Public speaking is more than just words—it’s a science. That was the key takeaway from Voice Tips & Techniques, an interactive workshop featuring Jackie Gartner-Schmidt, an associate professor of speech-language pathology at Carlow University. With a passion for transforming how professionals present, Dr. Gartner-Schmidt showed Pitt students and faculty how voice biology and public speaking techniques are connected to create more effective communication.
Co-hosted by Pitt Communication faculty Mickey Bannon and Lynn Clarke, the event provided a hands-on learning experience for attendees. Gartner-Schmidt guided participants through simple yet powerful exercises, demonstrating how airflow through the vocal cords influences pitch, speech rates, and pauses. She also shared practical techniques to enhance vocal delivery and maintain vocal health—essential skills for anyone looking to improve their speaking presence.
The interactive nature of the session made a lasting impression. Tiffany Lee, a public health and bioethics major, appreciated how engaging and informative Gartner-Schmidt’s approach was.
"Dr. Gartner-Schmidt was wonderfully engaging, and I loved her demonstration and diagram on how changes in pitch throughout a speech can affect performance," Lee said. "She connected persuasiveness with biological markers of stress and provided strategies to mitigate these physical giveaways. I found the event incredibly helpful."
Students and faculty left with a deeper understanding of how the science of the voice can be harnessed to become more effective communicators.
For those who missed the event or want to learn more about using vocal techniques to enhance their public speaking skills, Dr. Gartner-Schmidt’s resources and insights can be found on her website.