Admissions Committee

Caitlin N. Price is an Assistant Professor of Audiology in the Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She teaches graduate coursework in the areas of diagnostics and gerontology. In the clinic, she specializes in adult diagnostics, rehabilitation, and auditory electrophysiology. Her clinical experience motivates her research interests in cognitive aging, auditory perception, and speech-in-noise processing. Her research aims to assess individual differences that contribute to speech-in-noise deficits and develop effective clinical interventions to foster successful communication and improved quality of life across the lifespan.

Dr. Renee Fabus is the Chair of the Speech-Language Pathology Department at Stony Brook University. Her goals in higher education are to foster interprofessional collaboration of faculty, staff, and students inside and outside the classroom to support student success. She holds a Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology from Columbia University and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is passionate about taking a collaborative and inclusive approach to educating her students to prepare them to provide evidence-based practice and person-centered care.

Danielle J. Watson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Department at Tennessee State University. In addition to serving as the Departmental Admissions Coordinator and Clinic Director, she teaches numerous graduate and undergraduate courses. 

She serves on the Admissions Committee for the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD), the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC), and is a member of the Foundation Board for the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (TAASLP). Dr. Watson is also the co-founder of Multicultural Concerns in CSD (MC2) at the University of Cincinnati, which is an organization that addresses Diversity/Equity and Inclusion for undergraduate and graduate students. 

Danielle is an associate professor at Texas Christian University. The overarching goal of her research is to explore the language and literacy skills of school-age children with and without language and reading impairments. Her primary line of research investigates how syntax contributes to school-age children’s spoken language, written language, and reading comprehension.

Jacqueline is the Program Director for the Speech-Language Pathology Program at the University of New Haven. She started teaching at the University in August of 2022. Jacqueline's research is focused on the evaluation of speech-language pathologists working in K-12 and the supervision/evaluation model in Connecticut. She aims to educate administrators and policymakers on the need for unique approaches to supervision/evaluation, to better support professionals in their individual fields.  She teaches courses in adult-based disorders and works per diem at Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut.

Ciara Leydon is Professor and Chair in the Department of Communication Disorders at Sacred Heart University (SHU). At SHU, she teaches a range of undergraduate and graduate speech-language pathology courses, and conducts research in the Speech and Voice Laboratory. Ciara earned her M.A. from The George Washington University, and Ph.D. from Northwestern University.

Dr. McKelvey is the chair of the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She has two decades of academic and clinical expertise in communication disorders. She spent 19 years at University of Nebraska at Kearney, culminating in her role as professor and associate dean of the College of Education for the last three years. Prior to that, she led the Department of Communication Disorders as chair for seven years and also served as interim chair of Teacher Education.

Her research is deeply rooted in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) assessment and intervention, particularly for adults with acquired communication disorders. Dr. McKelvey has secured funding for significant clinical research studies, exploring areas such as contextual screen displays for aphasia and creating AAC assessment protocols tailored for diverse populations including those with cerebral palsy, autism, ALS, and aphasia.

Before her academic career, Dr. McKelvey gained invaluable experience as a clinical speech-language pathologist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, working across various settings including acute care, in-patient rehabilitation, and telemedicine. She holds a Ph.D. in communication disorders with an emphasis in acquired neurogenic disorders and AAC from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, along with master's and bachelor's degrees in the field. Dr. McKelvey has maintained active involvement with leading professional organizations, including ASHA, NSLHA, and ISAAC, for nearly 30 years.

A.J. Olszewski is Associate Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Miami University in Oxford, OH, USA. His research focuses on developing and evaluating interventions for language and early literacy skills in young children. Prior to earning his PhD from the University of South Florida, he worked as a school speech-language pathologist. 

Amy Rominger is a Clinical Associate Professor at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses both online and in person and does clinical supervision and teaching in the on-campus hearing clinic. Her areas of interest include adult aural rehabilitation, hearing conservation, and the scholarship of teaching and learning in relation to CSD students.

Melissa Ruscetta, PhD, AuD, CCC-A brings a passion for teaching, mentorship, and clinical excellence to her role as Director of AuD Clinical Education at the University of Pittsburgh. With a strong focus on amplification and the scholarship of teaching and learning, she is deeply invested in shaping the next generation of audiologists. She serves on the CSD admissions committee and the faculty executive committee for the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Ruscetta also teaches courses in amplification and advanced clinical seminars, advises AuD students, and provides hands-on instruction as a clinical faculty member at the UPMC Center for Assistive Technology.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, mother, and three adult children.

Whitney Schneider-Cline, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska Kearney. Her teaching and research interests include school-age speech and literacy as well as scholarship of teaching and learning, specifically for SLP graduate academic and clinical education.

Douglas F. Parham, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is the Chair, Program Director, and Professor of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wichita State University. He serves as the Vice President of Admissions of CAPCSD after completing a four-year cycle as a member of the Admissions Committee. He is also a Site Visitor for ASHA's CAA and served two terms as the Kansas SLP Ambassador on ASHA's Committee of Ambassadors. He was the Professional Development Manager for ASHA’s Special Interest Group 19, Speech Science. He is a two-term Past President of the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a Past President of the Council of State Speech-Language-Hearing Association Presidents. Dr. Parham earned his PhD in Audiology and Speech Pathology from the University of Memphis. His research interests include infant vocalization, speech breathing, typical and atypical speech-language development, physiological instrumentation, and conversational interaction.

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.