Jon Tressler, a 2024 graduate from the Speech-Language Pathology master’s program in UD’s College of Health Sciences, works with kids at Brader Elementary School. Pictured here, Mr. Jon, as students call him, has students practicing pronouncing “L” words and describing objects in complete sentences.

Championing student speech

Article by Amy Cherry Photos by Ashley Barnas Larrimore and Shay DiLorenzo Snyder/Lil Mimi Photography June 16, 2025

UD alumnus’s career as speech-language pathologist inspired by his sister, shaped by UD

For University of Delaware alumnus Jon Tressler, the inspiration behind his career as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) has always been close to home — his younger sister, Hannah. Hannah has Down syndrome, but it’s never defined her.

Self-determination and love from family and friends helped Hannah reach her goals, but Tressler also credits his sister’s ability to communicate with the SLPs who supported her growing up.

“She’s always been naturally gifted, funny and perceptive, but SLPs helped her to be engaging and assisted her in communicating her wants and needs,” he said. “She never fails to impress me and is such a joy to be around.”

From middle school through college, Tressler volunteered as a unified partner and coach with Special Olympics Delaware, which allowed him to spend more time with Hannah. He knew then that working with kids with disabilities was his calling.

In 2021, Tressler graduated from UD with his bachelor’s in cognitive science and minors in disability studies and human development and family sciences. After earning his master’s in speech-language pathology in 2024, Tressler began working as an SLP at Brader Elementary in the Christina School District, where he also supports students in the district’s REACH Program, which serves students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities.

“UD did an amazing job preparing me for my career,” Tressler said. “The program within the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders was a nice balance of the foundational knowledge you need to be successful as an SLP and practical experience through community placements.”

UD alumnus Jon Tressler’s career path as a speech-language pathologist was inspired by his younger sister, Hannah (left), who has Down syndrome.

That preparation was strengthened by faculty like Assistant Professor Matthew Cohen, Professor Amanda Owen Van Horne, and Director of Clinical Education Jacquie Robinson, who Tressler said were supportive and engaging.

“Jacquie Robinson was amazing from the moment I stepped foot on UD’s campus. Dr. Van Horne steered the ship for my capstone on social interactions in people with intellectual disabilities compared to people with autism, and Dr. Cohen was phenomenal; he made data analysis interesting,” said Tressler.

Tressler also called his time in UD’s Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic valuable.

“These experiences connected the dots between foundational knowledge and real-world experiences while clinicians like Na'Jae Milton Robinson and Brooke Crenshaw tirelessly supported my interests in pediatrics,” he said.

Tressler pointed to classes within his disability studies minor that helped him hone his interests, as he explored the history of special education in America and learned about various disabilities and communication challenges.

“It was incredibly eye-opening to learn about autism and other disabilities I saw firsthand while volunteering with Special Olympics,” Tressler said.

While pursuing his master’s degree, Tressler built on his early experiences with Special Olympics through clinical placements in both an elementary school serving typically developing children and a high school for students with disabilities — experiences that further refined his career path.

“I’m naturally a patient person, and I enjoy working with kids,” he said. “Getting to explore being an SLP in the real world before graduation was incredibly helpful.”

Tressler said the biggest challenge in his current role is also his favorite part: the students’ personalities.

“They always make me laugh,” he said with a smile. “Sometimes, they wander around the room and don’t do what I want them to do, but as an SLP, you have to find creative ways to connect and communicate with them.

“Interacting with students with behavioral challenges has also been eye-opening for me, since I didn’t experience that in school or on clinical rotations.”

Those real-world experiences have deepened Tressler’s sense of purpose, not just as an SLP, but as a Blue Hen, too.

“I didn’t live on campus at UD because I wanted to be close to my family and help take care of them,” he said. “Being a Blue Hen is about being selfless and supporting your community.”

Being a Delaware native and working at a school in the community where he grew up, in a field facing shortages, also holds a great deal of significance for Tressler.

“I’m grateful to work as an SLP providing crucial guidance and support to struggling families who are concerned about their child’s articulation or language,” said Tressler. “I work with a lot of students who use alternative or augmentative communication devices. As SLPs, we help give them a voice — the ability to communicate with their families — and to them, it means the world.”