Academy of Inclusive Practice

Amy L Donaldson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a Professor in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at Portland State University. Using a participatory research framework, she is interested in examining communicative choice, access, and agency, as well as social interaction and relationship development in partnership with the autistic and AAC user communities. In addition, her lab focuses on topics related to disability representation and neurodiversity. Dr. Donaldson has been a practicing clinician for over 30 years. She is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.

Amy Hobek (she/her), PhD, CCC-SLP is a clinical and educator Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. Her teaching and scholarship focus on equity and inclusion, child language and literacy development, childhood language disorders, health and educational equity, cultural and linguistic diversity, and cultural humility with an emphasis on valuing and legitimizing cultural and linguistic variations within individuals, families, and communities. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist providing clinic supervision of graduate students in a culturally and linguistically diverse preschool setting on UC’s campus. She is co-chair of the National Black Association of Speech-Language and Hearing's Cultural Humility Task Force.

Maria A. Centeno-Vazquez, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, ASHA Fellow, is currently an Associate Professor and Program Director and Chair in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology Program at A. T. Still University in Arizona. She is also a Board-Certified Specialist in Swallowing Disorders. She was inducted as a 2023 ASHA Fellow Awardee for her contributions to teaching, leadership, and service. Her research areas of interests focus on investigating swallowing disorders of patients with Huntington and Parkinson disease, SDOH and health literacy of hispanic clients. Clinically, she serves bilingual patients with dysphagia across the age span.

Kristy Simak, MA, CCC-SLP/L is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Supervisor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois. She brings extensive experience as a school-based bilingual speech-language pathologist, having served diverse student populations for a decade prior to her transition to higher education. Her scholarly and clinical interests center on culturally responsive practice, community-based clinical experiences, and pedagogical innovation, including specialty clinic development for underserved and multilingual populations. Clinically and academically, she focuses on child language disorders, multicultural communication, diagnostics, and clinical supervision across pediatric settings.

Kristy lives with her husband and their two boys (ages 6 and 2), and is very involved with their sports and activities. Kristy enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and taking their boys on various adventures!

Leslie Crusco Grubler, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, is Director of Clinical Education and Clinical Services at Lehman College, City University of New York, a Hispanic- and minority-serving institution in the Bronx. A speech-language pathologist, consultant, and advocate with 28 years of clinical and administrative experience, Dr. Grubler has advanced disability rights and inclusive practices through clinical service, scholarship, teaching, and policy engagement at city, state, and national levels.

Dr. Grubler currently serves as CAPCSD’s VP of Organizational Advancement, President-Elect of the New York State Speech Language Hearing Association (NYSSLHA), member of its Governmental Affairs Committee, has chaired multiple NYSSLHA Conference tracks, and represented New York on ASHA’s Advisory Council. In 2022, she earned an Ed.D. in Executive Leadership in Social Justice. Her dissertation, The Lived Educational Experiences of Student Clinicians with Non-Apparent Disabilities, is the first study of its kind in the field.
Dr. Grubler’s clinical and research interests include autism spectrum disorders, early childhood intervention, the study of student clinicians and clinicians with disabilities, preparing justice-centered clinicians, and the early weave of interprofessional education in clinical training.

Teasha McKinley currently serves as the Director of Centralized Admissions (CSDCAS), supporting the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders in managing their central application program activities. With over 20 years of cross-sector experience, Teasha brings a broad depth of experience in program coordination, operations management, and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining CAPCSD, Teasha held roles in higher education administration and retail leadership, overseeing complex budgets, academic scheduling, personnel management, and strategic event planning.

Teasha lives in Indiana with her husband and two teenage boys. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, kayaking, and attending live concerts (especially Muse shows). A big fan of Chicago’s vibrant culture, Teasha also loves spending weekends in the city and cheering on the Cubs at Wrigley Field whenever possible.

Mandie McKenzie, MS, CMP, began as CAPCSD's Director of Professional Development in June 2023. Her professional background includes managing meetings, events and conferences in a destination management company, nonprofit organization, city government agency, and two professional associations, in both professional and volunteer capacities.

Mandie is a member of the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) North Florida Chapter where she served on the Board of Directors for multiple years. She earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) professional designation through the Events Industry Council in 2014 (recertified in 2019, 2024). Mandie is also a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Outside work, Mandie enjoys spending time with her husband and their two teenagers. The McKenzies live in Jacksonville, FL. She loves reading, watching true crime shows, creating table settings, and cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.