Leadership Academy Alumni

Dr. Corrin I. Gillis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist and an Associate Professor in the School of Speech-Language Pathology. Following completion of her Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Gillis has authored/co-authored 21 peer-reviewed articles, 5 invited book chapters, and numerous national and international presentations on topics related to preschoolers who stutter and preschoolers with hearing loss. From 2018 until 2023, she served the Coordinating Committee of ASHA’s SIG 4: Fluency and Fluency Disorders as Editor of Perspectives and Professional Development Manager. Additionally, Dr. Gillis has been actively working to implement interprofessional education and practice to reduce health disparities since 2012. Most recently, Dr. Gillis has been appointed Director of Interprofessional Healthcare Practice, Education, and Research (I-hear) to promote interprofessional efforts across the university addressing health disparities.

Angela Anthony, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the Communication Disorders and Sciences Department. Her master’s degree in Speech-Language pathology is from Gallaudet University, and her doctoral degree in reading education is from the University of Virginia. She currently teaches courses on literacy, language disorders, sign language, and research and has supervised several student research projects. She has previously worked as a research assistant on two department of education funded grants evaluating preschool language and literacy curricula. Her clinical experience is primarily in the areas of early language disorders, early literacy development/disorders, and individuals with hearing loss or auditory processing disorders.

Teresa Anthony, PhD candidate in Public Health at the University of South Florida (USF), aims to improve healthcare access for individuals with disabilities. Formerly USF CSD Clinic Director, she serves on the SLP Academy strategic planning committee of the National Academies of Practice, ASHA's SIG 08 Public Health Audiology steering committee, and CAA's nominating committee. An alumnus of ASHA’s LDP and CAPCSD's Leadership Academy, Teresa works for a health insurer.

Radhika Aravamudhan, PhD, is currently Professor and Dean for the Osborne College of Audiology at Salus at Drexel University. Dr. Aravamudhan joined Salus University in 2005 after her position as a research associate at Boys Town National Research Hospital. 

Along with teaching other courses, she continues to be the co-instructor of the interprofessional course, “Evidence-Based Practice: An Interprofessional Approach” at Salus University, and she has spearheaded several interprofessional initiatives in collaboration with faculty at the university. Her areas of research interests include (1) understanding and evaluating the electrophysiologic correlates of speech encoding in the auditory system and (2) studying the role of signal processing (in auditory prostheses such as cochlear implants) on speech perception and perceptual learning.

In the professional world outside Salus, Dr. Aravamudhan has served on the planning committee for Audiology Education Summit that American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), served on the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) Board, and was elected as the Vice-Chair of Audiology on the CAA Board. She currently serves on the ASHA’s Academic Affairs Board. She has also served as a Student to Empowered Professional (S.T.E.P.) mentor within ASHA. She currently serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs for Audiology on the ASHA board.

Austin has served as chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Abilene Christian University (ACU), in Abilene, Texas for over seven years. A licensed bilingual speech language pathologist, Austin created and led innovative health science programming at ACU, including its largest graduate program, launched a bilingual emphasis track within the graduate program, and developed clinical partnerships locally and internationally.

Austin is a highly respected scholar, who has been published with prestigious houses such as Cambridge University Press among others. In addition to her work in higher education, Austin was a clinical provider for more than 20 years, including operating two private practices.

Dr. Tessa Bent is a Provost Professor and Chair in the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Department at Indiana University and head of the Speech Perception Lab. She received her Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 2005 in Linguistics. After graduation, she moved to Bloomington to complete post-doctoral training with Dr. David Pisoni in the Department of  Psychological and Brain Sciences at IU and then joined the Speech and Hearing faculty in 2008.

Lisa Bowers is an associate professor at the University of Arkansas in CSD. Her research focuses on language and literacy abilities of children from diverse populations, including children with hearing loss and dyslexia. She is a member of several research teams focusing on best practices in Interprofessional Education and Practice in educational settings. Dr. Bowers is also Director of the Service Learning Initiative, a campuswide initiative formalizing and expanding service learning opportunities for students taught by faculty while enriching the university’s impact with community partners.

Dr. Debra (Debbie) Burnett is an associate professor of communication sciences and disorders and the Interim Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Springfield College in Springfield, MA. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from SUNY Geneseo and her PhD from Syracuse University.  Her research interests include child language, assessment in early childhood, and SoTL.

Frances Burns is an associate professor of speech-language pathology and Chair of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina.  Dr. Burns received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Therapeutic Recreation.  She completed her master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an emphasis in Early Intervention.  She earned her doctorate in Communication Disorders from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with an emphasis in child language acquisition, child language disorders, and psycholinguists.  She went on to complete a Research Fellowship at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Burns is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist and has extensive experience practicing and teaching courses in communication sciences and disorders.  Child language acquisition and disorders, and Early Intervention are the primary focus for the courses she teaches.  She has authored manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, and she presents papers at conferences locally and nationally.

Dr. Burns has been invited to give workshops on distinguishing language difference from disorder, African American English, and Early Intervention both nationally and internationally for the last 13 years.

