Thursday, November 20
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., ET
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Hall E

The Opening General Session kicks off the ASHA Convention! This popular event brings everyone together to celebrate the speech, language, and hearing professional community and celebrates our 2025 theme, “Envisioning Possibilities for the Future.” You'll be welcomed by ASHA President Bernadette Mayfield-Clarke, who will update everyone about the Association’s activities and accomplishments and share her insights on the theme. Then, Convention Co-Chairs Sumitrajit Dhar, Kia Johnson, Rachel Powell, Brandi Smiley, and Laurie Sterling will offer a preview of what’s in store for you in Washington, D.C. this year—including special sessions, new events, and other highlights. Finally, we will welcome special guest and local Montgomery County, Maryland gymnastics legend Dominque Dawes as keynote speaker.

Dominique Dawes is a three-time Olympian (Barcelona ’92, Atlanta ’96, Sydney ’00) and member of the “Magnificent Seven,” the first American team to win gold in women’s gymnastics at the 1996 Olympics. She has served as the co-chair of the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition with Drew Brees under the Obama administration. Alongside LeBron James and Maverick Carter, she recently served as Executive Producer of the Peacock docuseries “Golden,” the journey of USA’s elite gymnasts on the road to the Tokyo Olympics, which was nominated for a Sports Emmy.

Dominque’s passion has always been to educate and empower families, women, and young girls on issues related to physical and mental health. In 2020, she opened the first Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academy to further her commitment to developing a healthy and compassionate culture in the sport of gymnastics. She has since opened two more gym locations with more to come this year.

She is a University of Maryland graduate and was inducted into UMD’s prestigious Hall of Fame in 2022. In 2024, her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland honored her career and legacy with a life-size statue to continue inspiring the next generation to follow in her footsteps.

As a wife, mother of four, Olympian, and business owner, Dominique Dawes has transcended the world of sports, politics, entertainment, and culture. Drawing from her unique experience as an elite athlete, she often speaks on how success is a journey and not a destination—the moments in between are where we learn and grow. She also emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation for success and will leave you motivated and empowered to meet future challenges.

The Opening General Session jumpstarts the ASHA Convention and will get you energized and enthused about the next 3 days. Join us on Thursday morning and get ready to envision possibilities for your practice and the professions!

Watch highlights from the 2024 Opening General Session and some special highlights from Alison Levine's keynote presentation!