Announcement - Darlene Davies selected as 2008 CHHS Monty Awardee

posted 10/31/07

Darlene Davies

After completing her graduate training in speech language pathology (SLP) and obtaining her state license and national certification in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Darlene went on to Chair the SLP Division at Children's Hospital and Health Center. In 1971, Darlene became the first clinical supervisor of the Speech & Language Clinic at Balboa Naval Hospital, working in concert with the Naval Reserve Officer's Wives Club and San Diego State University to develop programs and obtain resources to provide much needed services to Navy officers and their families.

In 1976, Darlene became a faculty member in what was then the Department of Communicative Disorders at SDSU. From 1976 until she retired as Emeritus Professor in 1994, Darlene was a productive and innovative member of the faculty providing academic and clinical training to undergraduate and graduate students, serving on master and doctoral theses committees, creating instructional television programs campus-wide, publishing in respected professional journals, and serving at the national level as a journal reviewer and site visitor for ASHA.

The field of communicative disorders is not the only area to have benefited from Darlene's contribution. With her long-standing love of theatre (Outstanding Drama Student Award, SDSU, 1982) and the arts, and her commitment to maintaining and improving our community, Darlene also has an impressive record of public service. She has served or serves on several cultural and philanthropic Boards, including the San Diego Natural History Museum, the Women's History Museum, The Old Globe Theatre (four terms), and the YMCA of San Diego County. She has received several Mayoral appointments to committees including the Balboa Park Committee, San Diego Parks and Recreation Board, the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, and the Horton Plaza Theatre Foundation. Also, she has chaired many committees involved in fundraising and celebrations for worthy causes, including one that was particularly special, serving as Honorary Chair for the opening for the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre at the Old Globe Theatre.

Her numerous awards and honors include Darlene Davies Day from the City of San Diego, County, and State, The Technology Innovation Award from SDSU Foundation, Friends of Balboa Park Millennium Award from San Diego County, Mortar Board Distinguished Alumna Award, and the Salvation Army Woman of Dedication, to name a few.