Dr. Michael Cannizzaro investigates brain and behavior relationships in typical and brain-injured populations. His research considers the role of the prefrontal cortex during complex communication and tasks that involve executive functions, and involves the study of discourse processing using behavioral and linguistic metrics to study communication in conjunction with neuroimaging to monitor task-related hemodynamics in the brain.

Dr. Cannizzaro’s lab uses modulated cortical activity (i.e., fNIRS & EEG) as a means of interfacing with computers for communication and environmental control. This “Brain Computer Interface” project is a joint undertaking between the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Department of Computer Science, and the undergraduate neuroscience program. The work is sponsored in part through UVM’s Trans-disciplinary Neuroscience, Behavior and Health Initiative.

Dr. Cannizzaro has worked clinically as a speech-language pathologist and is experienced in the assessment and treatment of adults with acquired speech, language and cognitive deficits resulting from stroke, brain-injury, progressive neurodegenerative disorders, and psychiatric illness.

Dr. Wyndi L. Capeci is the Dean of Speech-Language Pathology at West Coast University. Raised in New York, she received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University at Albany. Dr. Capeci went on to complete a master’s degree in special education from the College of Saint Rose, followed by a second master’s in communication sciences and disorders. She completed her doctorate in community care and counseling with a focus on traumatology at Liberty University. She most recently is a graduate of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Leadership Development Program and the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders Lisa Scott Leadership Program.

Dr. Capeci has been in practice over 24 years and has had leadership roles in multiple higher education institutions. She is committed to growing the field of speech-language pathology and supporting future clinicians on their journey to becoming speech-language pathologists. She has won an Excellence in Teaching award and was a repeat nominee for Innovator of the Year and Leader of the Year at previous intuitions. As a licensed speech-language pathologist, Dr. Capeci continues to provide pro bono speech-language services and parent education to local community organizations while sitting on several local and state community boards in Florida.

Christine Carmichael, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Director of the Woolfolk School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU). She is a Full (Tenured) Professor, Graduate Programs and Admissions Director, and Director of the Voice and Swallowing Clinic and Lab in the Harry Jersig Speech-Language-Hearing Center. Dr. Carmichael earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Central Florida, and PhD at the University of Florida. She has served OLLU since 2008.

Dr. Carmichael specializes in and teach voice disorders and dysphagia. She maintains an active laboratory investigating neuromuscular electrical stimulation, myofascial release, respiratory dysfunction and respiratory training related to voice and swallowing deficits in neurogenic and COVID-19 populations. She also treats clinical voice and swallowing disorders. 

Dr. Carmichael serves on state and national committees, editorial boards, and as reviewer for national journals and publishers. She has several grants and publications, and has presented at numerous local, state, national, and international conferences.    

Dr. Linda Carozza, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a faculty in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Pace University and also holds a faculty appointment at NYU Langone Health. She is an active clinician-researcher with extensive experience in adult neurogenic communication disorders. Carozza’s original research reported on the breakdown of language retrieval in individuals with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.  Dr Carozza’s additional studies include works on quality of life approaches to improving communication, 3 books in speech-language pathology and many related chapters and articles.

JoAnne Cascia is an Associate Professor in the SLP program at Kean University in Union, NJ. She is the co-coordinator of the SLP graduate program and the co-coordinator of the autism specialization in Neurodiversity. Her research interests include pediatric language, autism, social skills and empathy.

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.

Dr. Curro is associate professor, department chair, and a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist with an interest in the scholarship of teaching and learning in CSD, speech-sound production and its disorders, pragmatic language, and interprofessional education. Prior to joining Worcester State University, she worked in a variety of clinical settings, including home health, skilled nursing facilities, psychiatric facilities, inpatient and outpatient clinics, public schools, and private practices. Dr. Curro has taught CD 203 Language Science, CD 301 Directed Observations, CD 401 Advanced Directed Observations, CD 901 Introduction to Graduate and Clinical Skills, CD 920 Speech Sound Production Disorders and Differences, CD 940 Evaluation and Diagnostics in SLP, and CD 980 Research in SLP. She also supervises graduate students in the Speech-Language-Hearing Center. She is the member of the Lilian R. Goodman Department of Nursing Advisory Board, sits on many university-wide committees, and is chair of the department. Her current research focus is in Interprofessional Education, with collaborative projects with the Occupational Therapy and Special Education departments.

Dr. Curro has mentored two students who have completed their master’s thesis in the MS-SLP department, sat on the committees for another two master’s students, and worked with many undergraduate students on various research projects and honors’ theses through independent studies.

In a previous professional life, she was a project manager, user interface designer, and coder for an internet start-up company in Rochester NY, and a web marketing specialist for Nalge Nunc International.

Overall, Dr. Curro aims to provide a mentoring space where students are challenged to rise to their very best and achieve their own goals, whatever they may be.

