Charlotte Hilker (MA speech pathology and audiology ‘23), a research associate and lab manager for the Psycholinguistics Lab in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa, is helping expand access to speech, language, and hearing services in Kosovo while giving University of Iowa students hands-on international clinical and advocacy experience.
Supported by a University of Iowa International Programs’ International Travel Award, Hilker, who is also a former Fulbright recipient to Kosovo, traveled to Pristina, Kosovo, from May 8-17, 2026, leading a team of 14 graduate students and four faculty members on a public health initiative focused on communication disorders and early intervention services.
Hilker partnered with the nonprofit Instituti Kosovar për Logopedi to provide speech, language, and hearing screenings in a variety of settings where assessments are often inaccessible. The team conducted screenings at nursing homes, preschools, and schools serving children with disabilities.
“This work impacts so many lives,” Hilker said. “We are already seeing changes in access to care, and it is incredibly meaningful to continue building these partnerships.”
During the weeklong collaboration, University of Iowa students and faculty worked alongside speech-language therapists in Kosovo to learn and implement new screening methods. Hilker also led training sessions designed to introduce new screening methods and support professional development for both practitioners and students.
The experience extended beyond clinical work as well. The Iowa team met with nonprofit organizations, including Down Syndrome Kosova and Action for Mothers and Children, as well as government leaders, including Kosovo’s minister of education, science, technology, and innovation and the mayor of Obiliq, to advocate for expanded speech-language services.
Four UI graduate students, Maddie Sniadecki, Natalie Schloss, Katie Hennessy, and Adrian Bradley, prepared educational materials before the trip and led a discussion with the minister of education, science, technology, and innovation about the importance of speech-language support throughout all levels of education.
“It was incredible to watch the students refine their advocacy skills through such impactful conversation,” Hilker said.
The experience reflects broader goals outlined in the University of Iowa’s 2022-27 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes expanding the university’s global impact through community partnerships and high-impact experiential learning opportunities for students. Hilker said the trip gave students an opportunity to apply clinical knowledge in real-world settings while contributing to public health efforts abroad.
The visit also coincided with ongoing policy implementation in Kosovo. In 2013 and 2022, the Assembly of Kosovo passed new laws on early childhood education, establishing a framework for early childhood development services. In May 2026, the minister of health signed an addendum to include the early identification of developmental delays and referral to support services that include access to speech-language therapy services for young children.
“Before this, young children with speech or language issues had no public source for speech-language therapy,” Hilker said. “It is amazing to see our work partnering with local organizations and leaders helping move the needle on improving access to quality health care services.”
Hilker also mentored students through discussions about clinical skill development, Kosovo’s cultural context, and linguistic factors that influence speech-language therapy in Albanian-speaking communities. The experience will continue shaping Hilker’s future research and advocacy work. She plans to pursue a PhD focused on strengthening the evidence base for speech and language services in the Albanian language.
Hilker expressed gratitude to the Stanley-University of Iowa Support Foundation Organization, whose support helps fund International Programs awards, including the International Travel Award.
“This funding was crucial to this project as it funded my airfare,” Hilker shared. “Without this funding, I would not have been able to attend the trip and get to work ‘on the ground’... There is still work to do, and you have made this possible by contributing. Thank you so much.”
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.