Your Seat at the Table Starts Here: Why Every Hispanic CSD Student Should Apply to ASHA's MSLP
Imagine spending six days surrounded by the brightest emerging minds in communication sciences and disorders while building leadership skills, forming lifelong mentorships, and walking into the ASHA Convention not just as a student, but as a recognized leader. That is exactly what ASHA's Minority Student Leadership Program (MSLP) offers, and it is a door that is wide open for you.
As members and supporters of the ASHA Hispanic Caucus, we believe representation in professional spaces is not only powerful, it is essential. Hispanic and Latinx professionals remain critically underrepresented in speech-language pathology and audiology. The MSLP is one of the most impactful pipelines our profession offers to change that, and we want every eligible Hispanic student to know about it, prepare for it, and apply.
What Is the MSLP?
The Minority Student Leadership Program (MSLP) is ASHA's flagship student leadership initiative. Originally established to recruit and retain racial and ethnic minority students who have been historically underrepresented in audiology and speech-language pathology, the program has grown into a transformative, fully funded experience at the ASHA annual Convention.
2026 MSLP at a Glance:
📅 Dates: November 16–22, 2026
📍 Location: Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
📝 Application Window: March 9 – May 11, 2026
👥 Participants Selected: Up to 40 students nationwide
✉️ Contact: mslp@asha.org
Who Is Eligible?
The MSLP is open to students from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds enrolled in an accredited communication sciences and disorders program. You are eligible to apply if you are currently enrolled as:
An undergraduate senior in a CSD program
A master's-level student in speech-language pathology or audiology (AuD)
A post-entry level SLP student enrolled in a clinical doctoral program (SLPD)
A research doctoral (PhD) student in a CSD-related field
Note: Applicants may only apply to one ASHA student award program per year (MSLP or ARTA). If you have any doubt about your eligibility, reach out directly to mslp@asha.org
What Does the MSLP Offer?
Acceptance into the MSLP is more than an honor — it is a fully supported, six-day immersive leadership experience. Here is what each selected participant receives:
Complimentary ASHA Convention registration (a $400+ value)
Up to 6 nights of hotel accommodations covered by ASHA
A program stipend to offset travel and personal expenses
All program materials and leadership resources
During the week, participants take part in a rich schedule of leadership-focused sessions, team-building workshops, and networking events. The week culminates in a team presentation that challenges participants to address a real and pressing issue in our field.
Beyond the Convention floor, the MSLP gives you access to:
One-on-one conversations with ASHA board members and national leaders
Networking with university faculty who actively support minority student advancement
Mentorship from MSLP alumni who have gone on to hold leadership roles in ASHA, state associations, and academic institutions
PhD students: exclusive access to the MSLP/ARTA Peer Connections Networking event
How to Apply
The application process is straightforward but competitive. Here is what you will need to submit:
Completed online application via the ASHA website
A leadership resume (maximum 2 pages) highlighting extracurricular activities and leadership experiences
A personal essay demonstrating strong thesis, clarity, and organizational skill
For incoming graduate students: a copy of your graduate school acceptance letter
Applications are reviewed by a three-person panel of ASHA members who evaluate your essay (thesis strength, organization, grammar, and argument), leadership resume (involvement and demonstrated leadership), and overall potential to represent and uplift the profession.
Submit your completed application package by May 11, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.
🔗 Apply Here
www.asha.org/students/mslp-award/
Questions? Email mslp@asha.org
Why This Matters for Our Community
The communication sciences and disorders workforce does not yet reflect the communities it serves. Hispanic and Latinx individuals make up approximately 19% of the U.S. population — yet we remain a small fraction of practicing SLPs and audiologists. For the 37+ million Spanish speakers in the United States who need culturally and linguistically responsive care, this gap has real clinical consequences.
Programs like the MSLP were designed with exactly this challenge in mind. By investing in minority students at the leadership level, ASHA is helping to build the next generation of professionals who will shape policy, develop research, train future clinicians, and advocate for underserved populations at the highest levels of the profession.
When you apply to the MSLP, you are not just investing in your own career — you are planting a seed for every patient, every family, and every future bilingual clinician who comes after you.
Tu representación importa. Your leadership matters. Apply.
Leading the Way: ASHA Hispanic Caucus Members Who Are MSLP Alumni
One of the most powerful testaments to the MSLP's impact is seeing where its alumni land. The ASHA Hispanic Caucus is proud to count several current and former board members among the MSLP's distinguished alumni. Proof that this program is a direct pathway to national leadership in our profession.
Name & Credentials MSLP Class Year HC Board Role
Inéz Esparza, CCC-SLP MSLP Class of 2022 VP of Public Relations, Current
Alejandro Granados, CCC-SLP MSLP Class of 2018 VP of Public Relations, 2021
Ana Caballero, AuD MSLP Class of 2017 Secretary, 2018-2019
Kelly Ann Pena, CCC-SLP MSLP Class of 2013 President, 2022-2024
🌟 You Belong in This Room. Apply Today. 🌟
2026 Application Deadline: May 11, 2026