EMERITUS PROFESSOR at Louisiana State University

Kerry Danahy Ebert, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences at the University of Minnesota. Her research considers cognitive-linguistic relationships in children with developmental language disorder and related clinical implications, especially in multilingual populations. She has designed and taught graduate coursework on cultural & linguistic diversity in two graduate programs. Dr. Ebert is an Editor for the American Journal of Speech-Language-Pathology and an ASHA Fellow.

Valarie B. Fleming, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, provides executive leadership for central campus administrative units supporting academic programs and faculty members. Dr. Fleming holds degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Memphis, and a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin.

Stephanie L. Fowler-Brookman, AuD, PhD, ABA-C, is the Director of AuD Clinical Education at The University of Texas at Dallas.

Kelly Gillespie, MS, CCC-SLP is a clinical associate professor and Director of Clinical Education at DePaul University. She earned a BS and MS in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Marquette University. She has worked in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, early intervention, and university clinical settings.

Professor Gillespie's areas of interest include treatment of pediatric clients with motor planning disorders, language disorders, and oral-motor/feeding disorders. She has also served as the SLP on a medical diagnostic team, as well as provided supervision for graduate students in their on-campus clinical experiences, as well as in their externship placements. Professor Gillespie has worked as a clinic director and clinical supervisor for graduate students, as well as teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate level courses.

Professor Gillespie has completed training in The SOS Approach to Feeding, SOFFI ("Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants") Method, Beckman Oral Motor, Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol, Picture Exchange Communication System, and LAMP (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning) Training. Professor Gillespie has presented research in the area of clinical education at the American Speech and Hearing Association convention, as well as local presentations related to language disorders, feeding disorders, and literacy. She is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association, as well as an active member in SIG 11: Administration and Supervision.

Mark Guiberson is a professor in the Speech Pathology and Audiology program at the University of Nevada. His research focuses on culturally responsive early interventions and the use of social media to support underserved populations. He also examines cultural competence among speech-language pathology providers, as well as holistic admissions and training approaches that strengthen cultural competence and humility in graduate education.

Professor Emeritus

Retired June 2025

Grace Hao, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is Professor and the Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at North Carolina Central University. She currently serves as the Chair of the Academic Affairs Board of ASHA, and on the 2024 Forum planning committee, Public policy Committee, and Partnerships & networking Committee of National Academy of Professionals. She is also serving as a CAA site visitor and CAA nominating Committee. Dr. Hao is passionate about providing services to individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds in a global context. She started the Transgender Voice services at North Carolina Central University since 2014 and has been actively promoting gender affirming health care in the gender diverse population.

Kimmerly Harrell, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL is an Associate Professor in the department of speech-language pathology. She specializes in language and literacy disorders and is a Board-Certified Specialist in Child Language. Before coming into academia Kimmerly worked as a school-based Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in Georgia and Florida for over 8 years. Prior to becoming an SLP she worked as a Service Coordinator for an early intervention system and as a Mental Health Disability Coordinator for Head Start. Kimmerly's other clinical and research interests include assessment and intervention of reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition in culturally and linguistically diverse adolescents, cultural competence and humility in graduate education, and school-based issues in speech-language pathology. She also uses her knowledge and expertise to provide therapy and professional development in Haiti, Kenya, and Jamaica.

Anne Hogan, PhD, CCC-A is a Clinical Audiologist at Ascension St. Johns.

Clinical Audiologist at Audibel Hearing Healthcare Center

Dr. Ramesh Kaipa currently serves as the inaugural Associate Dean of Community Partnerships and Impact at the College of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati. In this key leadership position, he is dedicated to forging dynamic, mutually beneficial collaborations between the College and the greater Cincinnati community. His vision includes developing and evaluating innovative community health programs specifically designed to address health disparities. Dr. Kaipa is also keen to explore the impact of community engagement on student learning and champion sustainable partnerships that create enduring positive change for both the College and its community stakeholders.

Prior to joining the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Kaipa served as Head of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Kaipa's journey at Oklahoma State began in 2012 as an Assistant Professor, leading to his promotion and tenure in 2018. From 2016 to 2018, as Graduate Program Director, he led the successful accreditation site visit for the Master's program in Speech-Language Pathology. His research at Oklahoma State, conducted within the Motor Speech Lab, focused on developing evidence-based treatments for individuals with neurogenic communication disorders.

Dr. Kaipa is equally passionate about the scholarship of teaching and learning, with a particular interest in the application of AI in higher education. His commitment to excellence in this area was recognized with several distinguished awards at Oklahoma State University, including the President's Faculty Fellow Research Award, the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Golden Torch Award for teaching excellence.

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.

Louise C. Keegan, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, serves as the Associate Dean of Rehabilitation Sciences at Moravian University, and is an Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology. Her research examines optimal interventions for individuals with Traumatic Brain injury to support social communication. In addition to clinical research, Dr. Keegan also conducts research in the scholarship of teaching and learning as related to the areas of clinical education, experiential learning and problem-based learning. She is an ASHA Fellow, has numerous peer-reviewed publications and has presented her work at many national and international conferences.

