Featured Speakers

Jean Blosser, EdD, CCC-SLP

Jean Blosser is passionate about creating systems in our schools that ensure SLPs and their education colleagues provide high quality, outcomes-based services for children with disabilities. To Jean, collaboration is essential! She encourages practitioners to be innovative, to coach, and to collaborate with their education partners and families in order to ensure that services are educationally relevant so children can fully participate and succeed in their classrooms, homes, and communities.

blosser.outcomes matter.gsha 2.6.2016.pdf

blosser service delivery.gsha 2.6.16.pdf

blosser.service delivery options chart.docx

blosser.lennox xzavier who receives more services.doc

blosser.classroom based services explained.docx

Edgar “Vince” Clark, MEd, CCC-SLP

Edgar V. (Vince) Clark, MEd, CCC-SLP, is the Administrator of The Integra Rehabilitation Agency and currently manages the Flexible Endoscopic Examination of Swallowing program for a large system of skilled nursing facilities and hospitals within Georgia. Vince has been employed with Integra Rehabilitation since 1999 and served that organization in several positions. He is a Past President of GSHA, 2008-09 GSHA Clinician of the Year and received The Bob Hull Leadership Award in 2012-13.

assets/documents/2016-Convention/Handouts/clarkpreconvention.pdf

assets/documents/2016-Convention/Handouts/instrumental assessment of swallowing.pdf

Perry Flynn, MEd, CCC-SLP

Perry is a Professor in the CSD Department at UNCG, the Consultant to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and a former member of the ASHA Board of Directors. He is a certified equestrian therapist and an Operation Smile volunteer.

PerryFlynnGeorgaCommonCore2016.pdf

PerryFlynnSocialLanguageSkills.pdf

Jaynee A. Handelsman, PhD, CCC-AUD

Jaynee A. Handelsman, PhD, CCC-AUD, is the Director of Pediatric Audiology in the CS Mott Children’s Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery in the University of Michigan Health System. Dr. Handelsman, an ASHA Fellow, began her current tenure on the ASHA Board of Directors in 2015 as President Elect. She is the 2016 ASHA President.

Lemmietta McNeilly   

Dr. McNeilly is ASHA’s Chief Staff Officer, Speech-Language. She is an ASHA Fellow, Distinguished Scholar and Fellow of the National Academy of Practice, and a Certified Association Executive of the American Society of Association Executives. She has published and conducted seminars internationally for leaders in health care and academic arenas on topics including empowering leaders for the changing health care landscape, genomics for health care professionals, interprofessional education, and speech-language pathology support personnel.

Lisa Scott, PhD, CCC-SLP

Lisa A. Scott, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Director of Clinical Education at Florida State University, is the Vice President for Education for Stuttering Foundation of America, and is President-Elect for the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

scottgsha16 handout.pdf

Ruth Stonestreet, PhD, CCC-SLP

Ruth Stonestreet received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Speech and Drama and Speech Pathology from Mississippi University for Women and her PhD in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Her career has included impacting communication abilities of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary children and their families in Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan and Georgia. She has presented at regional, state and national conferences over 300 times. Ruth is a past president of GSHA and recipient of the Hull Leadership Award, Honors of the Association and is an ASHA Fellow. Since her retirement from academia, she is presently in private practice where she is active in providing intervention and mentoring and supervising for EBS Healthcare.

Stonestreet Handout

Call for Papers Presenter

Debra Beckman, MA, CCC-SLP

Debra Beckman has worked in the field of communicative disorders since 1975, specializing in motor speech disorders. She has worked in a variety of settings, and has served as a court appointed witness and as a resource content expert for seven federal court cases, regarding services for the developmentally disabled.

Rosemary Brown-Lewis, MS, CCC-SLP

Rosemary Brown-Lewis has 36 years of experience in the areas of voice, dysphagia, cognitive-communication disorders, and program development. She is a former GSHA President from 2000-2001, and was Honors of the Association in 2003.

Michele Cole-Clark, MEd, CCC-SLP

Michele Cole-Clark, MEd, CCC-SLP, has worked in the field of speech pathology across pediatric in-patient and clinical out-patient rehabilitation settings specializing in communication and feeding concerns. Michele currently works with children with oral sensorimotor and behavioral feeding issues as a member of the Pediatric Feeding Team at the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sam Creech, MEd, MCITP, MCTS, ATACP

My name is Sam Creech and I have a condition known as Cerebral Palsy (CP) that affects the motor region of the brain. The severity of my disability forces me to rely on a power chair for mobility and an Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) device to speak. I am employed full time as a Director of Information Technology at a center for independent living called Walton Options located in Augusta, Georgia, and a second office in North Augusta, South Carolina. I manage two computer networks in these locations that keep the center up and running. My passion is fulfilled by teaching computer classes at the center to people with various types of disabilities from the ages of five to 100.

