This year Dr. McMicken celebrates her 50^th year in continuous clinical practice of Speech-Language Pathology.  A three-time graduate of the University of Southern California, she is most grateful for her education toward the career path that has given her enduring purpose and curiosity.  Dr. McMicken served as professor and chair of the Department of Communicative Disorders at CSU Los Angeles, and is currently an associate professor emeritus at CSU Long Beach, an assistant clinical professor at UC Irvine Medical Center, and a clinical professor at Chapman University.  She has published over 70 research papers, presented nationally and internationally including investigations into rehabilitation post treatment of head and neck cancer, neurological swallowing disorders, stuttering and congenital aglossia (the condition of being born without a tongue).  She was the recipient of honors from both the California Speech Language-Hearing Association and American Speech Language-Hearing Association as well as the 2015 recipient of the Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award from the American Speech Language-Hearing Association. 

Dr. McMicken has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society (ACS) of Orange County for 46 years and a volunteer for the Los Angeles Mission for over a decade.  She is the recipient of the National Certificate of Merit from ACS for her work in establishing the Lost Chord Club of Orange County and a weekly speech practice group for survivors of head and neck cancer.  For her volunteer work with homeless men and women, Dr. McMicken was given the Legacy of Vision Award from the Anne Douglas Center of the Los Angeles Mission and most recently received a lifetime achievement award with the dedication in her honor of the Dr. Betty Multi-Purpose Room at the Anne Douglas Center.