Reem Khamis, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor in the CSD Program at Long Island University, Brooklyn, Director of the Culture, Language, and Society in SLP (CLaS in SLP) Lab, holding Professor Emeritus status at Adelphi University. Her expertise lies in language development, processing, and clinical practices, in diverse sociolinguistic contexts. A founding member of the SLHS Human Rights and Translanguaging Collective and cofounder of the JCSCD journal.

Dr. AnnMarie C. Knight currently serves as Associate Professor and Program Director Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Program at Oklahoma Baptist University.  She received a B.A. from the University of South Florida and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Dr. Knight practiced clinically in the acute care hospital setting before returning to academia in 2017.  Her areas of clinical interest include acquired adult neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders and her areas of research focus have included aphasia, dementia, and scholarship of teaching and learning. Dr. Knight is passionate about mentoring the next generation of speech-language pathology professionals.

Leanna Lawrence is an associate clinical professor at the University of Missouri in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and has been a clinical educator at MU since 2006. She also teaches courses at the undergraduate (i.e., Clinical Observations) and graduate (i.e., Issues in Professional Practice, Clinical Methods, Clinical and Diagnostic Practicums) levels and coordinates the outplacements for their program's graduate students. She enjoys being on CAPCSD's Conference Planning Committee and is currently serving as chair of that committee.   

M. Samantha Lewis, PhD, previously served as a full professor and the academic education lead in the School of Audiology at Pacific University located in Hillsboro, Oregon. She also is affiliated with the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Service National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research at the VA Portland Health Care System and the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at the Oregon Health & Science University. Both of these institutions are located in Portland, Oregon. Her areas of specialty include auditory rehabilitation, audiologic counseling, (central) auditory processing, geriatrics, and tinnitus.

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.

Chenell Loudermill, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Professor and Director of Clinical Education in Speech-Language Pathology in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) at Purdue University where she oversees and provides clinical education in speech-language pathology. She serves and the SLHS Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Health and Human Sciences Dean’s Fellow for Faculty Success and Empowerment. Chenell obtained her Master of Science and doctoral degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She has over twenty years of experience, thirteen of which were obtained working as a speech-language pathologist in the public schools before moving to higher education. Chenell has expertise in assessment and treatment of language-based literacy disorders such as dyslexia as well as treating individuals with social interaction and communication difficulties such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Other interests include leadership, administration and supervision in speech-language pathology, culturally responsive practices and pedagogy and interprofessional education and practice. Chenell teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in clinical practice and literacy. She also co-leads the Purdue Literacy Education and Practice Project (Purdue-LEaPP) and is the Project Director for an Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) personnel development program grant. Chenell is also a member of the National Black Association for Speech, Language and Hearing (NBALSH).

Retired

Erin E.G. Lundblom, Ph.D., 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.

Jennifer Mackey is an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA. Her interests include clinical education, student well-being, and working with families and caregivers. Jenn practices in the area of early intervention and early childhood and serves as the coordinator for the Early Intervention concentration in the SLP program. She also volunteers in the Massachusetts Speech Language Hearing Association as the VP of Advocacy.

Kerry Mandulak is a professor at Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR. She teaches courses in Stuttering, Voice Disorders, and Cleft & Craniofacial Conditions at the graduate level, and Speech Science and Anatomy & Physiology at the undergraduate level. Her research is focused on feasibility and outcomes of holistic review for graduate admissions in CSD.  Kerry serves as the co-facilitator of the CAPCSD Admissions Summit with Danai Kasambira Fannin, which is held biyearly.  She and Danai, in collaboration with CAPCSD, hold summit community meetings monthly, where relevant and important topics around admissions are discussed, and the community is mobilized to do outcome studies.

Cara McComish is currently a Research Scientist at Kennedy Krieger Institute since February 2024. Prior experience includes roles as a Speech Language Pathologist at Durham CDSA and the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources Temporary Solutions, as well as serving as an Associate Professor and MS/SLP Program Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from February 2019 to July 2022. McComish has held various academic positions at UNC Chapel Hill, including Assistant Professor, and was a Speech Language Pathologist and Service Coordinator at The Richie McFarland Children's Center. Educational credentials include a PhD in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Oklahoma State University, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maine at Farmington.

Dr. Kim McCullough joined the faculty of Appalachian State in 2014.  She is currently a Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and serves as Graduate Program Director for the Master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology.

Dr. McCullough’s clinical activities and research focus on aging, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and interventions for sustaining brain function. In addition to her classroom teaching responsibilities, Dr. McCullough frequently mentors student research projects/theses and provides clinical supervision for graduate students conducting community screenings and programming for older adults.

Dr. Ashley Bourque Meaux joined the University in 2021 as the Assistant Program Director and an Associate Professor for the MS-SLP program on the Dallas, TX campus. In December 2023, she transitioned to Director, SLP Clinical Education Placement Team.

Dr. Meaux earned four degrees from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. In 2004, Dr. Meaux completed her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders and English (Linguistics). She completed her Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2008. In 2013, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with an emphasis in Child Language Acquisition and Literacy Development.

