Saint Xavier University will be missing its faculty member of twenty years as Michael Flahive, Professor of Communication Science and Disorders, will be leaving Saint Xavier following this Spring Semester.
Flahive and his colleagues developed the Speech-Pathology Graduate Program at Saint Xavier, which has been one of Saint Xavier’s assets.
Flahive stated that “There are more than four hundred alumni who have Master’s degrees from our Program, and we are proud of them all. Involvement with the graduate program development has been among the most satisfying elements of my SXU experience.”
Although Flahive will be retiring, he states that there are other projects he will be working on starting in the fall.
“Technically I am retiring from Saint Xavier in a few weeks. Because I really enjoy program development, I have agreed to chair the new Department of Communicative Disorders at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.” Flahive explained.
“The College is interested in developing a graduate program in speech-language pathology, and I very much enjoy doing that – so I will begin that job in August.
It is the program building that I’m most interested in doing, so I look forward to the challenge.” Flahive stated.
Saint Mary’s is located closer to Flahive’s home in Valparaiso, IN, which he said is a benefit.
Flahive mentioned how Saint Xavier has given him opportunities to grow throughout his years of teaching and program building.
“Overall, Saint Xavier and my department colleagues, have provided me with opportunities to be creative,” Flahive mentioned.
He proceeded to say “I’ve had the good fortune to be funded by the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), on two occasions.
In each instance, project activities have allowed for expanding my own knowledge and skill while resulting in products that have had value – or at least that’s what we’ve been told!”
Flahive went on to say “Just the opportunity to engage in activities beyond the typical day-to-day, has been exciting and rewarding. Again, I appreciate that the SXU environment provided the latitude for those projects to happen.”
Flahive then talked about the privileges of being a professor, “I have always thought university teaching was a privilege. I came to the process with background in several areas. At the same time, I have access to people who have demonstrated strong learning aptitudes and energy.”
Flahive mentioned that “Students in our major are usually among the best on campus, so we’re working with learners who are focused and good. It has been enormously rewarding to see individuals “become” something they weren’t when they first arrived…and when they leave with an ability to foster change in client’s behaviors, it is gratifying beyond words.”
Flahive also showed great appreciation for Saint Xavier’s core values of the Founding Sisters.
“There is a spirit among faculty and staff that I appreciate and can only hope to find in other places. Saint Xavier has influenced who I am as a person and I am most appreciative for that.”
Nermeen Shaabneh
News Editor