Patrick Finn, PhD, CCC-SLP

Patrick Finn is a researcher/instructor at the University of Georgia, and an affiliate faculty of the Institute for Evidence-Based Health Professions Education. He has published articles on stuttering, science/pseudoscience, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice. He designed and teaches a course on critical thinking in the helping professions.

Stacey Gardenhire, MA

Stacey Gardenhire is an advocate. She has worked at the Georgia Advocacy Office for approximately 11 years. As an advocate, Stacey has developed expertise in employment supports for people with disabilities along with advocating for people who are in need of assistive technology. The scope of advocacy and support has allowed Ms. Gardenhire to educate others on the importance of augmentative communication. Ms. Gardenhire works diligently to support people in obtaining devices that augment their ability to communicate effectively with people in their lives.

Angela Hammond, MS

Angela Hammond has 36 years of experience as an SLP with an emphasis on voice, swallowing, and cognitive-communication disorders. She is a full-time employee working with both adult and pediatric patients.

Sucheta Kamath, MA, CCC-SLP

Sucheta Kamath is a founder of Cerebral Matters which is a private consulting practice where she trains people to change the way they think and learn. As an Executive Function specialist, Sucheta’s work focuses on cognitive training to master the art of self-control, focus management and goal-directed behaviors. Sucheta works to implement her Think-To-Learn programs to emphasize Executive Function learning in academic, educational and corporate settings. While at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Sucheta received the “Stephanie Macaluso Expertise in Clinical Practice Award” and the “Partners in Excellence Award” for leadership and innovation. Sucheta is a recent graduate of Leadership Atlanta class of 2015 and a TEDx speaker. She is on several boards including Brain Aneurysm Foundation and International Dyslexia Association-GA.

Katherine Lamb, PhD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Katherine Lamb is an Assistant Professor at Valdosta State University. Lamb received her PhD in Neurocommunication Sciences at the University of South Florida. Dr. Lamb's research interests include semantic features and semantic feature distinctiveness in word retrieval with individuals with aphasia as well as young and older adults. She is a clinical supervisor at Valdosta State University. Dr. Lamb's teaching interests include aphasia.

Nicole H. Lorenz, MS, CCC-SLP

Nicole H. Lorenz currently works with Integra Rehabilitation as an SLP Endoscopist providing FEES to patients in skilled nursing facilities throughout northern Georgia. Previously she has worked in an acute care facilities servicing a variety of patients with a focus on dysphagia. She assisted in creating documentation, protocols and education for staff, patients and families. She also provided inservices to nurses and PCTs. Previous experience included working in inpatient rehab, skilled nursing, pediatric outpatient, schools and early intervention.

Eva Lukkonen Sullivan, MA, CCC-SLP

Eva Lukkonen Sullivan, MM, MA, CCC-SLP, is a voice specialist and owner of ELSynergy Voice and Speech Services, providing videostroboscopic evaluations of voice, FEES, and voice and swallowing therapy in ENT offices in the greater Atlanta area. Her research and clinical endeavors include developing and implementing assessment tools for SLPs working with the injured singing voice, as well as facilitating the interdisciplinary collaborations among SLPs, ENTs, singing teachers, and singers for optimal patient care.

lukkonen_sullivanprofessionaladvocacy.pdf

lukkonen_sullivansingingvoicepresentationhandouts.pdf

lukkonen_sullivanattachment 1_cms letter.docx

lukkonen_sullivanattacment 2_telepractice letter.docx

Laurie Martin, MA

Laurie Martin is the Director of Rehabilitation at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. She has over 30 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist.

Jessica Matheson, CCC-SLP

Jessica Matheson received her Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of South Carolina in 2004. In the past eleven years, she has provided speech and language therapy in a variety of settings including public schools, skilled nursing facilities, and private clinics. Specific therapeutic areas of interest include childhood apraxia of speech, cleft lip and palate, and autism spectrum disorder. She has been trained in the use of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol, Brain Gym, Interactive Metronome and other programs for fluency and phonological awareness.