Dr. Meaux has practiced as a speech-language pathologist since 2008 as an early intervention provider and school-based clinician. Her research interests are in language and literacy development as they are supported by caregiver (e.g., parent, teacher) interaction. Additionally, she believes interprofessional collaborative practice is an essential component to positive outcomes when working with children and their caregivers. Dr. Meaux has numerous presentations at the local, state and national level, and serves on the editorial board for Language, Speech, Hearing Services in Schools.

Diane Millar completed her doctoral degree in speech-language pathology at Penn State University in the area of augmentative and alternative communication. She is a professor at Radford University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate students. She collaborates with students in research through undergraduate capstones and master's theses. Dr. Millar has enjoyed serving in a variety leadership positions, including the position of Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Srikanta Mishra received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Southampton, England following a master’s degree in audiology from the All India Institute of Speech & Hearing, Mysore. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship from the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles. Dr. Mishra's research focuses on peripheral auditory mechanics, hearing development, efferent system and otoacoustic emissions. Dr. Mishra's research is funded by the National Institute on Deafness & other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Mishra has published scientific papers in Ear & Hearing, the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Hearing Research, Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, and others. In addition, Dr. Mishra has been a reviewer for NIH and other grants. Dr. Mishra serves as an Assistant Editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology (JAAA), and has received JAAA Editor's award, 2013.

Vannesa Mueller, Ph.D, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso.  Her academic and research interests focus on augmentative and alternative communication from no-tech sign use and gestures to high-tech speech generating devices.  

Professor Emeritus

Retired August 2025

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 President-Elect on the CAPCSD Board of Directors. 

Retired 2020

Professor and Director of the School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University and certified speech-language pathologist. 

Laura O'Hara, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Associate Chair and Professor in Communication Studies at Ball State University.

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.

Kris Pedersen, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing at the University of Kansas. She also serves as Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Chair. Her work focuses on early intervention practices, through clinical supervision in inclusive early childhood settings and teaching coursework in infant toddler communication and collaborative practices.

Christina Yeager Pelatti, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Speech-Language Pathology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with teaching and research interests in the areas of oral and written language development and disorders with children with developmental and acquired diagnoses. She is an active volunteer leader in her state organization and with ASHA.

Whitney D. Perkins, M.S., CCC-SLP, Ed.D., is an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Communicative Disorders at Jackson State University. Her areas of expertise include early childhood education, language development and child language disorders. Additionally, she is interested in high impact practices to facilitate students' learning and success in the classroom. She also focuses her attention on ways to recruit and retain underrepresented students into the field of speech-language pathology.

Kimberly Peters, Ph.D., is a speech-language pathologist, audiologist, and former public school English teacher. She completed her graduate education and clinical training in communication sciences and disorders at the University of Connecticut in 2001. She worked at the New England Center for Hearing Rehabilitation for 9 years as a rehabilitative specialist, consulting with school districts and providing spoken language intervention to infants, children, and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing. In 2002, she accepted a position at Western Washington University. Kimberly is a Professor, and Director of the Aural Rehabilitation Clinic at Western. She provides clinical services, supervises graduate students, teaches courses in pediatric hearing loss and habilitation, and conducts research in language, cognitive development, academic outcomes, and social competence in children who are deaf and hard of hearing. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and running the trails in Whatcom County with her family and her dogs, Jolie and Beau.

Dr. Sarah Poissant is Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Professor of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. As Associate Vice Provost she has broad responsibilities across academic affairs, including Academic Quality Assessment and Development (AQAD) and accreditation processes, new degree program development and support, and faculty affairs and leadership development. She received her bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Vermont and her master’s and PhD degrees in Communication Sciences from the University of Connecticut. She previously served as a Chancellor’s Leadership Fellow in the Office of Faculty Development during which time she offered a broad range of supportive professional development programming for faculty employing innovative approaches to educating adult learners. Dr. Poissant’s scholarly interests include speech perception in cochlear implant recipients and novel approaches to behavioral auditory assessment of very young or otherwise difficult-to-text populations. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Hearing Health Foundation, and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation.

Dr. Connie Porcaro is a Professor and the Department Head of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Education and Human Services at Valdosta State University. Dr. Porcaro received her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona.  She teaches courses related to adult neurogenic speech disorders. Her research interests include speech intelligibility, including how speech-language pathologists can work with clients and their listeners in order to improve understanding.

Ileana Ratiu, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Associate Professor and Program Director of the M.S. in Communication Disorders at Arizona State University. She completed her M.S. in Communication Disorders and Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science at Arizona State University. As a licensed speech-language pathologist, she works with patients with a history of traumatic brain injury and stroke. 

