education in a specialized area of speech-language pathology.
“My college experience has taught me so much about who I am, who I want to be and what kind of friend and clinician I want to be,” Cowie said. “Nothing ever goes how we plan it, but that is the beauty of college and continually learning what it means to trust Jesus.”
To incoming students, Maddie offers a heartfelt piece of advice: “People will come and go, that is inevitable. You will find the right people who will stay and teach you things about yourself that you never would expect.”