Angie Neal, MS, CCC-SLP

Angie Neal is the author of "Simply Social at School" (Super Duper Publications) and "The Pirate Who Couldn't Say Arrr" (Tate Publications). She created the "Simply Social at School" curriculum for students grades K and up who have social language/pragmatic difficulties within the school setting after seeing the need for a tool that worked specifically in this setting. Mrs. Neal has presented across the US on this topic and is a school-based Speech-Language Pathologist in Greenville County. Mrs. Neal earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina, and her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from San Francisco State University.

nealbetterspellersmakebetterreaders.pdf

nealsociallysavvy.pdf

Shelly Perry

Shelly Perry is a clinical nurse practitioner at Coastal Neurology Group. She, along with the neurologist, is responsible for assessment of patients for the early diagnosis of dementia.

Jill Ronske, EdS

Jill has worked over 17 years in early intervention and pediatrics gaining extensive experience in treating children of various diagnoses. She has completed over 25 workshops in the areas of vision. sensory modulation, feeding, motor planning and vestibular training. Jill received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1994. Previously she taught special education for nine years in Wisconsin.

Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP

Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP, is a Certified and Licensed Speech Language Pathologist and author of various articles in ASHA Leader, ASHA Sphere and Independent Clinician. As Clinical Director of her practice, Pamela Rowe, Speech and Music Therapy, Pamela uses creativity and passion to spread the great news of Communication within various areas of the Community.

Debra Schober-Peterson, PhD, CCC-SLP

Debra Schober-Peterson is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education at Georgia State University. She has been a speech-language pathologist for over 30 years. Her interests are in child language and speech sound disorders as well as clinical supervision.

Jill Shedd, MEd, CCC-SLP

Jill Shedd works with early adolescents in programs for Mildly to Severely Intellectually Impaired, Learning Disabled, and with fluency disorders. She is married to a high school principal, raising two grown boys. She loves series literature such as Guardians of Light and Outlander. Jill is also involved in Community Theater, currently making plans to sponsor a summer children's theater program in McDonough.

shedd non-traditional therapy ideas.pdf

Christine Todaro, MS, OTR-L

Christine Todaro received her undergraduate degree from Lynchburg College, graduating with a BS in Sports Medicine. She received her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University in 2003. Christine has been working in the field of pediatrics for over eleven years in outpatient, home based and school based settings. Christine holds additional certifications in Interactive Metronome, Therapeutic Listening, and Saebo Orthosis. In 2012, Christine received her RYT certification as a Yatra Yoga Instructor. Christine's area of clinical focus is within Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing.

todarotappingintosenses.pdf

Aneesha Virani, PhD, CCC-SLP

Aneesha Virani, PhD, CCC-SLP, obtained her doctorate degree from Louisiana State University in 2012. Her research focused on the management of dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancers. She is currently employed at Northside Hospital where she serves as the Supervisor of Rehabilitation Services and conducts clinical services focusing on swallowing, speech, voice, and airway disorders. She also serves as a member and reviewer for the Perspectives on Swallowing & Swallowing Disorders.

Peggy Watson, MS, CCC-SLP

Peggy Watson MS, CCC-SLP, is an expert in non-pharmacological dementia management and therapy procedures. She is co-owner of Consultants in Dementia Therapy and co-author of Dementia Therapy & Program Development, and Dementia: Loving Care with a Therapeutic Benefit. Watson is a member of Colorado and Texas Speech-Language Associations and ASHA.

watsonconventionhandout.pdf

Ellen Weber, EdS, CCC-SLP

Mrs. Weber, recently retired from the Cobb County School District, has worked in the public school setting in three different states, as well as the private practice setting. She holds Master’sDegrees in Speech-Language Pathology and Educational Leadership, and a Specialist Degree in Educational Technology. She currently designs educational apps, provides technology training for school districts throughout the southeast, and hosts a website for SLPs: www.4gaslps.com

weber_gsha2016handouts.pdf

Vendor Academy Presenters

Lorie Delk, MEd, CCC-SLP

Lorie began her career in 1988 as a staff speech therapist at Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. In 1995, she began a home-based pediatric private practice. In 1999, she incorporated the practice into Lorie S. Delk and Associates. She specializes in treatment of Language Disorders. She also provides reading therapy, is trained in Orton Gillingham and Lindamood-Bell reading programs, and is the co-developer of the Up-Words Reading® program.

Jessica Kersting, PhD, CCC-SLP

Jessica worked with pediatric clients in a variety of settings before completing her Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of South Carolina in 2012. In addition to teaching courses in language development and supervising speech-language pathology students, she has published her research and presented her work on language and literacy disorders in children at national conferences. She is currently working with Delk Speech as a collaborator with the Up-Words Reading® program.