Her research examines differences in executive function, memory, language processing, and reading comprehension in monolingual and bilingual adults with acquired neurogenic disorders. She examines how traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects working memory, episodic memory, executive function, and language control in young bilingual adults. A unique aspect to this research is that she utilizes both standard behavioral measures and experimental physiological measures (e.g., eye-tracking), which allows her to connect behavioral performance to fine-grained indicators of cognitive performance. The ultimate goal is to address the disparity between self-reported cognitive deficits following traumatic brain injury and performance on current standardized neuropsychological measures, particularly in underserved populations. Towards this goal, she translates established empirical measures into novel, functional measures designed to be more sensitive to subtle cognitive deficits, thereby leading to better assessment and health outcomes in individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Dr. Ratiu has presented research findings at numerous national and international conferences and has numerous first-author or co-authored published studies in peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Cognitive Psychology, Brain and Language, and Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics. Additionally, she has presented the results of her studies at numerous international conferences.

Erin Redle Sizemore, Ph.D. CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor and Department Chair at Mount St. Joseph University. Her clinical experience and research have largely focused on the conditions that impact children and families in early intervention, including feeding and swallowing disorders and in-utero opioid exposure. Additionally, Dr. Redle Sizemore is part of a research team investigating current and best practices in supporting graduate students with disabilities in clinical placements. She is involved with her state association (Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association) and is currently serving on the CAPCSD Conference Planning Committee.

Program coordinator for the residential and online graduate programs at the University of Northern Colorado.  Areas of interest are clinical instruction, admissions, community engaged programming, and working with preschoolers with speech and language disorders.  

Dr. Shannon Salley is an assistant professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program.  She teaches both undergraduate and graduate classes as well as supervises graduate students in Longwood University's Speech, Hearing, and Learning Services clinic.  Dr. Salley is passionate about the field of speech-language pathology and prides herself in her ability to evaluate and treat all populations ranging from infants to geriatrics.  Special interest areas include feeding and swallowing (pediatric and adults) as well as child language and articulation disorders. 

Dr. Salley received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from James Madison University and her clinical doctorate (SLP.D.) from Nova Southeastern University. 

Ms. Saterbak is a speech-language pathologist with over 25 years of clinical experience. She graduated with honors from Baylor University in 1992. Prior to attending graduate school, she served for two years in the US-2 program, a service initiative similar to the Peace Corps.

She went on to earn her master's degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1996. Ms. Saterbak specializes in adult neurogenic rehabilitation, with particular expertise in dysphagia and motor speech disorders. She also has strong interests in community re-entry and interdisciplinary approaches to treatment.

An active contributor to the field, Ms. Saterbak presents at state and national conferences on a variety of topics, including augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and the use of music therapy techniques in rehabilitation.

In 2017, she transitioned into academia, accepting the role of department head for Communication Sciences and Disorders at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. As an assistant professor, she taught a range of undergraduate academic and clinical courses.

In the fall of 2025, Ms. Saterbak relocated to Corpus Christi and currently teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDO) department at Texas A&M University–Kingsville.

Dr. Savage is an experienced higher education administrator with expertise in program development, curriculum innovation, clinical education, accreditation and collaborative teams promotion. She is an active member of the USAHS Academic Leadership Council, which helps guide the academic units of the institution.

In addition to her leadership in academia, Dr. Savage has clinical experience working with pediatric and adult populations. Her research interests focus on adult neurogenic communication disorders, particularly conversational treatments for individuals with aphasia and their conversation partners. She is also committed to interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice research, as well as the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Dr. Savage has presented at local, state, national and international conferences and has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. She has also directed multiple master’s theses and mentored students through the research process.

Dr. Savage is actively engaged in service in professional organizations at the national level and within the University. She served on the Board for the Academy of Neurological Communication Disorders and Sciences. She has played a key role in founding and facilitating a monthly community stroke support group at a local hospital and was a founding board member for a nonprofit pediatric clinic. She was awarded USAHS’ 2020 Board Excellence Award in the ‘Student First’ category. She is a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice.

Dr. Savage earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hendrix College in Conway, AR, Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Louisiana State University and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with an emphasis in Neurogenic Communication Disorders, from Louisiana State University.

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.

Robert W. Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP is Chair and Program Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Drexel University, Elkins Park Campus with a primary role of administration, in addition to teaching and clinical supervision roles. Prior to joining the faculty at the former Salus University in 2014, Bob held clinical and leadership roles for a variety of healthcare providers. He has vast experience in acute care, rehabilitation, and home health for the adult and geriatric populations, as well as pediatric care both locally and internationally.  His research interests include clinical supervision and interprofessional education and practice in the field of Speech-Language Pathology and as well as neurological communication and swallowing disorders, including telepractice applications.

After earning a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola University Maryland, Bob relocated back to his hometown of Philadelphia to practice.  He holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, in addition to achieving specialty certification in the areas voice and dysphagia. Bob is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Education at Temple University focusing on underrepresented groups in graduate education.

