Dr. Phyllis Palmer's relationship with the University of New Mexico spans almost four decades, beginning in the late 1980s when she founded and directed the Speech-Language Pathology service at University Hospital. After 10 years of clinical service, she pursued her Ph.D. at the University of Iowa and then returned to UNM with the conviction that clinical care, education, and research go hand in hand. For the eight years prior to joining the college office, Dr. Palmer served as Chair of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, which is committed to improving healthcare across New Mexico through their educational and scholarship missions. Her own research explores: (1) innovative methodologies in clinician education, including an interactive textbook, Swallowing Across the Lifespan, and a swallow disorders data repository; (2) the BOLUS framework for assessing aspiration risk; and (3) translational research on oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), a genetic disorder with significant prevalence in New Mexico. As Associate Dean, Dr. Palmer brings decades of UNM experience and a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration.