This article is a part of the July/August 2026, Volume 38, Number 4, Audiology Today issue.
Congratulations to the Academy members elected to the Board of Directors.
Their term of office begins October 1, 2026.
President-Elect
Meagan Bachmann, AuD, MHL, BC-CI, CH-AP, DFAAA
Director of Audiology and Outpatient Speech Pathology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Dr. Meagan Bachmann is a nationally recognized audiology leader with nearly 20 years of experience in clinical care, administration, and professional service. She serves as Director of Audiology and Outpatient Speech Pathology at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, where she leads multidisciplinary teams and oversees strategic operations, workforce development, and high-reliability care initiatives across multiple specialty programs. Dr. Bachmann also directs AuD extern training and newborn hearing screening services. Nationally, she serves on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Audiology and was named a Distinguished Fellow in 2025. She is the past president of the North Carolina Academy of Audiology, and she is a published author and frequent presenter on clinical quality, cochlear implants, billing practices, and professional wellbeing.
Member-at-Large
Sara Jagger, AuD, PhD, ABAC, BC-VA
Vice President, Clinical Science and Quality at The American Institute of Balance
Dr. Sara Jagger serves as Vice President of Clinical Science and Quality at The American Institute of Balance, where she leads clinical standards, evidence-based diagnostic protocols, and quality assurance initiatives across a national network of vestibular practices. She previously served as a clinical audiologist at Mayo Clinic, specializing in vestibular diagnostics, tinnitus management, and otologic disorders, and also contributed to traumatic brain injury initiatives supporting military service members and veterans through General Dynamics. Dr. Jagger is a graduate of the Jerger Future Leaders of Audiology program and an adjunct professor for multiple universities. Her work focuses on health-care innovation, evidence-based care, and the responsible integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, into audiology practice.
Adam Mehlenbacher, AuD, DFAAA
Audiologist, Durham VAHCS
Dr. Adam Mehlenbacher is an audiologist at the Durham VA Health Care System, where he is dedicated to serving veterans and advancing care for individuals with hearing and balance disorders. He has collaborated on traumatic brain injury research at Duke University through the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Mehlenbacher is a past president of the North Carolina Audiology Association and has held several leadership roles within the American Academy of Audiology, including chair of the Government Relations Committee and chair-elect of the Advocacy Council. A Distinguished Fellow of the Academy, his professional interests include vestibular and balance care, traumatic brain injury, blast trauma, and audiology advocacy and policy.
Emily Jo Venskytis, AuD, ABAC
Director of Clinical Education, MGH Institute of Health Professions
Dr. Emily Jo Venskytis is director of clinical education and assistant professor in the Doctor of Audiology program at the MGH Institute of Health Professions and also serves as a clinical audiologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. She is dedicated to training future audiologists in patient-centered, evidence-based care and has extensive experience working on interdisciplinary teams supporting patients with congenital ear anomalies, craniofacial disorders, and cochlear implants. Her clinical and research interests include pediatric audiology, electrophysiology, implantable hearing technology, clinical education, and improving access to audiology services for underserved populations. An active leader within the American Academy of Audiology, Dr. Venskytis currently chairs the Clinical and Scientific Excellence in Audiology Council and cohosts the Foundation-sponsored podcast Science Meets the Sound Booth.