Dr. Shune is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Communication Disorders and Sciences Program at the University of Oregon. Her research and clinical interests include the effects of healthy and pathologic aging on swallowing and the mealtime process. She is particularly interested in better understanding the shared mealtime and food-related activities as opportunities to therapeutically target improved quality of life for older adults, healthy and otherwise, and their caregivers. Her work has been recognized by the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders, the Dysphagia Research Society, and the European Society for Swallowing Disorders, and funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Oregon Tax Checkoff for Alzheimer's Research Fund, and the University of Oregon. She directs the Optimizing Eating and Swallowing for the Elderly Lab (https://eatinglab.uoregon.edu).

Prior to returning to school for her PhD and throughout her doctoral program, she worked as an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist in various medical settings (inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing, acute care), with a particular focus on dysphagia and stroke rehabilitation. In addition to her research, she currently teaches in the area of medical speech-language pathology and organizes a community-based swallowing disorders support group.

Jennifer Simpson is Dean of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions at Central Michigan University.   She served as CAPCSD President in 2023-2024 and Past President in 2024-2025.

Jennifer L. Smart, Ph.D., CCC-A is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Doctor of Audiology program in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Grand Valley State University.  She has over 16 years of experience working with children and adults with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). She has published in multiple journals and presented her work both nationally and internationally. Her current research is focused on the diagnosis and rehabilitation of adults and children with APD. She has volunteered for Special Olympics for more than 13 years in both Maryland and Michigan. In 2019 she received Faculty Volunteer Service Award from the Towson University Alumni Association, and in 2020 she received the Golisano Health Leadership Award for her leadership in Special Olympics Maryland health programing and her ongoing commitment to advocating inclusive health for people with intellectual disabilities. She is a Clinical Director for Healthy Hearing and a Clinical Director for the newest Healthy Athletes program, Healthy Young Athletes in Michigan. She is honored to serve as the Chair of the Membership Committee for CAPCSD.

Retired

Patti Solomon-Rice, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist with experience as an associate professor, the Founding Director of the Woolfolk School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Our Lady of the Lake University, a clinic coordinator at San Francisco State University and San Jose State University, a private practice owner and practitioner, and a speech pathology department director at Kentfield Medical Center. She is currently a speech-language pathology consultant.

Dr. Solomon-Rice has been active in both state associations and related organizations. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation, serving as the Chair of the Research Awards committee. Prior to moving to Texas, she was active in the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association and was awarded Fellow of the Association. She served on the Board of Directors as Secretary, Commissioner for Professional Development and Continuing Education, and Commissioner for Research and Publications. She was also a member of the State Nominating Committee and several task forces. Also in California, she was one of two speech-language pathology members of the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board, serving as Board Vice-Chair and Chair of the Speech-Language Pathology Committee.

Dr. Solomon-Rice has been an active member of ASHA for 23 years. She was Chair of both the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) and the CFCC Nominating Committee. She was also Chair of the Board of Ethics (BOE) and Chair of the BOE Ethics Education Subcommittee. In addition, she served as Chair of the Continuing Education Board. Regarding annual conventions, she was a Topic Co-Chair for Language in Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers. Lastly, she was a site visitor for the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and an Editorial Board Member for the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.

Passed away 7/19/2021

Anu Subramanian, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a clinical professor and director of clinical programs in SLP at the Dept of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa. She supervises graduate students in stuttering (across the age span) and pediatric clinical placements, including early intervention. She teaches classes in Supervision and Foundations of Clinical Practice. Her interests are in early intervention, stuttering, and clinical education. She is an alumni of the CAPCSD Leadership Academy from 2019 and serves on clinical education committee at CAPCSD.

Rachael Suddarth is a professor at St. Ambrose University teaching content in Critical Thinking, Evidence-Based Practice, Multicultural Issues, and Language Disorders. She supervises graduate student clinical work at a local non-profit that provides service to under resourced children and families. Rachael is a past-president of ISHA and CE Administrator.

Chiz Tamaki, AuD, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences, School of Human Services and Sciences; and Director of AuD Program; at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. She teaches Diagnostic Audiology, Vestibular Studies, Clinical Supervision, and Professional Issues courses; and coordinates off-site clinical experiences for the AuD Program. Additionally, she mentors students in the HSLS PhD Program. Her area of research involves vestibular and balance functions, especially in Deaf older adults. 

Jacqueline Towson, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders with a joint appointment in the School of Teacher Education at University of Central Florida. She completed her doctorate in 2015 at Georgia State University in the Education of Students with Exceptionalities with a focus in Early Childhood Special Education following 14 years of work in public schools. Her research broadly concerns building the capacity of individuals who work with young children experiencing language impairments and those considered at-risk and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Dr. Ying-Chiao Tsao is an ASHA board-recognized specialist in stuttering and cluttering, and the Coordinator for SIG 20 (Counseling). She has published numerous book chapters and journal articles in JSLHR, JASA, and SIG14 perspectives. Aside from researching the links between speech rates and stuttering, Dr. Tsao has committed to promoting cultural humility and undergraduate research through community outreach. She has attended numerous AI courses and received certificates and credentials, including ‘Academic Applications of AI’ and ‘AI Tools for Teaching and Learning.’

Sarah E. Wallace PhD, CCC-SLP is a Professor and Program Director for the Master's in Speech-Language Pathology in the Communication Science and Disorders Department at the University of Pittsburgh. 

Dr. Wallace also directs the Communication and Cognition Lab (https://www.facebook.com/CommunicationAndCognitionLab/). Dr. Wallace is a certified speech-language pathologist with clinical experience providing services to individuals with acquired communication disorders. At Duquesne University she teaches the following graduate courses: Aphasia in Adults, Neurocognitive Communication Disorders, Augmentative and Alternative Communication with Lab, and Capstone in Evidence-Based Practice. 

Dr. Kimberly Ward is an Associate Professor of Audiology in the School of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi. She teaches multiple graduate level courses in the doctoral program, provides direct service provision and supervision of students for diagnostic evaluations, amplification fittings and verification, and cochlear implant evaluations and subsequent programming. Kim has is a recipient of the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Honors  of the Association Award as well as the MSHA Clinical Achievement Award.

Jennifer Whitley Consulting provides specialized speech-language therapy services for school districts, speech-language pathologists, parents, and caregivers. We provide contracting services to school districts in need of bilingual support.  

Diane L. Williams, Ph.D. CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, is Professor and Head of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Program Director of the master’s program in speech-language pathology at Pennsylvania State University. She is a Life Member of ASHA and has provided clinical services to individuals with language disorders across the age span. Her program of research focuses on autism spectrum disorders with an emphasis on the processes of language, cognition, and memory and the neurobiological bases of neurodevelopmental disorders. Her volunteer roles include multiple years on program committees for the ASHA Convention including as chair for the section on autism, service as a CAA site visitor, and a reviewer for the ASHA journals.

Erica Williams, Ph.D., CCC-A, is a Clinical Professor in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. She is currently the Program Director and Clinical Placement Coordinator for the Doctor of Audiology Program. Dr. Williams teaches academic coursework in auditory/vestibular pathologies and diagnostics. She is a clinical educator in the ASU Speech and Hearing Clinic, providing services primarily in adult diagnostics, vestibular evaluation, and amplification. She also participates in an annual hearing healthcare service trip to Guaymas, Mexico in conjunction with the Mesa West Rotary Club, and also provides volunteer services in conjunction with St. Vincent de Paul. She is professionally active in national service opportunities as a member of the Council for Clinical Certification (CFCC) and the incoming 2023 Vice-Chair for Audiology. Additionally, Dr. Williams is a member of the CAPCSD Membership and Conference Planning Committees as well as starting her term as a CAA Site visitor. 

Retired in 2025 as Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Jacksonville University.

Amy K. Winston, AuD, CCC-A, is a clinical audiologist and assistant professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences. She graduated from Rush University with her AuD in 2007. Her primary clinical, teaching and research interests lie in the areas of electrophysiologic evaluations and vestibular testing and rehabilitation. Winston oversees the clinical vestibular program and teaches the vestibular assessment and rehabilitation course in the audiology academic program. As the clinical specialist in vestibular testing, she serves as a primary resource for clinical colleagues and students in the areas of vestibular pathologies, balance diagnostic testing and related issues. She is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, Illinois Academy of Audiology and American Speech-Language and Hearing Association.

Prior to coming to Gonzaga as Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Julie Wolter, PhD, CCC-SLP was a Professor and Vice Provost for Innovation and Online Learning at the University of Montana and has a strong history working in an interdisciplinary capacity with faculty and colleagues in health, education, social science, and professional programs across academic and community settings. Dr. Wolter has an academic and clinical career of close to 25 years that includes service as Chair of the School of Speech, Language, Hearing & Occupational Sciences at the University of Montana and Chair of the Speech-Language Pathology Division in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders and Deaf Education at Utah State University. Dr. Wolter has taught various undergraduate and graduate courses in evidence-based practice, implementation science, research methods, child language literacy development, and interprofessional education. She has led the development and launch of multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees in rehabilitation, health, education, and related multidisciplinary fields. Dr. Wolter is an internationally known scholar, and her research and clinical work in language-literacy development, assessment, and intervention are widely published. She currently maintains an active research lab and is funded through an R01 with the National Institutes of Health, in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital's Interprofessional Health Program and the Royal Holloway University of London, to examine linguistic development and related assessment and intervention practices in young school children with and without dyslexia and developmental language disorder. Dr. Wolter is committed to enhancing and promoting health professional students' education, research, and clinical experiences in underserved community settings and has secured funding, such as a $1.25 million grant through the U.S. Department of Education, to support students and distance programming in rural and American Indian tribal communities throughout the Intermountain and Northwestern regions.

Dr. Lauren Wright-Jones, CCC-SLP is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Online Chair for the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathologist in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Dr. Wright-Jones joined IC in the Spring of 2024, after working for several years at a small midwestern university as an assistant professor, graduate chair, and former director of clinical education. Dr. Wright-Jones serves as a member of the Models of Academic and Clinical Education Committee for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, she has been active with the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing, and she is passionate about student learning and support.