Board of Directors

Katie Strong, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor at Central Michigan University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She currently is serving on CAPCSD's Board of Directors as President. She has previously served as Chair of CAPCSD Nominations Committee and on CAPCSD's Board of Director as Treasurer. Katie's research through the Strong Story Lab explores how clinicians can support people with aphasia rebuild their identity by co-constructing stories about who they are. Katie is a Tavistock Distinguished Aphasia Scholar and an ASHA Fellow. Her professional activities include: Lansing Area Aphasia Support Group Founding Member, SIG 2 Coordinating Committee Member, and Aphasia Access Conversations Podcast Host.

Jennifer Simpson is a Clinical Professor and Associate Head in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University.  Currently, she serves as CAPCSD Past President.  

Tricia Montgomery is a faculty member at Florida State University. She serves as the Director of Clinical Education and the Director of the FSU Speech & Hearing Clinic. She previously served as the VP for Professional Development for CAPCSD and currently is the CAPCSD President-Elect.

Christie Needham, M.A. CCC-SLP is a Professor and Director of Clinical Education at Baldwin Wallace University's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has been at Baldwin Wallace University since 2006. Christie's research has focused on clinical education, robotics, and technology. She has taught coursework including the topics of AAC, clinical writing, clinical management, and professional issues. She is excited to be serving as the Secretary on the CAPCSD Board of Directors. 

Ashley Whicker Harkrider, Ph.D, is Professor and Chair of the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology and Director of the Human Auditory Physiology Laboratory at University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Knoxville. Her teaching and research focus on physiological correlates of speech perception and production in typical and disordered populations. In July of 2022, Ashley assumed the role of Treasurer after volunteering for CAPCSD for over 12 years.  Ashley finds the resources provided by CAPCSD invaluable and is grateful for the opportunity to serve an organization that supports current and future generation of leaders in academic health care settings.

Dr. Rachel M. Theodore is Associate Professor of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Connecticut, where she directs the UConn Laboratory for Spoken Language Processing. She is also Faculty Affiliate of the Language and Cognition program in the Department of Psychological Sciences, the Cognitive Science Program, and the Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences. She is Director of the Neurobiology of Language graduate training program and highly involved with two current training grants in the UConn language sciences community (NSF NRT, NIH/NIDCD T32). She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Northeastern University and completed post-doctoral training in Cognitive & Linguistic Sciences at Brown University.  Both her B.S. and M.A. are in the field of Speech and Hearing Sciences. She currently serves as Associate Editor for Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics and the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America – Express Letters, and is Vice President of Admissions on the Board of Directors for the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Kevin M. McNamara, M.A., CCC-SLP, is clinical director emeritus in the Department of Communication Disorders at Southern Connecticut State University. Across his career, he has supported children and adults with a wide variety of communication needs, served as a clinical educator and director, and engaged in research and presented on the topic of clinical education. He served on the 2016 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Ad Hoc Committee on Supervision Training, and more recently as Chair of the CAPCSD Clinical Educator Resources Committee. He was named an ASHA Fellow in 2019 due, in part, to his work in advancing best practices in clinical education and supervision.  

Erin E.G. Lundblom, PhD, is an associate professor and the director of clinical education for the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of Pittsburgh. Lundblom has worked in various pediatric and adult clinical settings including a position as a clinical instructor in an campus based clinic.  Her areas of clinical and research interest include school-based language and literacy services including service delivery options and best practices in clinical education including the SoTL. Lundblom has presented at regional, state, and national conferences about clinical education.  She has routinely attended the annual CAPCSD conference with more recent contributions focused on presentations about clinical education.  Lundblom has provided many years of service to her state professional organization (PSHA—Pennsylvania Speech-Language Hearing Association) in various roles ranging from Publications to Convention Planning.  She has also contributed to the Council of Academic Programs in CSD. First as a member of the online professional development committee, then as the chair of the committee, and more recently as the vice president of online professional development.

Maya Reynolds Clark, Ph.D, CCC-SLP, CDE® has focused her career on multicultural issues that impact communicative interactions as well as encounters in education and healthcare.  Her primary teaching, clinical, and scholarship interests include: Cultural, linguistic and socio-economic factors in communication and cognition, Implicit Bias, Compassion Fatigue in health professions, Health disparities, and Social cognitive theory. She also serves as a national consultant and trainer in the areas of leadership, diversity, communication, and social engagement.

Heidi Verticchio, EdD, CCC-SLP is the Clinic Director and Director of Advisement in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Illinois State University. Her primary responsibilities include managing the business operations of the on-campus Eckelmann-Taylor Speech and Hearing Clinic.  Additionally, Heidi is the academic advisor for graduate students in speech-language pathology and audiology. Heidi has taught CSD 432: Professional Issues. Heidi has served as the Chairperson of the Conference Planning Committee for CAPCSD and volunteered in several capacities for CAPCSD. Additional contributions include presentations and publications in the discipline. 

Dr. Shubha Kashinath is Professor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She also is a Research Development Faculty Fellow at the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and Co-Director for the Center for Disability Justice Research: Health Equity, Education, and Creativity. She received an M.S. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Florida State University. Dr. Kashinath's research is focused on individuals with autism across the lifespan, family centered early interventions, personnel preparation in speech language pathology and issues related to disability justice.  She has over 24 years of clinical experience serving families of young children with disabilities.

Ned has over 35 years of experience working with non-profit organizations, primarily in membership, continuing education, and event planning. Ned serves as the Executive Director for CAPCSD. 

In his new position, Ned will provide extensive support to the Board of Directors and its committees, manage the membership program, contribute to annual conference planning, and supervise The Lisa Scott Leadership Academy, DEI Academy, and Admissions Summit. He will coordinate scholarships, oversee professional development initiatives, and maintain the organization's website. Ned will manage the CAPCSD Team, administration, financial record-keeping, and contract management. 

Ned is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives and serves as Treasurer for SportsAbility Alliance, a charitable organization focused on inclusive recreation and active leisure.

Outside his professional endeavors, Ned enjoys spending quality time with his family in Florida and Georgia, his two dachshunds, and hiking in Northwest Florida.