Christine Ristuccia, MS, CCC-SLP

Christine Ristuccia, MS, CCC-SLP, received her Master of Science degree in communicative disorders at the University of Redlands, Redlands, CA, and a Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences from San Diego State University. Christine is an experienced school-based speech-language pathologist. She founded Say It Right in 1999. She is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker on the subject of /r/ and other articulation disorders as well as implementation of yoga into speech and language intervention sessions.

christineristuccialivepresentation90minutepresentation.pdf

Poster Session Presenters

Andrea Amszynski, BS

Andrea Amszynski graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After graduating, she worked as a special needs teacher in a private school serving young people with strokes, traumatic brain injuries, sensory disorders, cerebral palsy and autism. Andrea took an interest in the different teaching styles required to relay information to children with unique abilities. Andrea now attends Armstrong State University pursuing her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Meredith Avren, MEd, CCC-SLP

Meredith Avren has five years’ experience working in the public school setting in Georgia. She earned her Master’s degree in communication disorders from Georgia State University in 2010.

Cheri Barclay, BS

Cheri Barclay is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong Atlantic University. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish Language from Armstrong Atlantic University, as well. As an undergraduate, she was chosen for an assistantship in behavior modification in the rat laboratory where she became interested in traumatic brain injury behavioral research, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Rachel Beattie, BS

Rachel Beattie is a first year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Georgia. She has worked with a variety of different clients, including stroke patients, children, and dysphagia patients. Her areas of interest include neurogenic disorders of language and swallowing, and she has an interest of working with both pediatric and adult populations.

BeattiePosterHandout.pdf

Emily Bowen, BS, CCC-SLP

Emily Bowen is a first-year graduate student in Speech-Language Pathology at Armstrong State University. She completed her first undergraduate degree in Political Science from Arizona State University. Emily worked coordinating English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes for over four years, which sparked her interest in communication sciences and speech-language pathology. Emily completed her second degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from University of South Florida. She is interested in adult neurogenic speech disorders. 

Heidi Britz, CCC-SLP

Heidi Britz has nearly 25 years pediatric experience in hospitals and public schools. She is currently a lead SLP for Fulton County Schools. She mentors new grads and has been developing social language assessments, rubrics and RTI for the county over the past two years.

Erica Brode, BS

Erica Brode is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She completed her undergraduate degree at George Mason University, and post-baccalaureate classes at Armstrong State University. Her areas of interest include feeding intervention, primarily in the NICU population, and articulation disorders in children. As a student clinician, Erica has conducted supervised therapy in the university clinic, hearing screenings in Chatham County schools, and speech and language screenings at a preschool.

brodeposterhandoutppt.pdf

brodeposterhandout

Ashley Camon, BS

Ashley Camon is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University, and she is interested in working with the school-aged population.

camonposterhandout.pdf

Matthew Carter, PhD, CCC-SLP

Matthew Carter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University.

Melissa Carter, MS, CCC-SLP

Melissa Carter is an Instructor/Clinical Supervisor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University.

melcarterposterhandout.pdf

Mara Charles

Mara is currently a senior at Valdosta State University and is a member of the Honors College. She is majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Mara participates in various campus organizations like NSSLHA and has held leadership positions in the Honors Student Association and the National Residence Hall Honorary. After obtaining her Bachelor’s degree, Mara plans to pursue a Master’s in Communication Disorders.

Erin Cummins, BA

Erin Cummins is currently a graduate student in the Georgia State University Communication Sciences and Disorders Program. She is the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) President at GSU and a CommunicAID Nation awards committee member. She also volunteers with the Brain Injury Association of Georgia at Camp BIAG every year. In the future, she hopes to work in a medical setting with adults and the military.

Jade Dampier, BS

Jade Dampier is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University. She received her BS, Ed, at Valdosta State University in the spring of 2015. Jade's areas of interest range from school aged articulation disorders to geriatrics experiencing Parkinson's disease.

dampierposterhandout.pdf

Shalli Davis, BS

Shalli Davis is a graduate student at Armstrong State University. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southern University. It was in classroom that she got a firsthand look at how some children struggle, both socially and educationally, because of a speech or language disorder. This led her to particular interest in childhood communication disorders and influenced her to continue her education in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Rachael DeLashmit, BS

Rachael DeLashmit is a graduate student at Armstrong State University. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia where she was able to work with children locally and abroad. Her areas of interest include neurogenic speech and language disorders, such as Tourette's syndrome and Foreign Accent Syndrome in Aphasia. As a student clinician, Rachael has completed supervised therapy with a variety of populations from pediatric to geriatric care in the clinical setting.

