Awards
Dr. Empress Zedler's name is synonymous with quality in education and research in the field of special education, including the recognition and treatment of dyslexia. She was a certified psychologist as well as a certified speech pathologist, and advocated for others in the field to attain both certifications.
In 1953, Zedler was awarded a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Pathology by the American Speech and Hearing Association. The Association, which functions as the American Medical Association does for medical doctors, has offered this nationally recognized credential since 1952. At the time of her award, Texas State was only the second college in the nation to have a director certified by the ASHA.
In 1966, the American Speech and Hearing Association named Dr. Zedler as a Fellow of the Association, an honor that is bestowed for outstanding and significant contributions to the discipline of communication sciences and disorders. The ASHA website states that "while there are thousands of members who fulfill their professional responsibilities competently, only a small percentage have, by virtue of the quality and amount of their contributions, distinguished themselves sufficiently to warrant recognition."
In 1975 Zedler was recognized with the Award of Honor from the Texas Speech and Hearing Association for her "outstanding contribution to the profession of speech pathology and audiology in Texas."
In addition, Zedler is listed with honor in twenty-three national and international directories of distinction, including the American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who of American Women, and Foremost Women of the Twentieth Century.