Fall 2018 Commencement

Moody College of Communication looks forward to hosting you for fall commencement exercises. Please use the following information to plan your visit to The University of Texas campus and support our graduates.

Fall 2018 Commencement
Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.
Bass Concert Hall
Watch the webstream

• No tickets are required.
• Graduating students are encouraged to arrive by 6:15 p.m. The processional begins promptly at 7 p.m.
• Parking is available on the UT Austin campus, including the San Jacinto Garage and Manor Garage.

Keynote speaker spotlight: Soriya Estes

Guided by the philosophy of serving others, Soriya Estes, Au.D. has established extensive experience through the field of audiology.

Trained to neurologically understand, manage and treat hearing or balance problems as an audiologist, Estes also worked within research and development teams for a global hearing aid manufacturer. She combined her industry experience and service mindset to launch Estes Audiology in 2005.

Today, Estes Audiology has grown into the go-to hearing-health resource throughout Central Texas with locations in Austin, Boerne, Marble Falls, New Braunfels and Seguin. In 2015, the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce named her Small Business Person of the Year.

“I value my time in the industry because it taught me marketing strategies, budgets and all that we need to be financially viable,” Estes said. “With those tools, we can make the patient experience better because they know who we are and what we’re about.

“We don’t sell hearing aids. We treat hearing loss – we find solutions for our patients.”

Estes is highly motivated to serve her local communities. Estes Audiology has been the hearing service affiliate provider for the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) since 2009. Estes also has been called to participate in healthcare efforts in Haiti to annually support, staff and fund hearing and health mission trips.

Estes received her master’s in audiology from The University of Texas and her doctorate in audiology from Salus University. Estes remains active in the Moody College community as an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, where she leads a business applications class for doctoral students, as well as serving on Moody College's Advisory Council. 

“I hope to teach our students that it’s all-encompassing, that there has to be a foundation to exist upon or you can’t do the work you want to do,” Estes said. “You’ve got to be a competent clinician, and you also have to be able to communicate and form a strategic plan. Then you reap the rewards of having a viable operation.”