---
title: Alum’s Father Finds ‘Hope and Light’ in Restored Hearing
date: 2025-03-07T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/alums-father-finds-hope-and-light-in-restored-hearing"
section: Articles
---
# Alum’s Father Finds ‘Hope and Light’ in Restored Hearing

*March 7, 2025* — by [Rachael Grahame ’17](/author/rachael-keeney-17)


> HESP Grad Turns to Department After Medical Setbacks

*207 A0266 0 1920x1080 — HESP Associate Clinical Professor Nicole Nguyen helps Ray Hubbard attach the microphone-containing external component of his cochlear implant. Hubbard's daughter, a HESP alumna, connected him with the program that helped him regain the ability to hear.*

Many new Terps choose a major hoping they can do something good for the world, but it’s likely that few expect one of the biggest beneficiaries to be their own dad.

That’s what happened to Tory Hubbard ’20, who became a hearing and speech sciences (HESP) major after transferring from Howard County Community College. Today she’s a Howard County Public School System special education teacher with students experiencing a range of disabilities, including speech and hearing impairments.


*Tory Hubbard with her dad — Tory Hubbard '20, and her father, Ray*


*view of cochlear implant on man's ear — Ray Hubbard works with HESP personnel during his implant activation.*




**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni), [Hearing and Speech Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/hearing-and-speech-sciences)


**Units:** [College of Behavioral and Social Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-behavioral-and-social-sciences)