The Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence is a state of the art, 100,000-square-foot facility located on the main campus of Utah State University in Logan, Utah. The center integrates research, academics, and clinical services to enable student training, interdisciplinary research among faculty and clinicians, and comprehensive clinical services for local and statewide residents.
Among specialized classrooms, conference rooms, and high-quality distance education technology, the center houses an advanced nursing simulation laboratory, a hydrotherapy pool, behavioral health services, a teaching kitchen, and much more. Clinics in the building include speech-language, movement research, and hearing and balance.
The Sorenson Center also hosts the following:
Beverley Garden
Located in the atrium of the Sorenson Center, the Beverley Garden is open to the public and features beautiful landscaping, water features, and sculptures. Students and patrons are welcome to visit the garden to eat, study, and unwind.
Lyndsley Wilkerson Gallery
The gallery features the work of local and international artists. Featuring regularly rotating exhibits, visitors are welcome to peruse the many works created by artists with disabilities, children around the community, area high school students, and others.
Beth's Bistro
This unique café is named for former Dean Beth Foley. It serves delicious breakfast and lunch options. Located on the first floor ofthe Sorenson Center, Beth’s Bistro has something for everyone. To view the menu, visit Beth’s Bistro.
Our Mission
The mission of the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration that results in an improved quality of life for Utah residents. Specifically, the Sorenson Center staff and faculty:
- Conduct research on interdisciplinary clinical interventions that leads to new and innovative human service practices.
- Promote advanced interdisciplinary training for students and professionals.
- Provide interdisciplinary clinical services to clients across the lifespan.
- Increase the human services capacity in the state and local area.
Meet the Executive Director
Gretchen Gimpel Peacock
Executive Director and Associate Dean
Gretchen Gimpel Peacock is the Executive Director of the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence at Utah State University as well as a Professor in the Psychology Department. Dr. Peacock earned her BA from the College of William and Mary and her MA and PhD from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Peacock has been a faculty member at USU since 1995. She previously served for nine years as the department head in Psychology and a year as the interim department head in Kinesiology and Health Science. Dr. Peacock is a school psychologist by training; her research and teaching interests are in the area of child behavior problems (such as ADHD) including parent/child interactions. Dr. Peacock is also interested in professional issues in school psychology and co-authored a book widely used in graduate introduction to school psychology courses: School Psychology for the 21st Century: Foundations and Practices.
Sorenson Center Academics
The academic departments associated with the Sorenson Center are dedicated to training future clinicians across the disciplines that are represented in the center. Students who receive training in the Sorenson Center may work in an interdisciplinary manner with faculty.
Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education
Speech-Language Pathology (MA/MS)
Human Development and Family Studies
Marriage and Family Therapy (MS/MMFT)
Marriage and Family Therapy (PhD Concentration)
Nursing
Psychology
Combined Clinical / Counseling (PhD)
Behavior Analysis (PhD)Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling
Applied Behavior Analysis (MS)
Research at the Sorenson Center
The Sorenson Center for Clinical Excellence is dedicated to conducting cutting edge research in areas that are clinically relevant to mission of the center. Research is conducted by university faculty who typically have undergraduate and graduate students working in their labs. Some research programs may offer intervention services that are of interest to Sorenson Center clients as well as to the broader community.
Labs
Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Disorder Lab
ASSERT Research Lab
Biomechanics Lab
Challenging Behavior Assessment and Intervention Lab
Hearing Impact Lab
Listening and Spoken Language Lab
Neuromuscular Research Lab
Perception-Action Lab
USU Acceptance & Commitment Therapy