Jessica Messersmith, PhD

Dr. Jessica Messersmith is a professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the University of South Dakota. She serves as the associate dean for academics for the College of Arts and Sciences and faculty athletics representative for the University of South Dakota. In these roles, she is involved in the administration of the college and oversight of athletics within the institution. She also teaches graduate-level cochlear implant, pediatric assessment, anatomy and physiology, and psychoacoustics in the audiology program.

Dr. Messersmith mentors AuD students in their directed research projects and conducts research on clinical practices that hinder or improve outcomes of pediatric patients in the audiology clinic with a specific focus on cochlear implants and infant hearing detection and intervention. Through her clinical, research, and teaching duties she continually strives to improve access to care for pediatric patients in underserved, rural, and impoverished areas.