RachaelDeLashmitPosterHandout.pdf

Ashley Fowler, BS

Ashley Fowler graduated with her bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders from Valdosta State University in 2015. She is currently seeking her master's degree in Communication Disorders from Valdosta State University.

fowlerposterhandout.pdf

Lauren Funderburg, BS

Lauren is a graduate student at Valdosta State University in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program. She is originally from Tallahassee, FL, but plans to stay in Georgia after her master’s program.

funderburgposterhandout.pdf

Grace Gonzalez, BSEd

Grace Gonzalez is an intermediate graduate clinician in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University. Her clinical interests are primarily in the area of dysphagia.

gonzalezposterhandout.pdf

Deborah Nicole Grant, BS

Deborah Nicole Grant is a first year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders degree from the University of Georgia. She has worked with a variety of individuals, including children with varied speech language disorders, stroke patients, and individuals with apraxia. Her areas of interest include early intervention, feeding and swallowing, and working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum.

Elizabeth Grant, BS

Elizabeth Grant is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She received her undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders with a thematic concentration in Rehabilitation and Special Education from Auburn University where she worked with preschool and school-aged children. Her areas of interest include developmental disabilities, early intervention services, and voice disorders.

GrantPosterHandout.pdf

Sierra Havrilla, BSEd

Sierra Havrilla is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University and a graduate clinician at the Valdosta Speech and Hearing Clinic. Sierra obtained a BSEd in Communication Disorders from Valdosta State University. Areas of interest include: geriatric care, Parkinson’s disease, accent modification, and language disorders with specific interest in aphasia.

havrillaposterhandout.pdf

Nicole Hewitt, BS

Nicole Hewitt is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Georgia. Her areas of interest include Autism Spectrum Disorder and Early Intervention, although she is interested in many other pediatric areas as well.

Morgan Johnson, BS

Morgan Johnson is a first-year graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Valdosta State University. She is currently the GSHA Student Affairs Committee representative for VSU and is responsible for relaying information to her fellow classmates. Specific areas of interest for Morgan include, but are not limited to, early intervention, literacy, and dysphagia.

johnsonposterhandout.pdf

Ted Johnson, CCC-AUD

Ted Johnson is an Associate Professor of Audiology in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University. His research interests include hearing conservation and preschool hearing screening.

Ashley Jones, BS

Ashley Jones is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Fayetteville State University. Ashley currently serves as the graduate assistant for the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program at ASU. She has worked with pediatric and adult populations with varied speech and language disorders. Her areas of interest include multicultural issues in speech language pathology as well as acquired neurogenic disorders of language and cognition.

Jean Kropa, MEd, CCC-SLP

For 29 of 33 years as an SLP, Jean Kropa's focus has been Brain Injury, with 17 years co-leader of the Mild Brain Injury Support Group. She authored 5-Minutes more: a Functional Vision Screening (1998). Realizing needs for communicating with Medical/ Allied Health Professionals, she began researching kinds of identifications which can enhance communication with MDs, therapists, police, and First Responders. Three years in development, this Model can help any client or patient in speech-language and audiology services communicate more efficiently to health professionals.

kropaposterhandoutmodelbetter.docx

kropaposterhandoutice.docx

kropaposterhandoutguide2idselections.docx

Kayla Lane

Kayla Lane is an undergraduate student in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Valdosta State University. She is planning to enter into a Doctor of Audiology program in the fall of 2016.

Hannah Leicher, BSEd

Hannah Leicher is a graduate student at Valdosta State University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in May 2014. Hannah's research interests include the effects of technology on reading comprehension and evidence-based treatments for individuals with Parkinson's Disease and dysphagia.

Patricia Levitt, MA, CCC-SLP

Patricia Levitt, a certified Speech and Language Pathologist, is the owner of Carry Over Words. She has practiced for over 25 years in five states and Switzerland. Her passion is communication skills of children. The common theme of this passion is to focus on communication across all environments and to carryover skills learned in the school setting.

Emily Lewis, BA

Emily Lewis is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She received her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University Speech Communication with a concentration in Communication Across the Lifespan and a minor in Psychology. She did a yearlong internship working in a private pediatric clinic where she became interested in developmental disorders. She also has an interest in working with soldiers with TBI.

Kristen Marshall, BS

Kristen Marshall is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She completed a post-baccalaureate year in 2014 at Armstrong before being accepted to the graduate program. Kristen’s areas of interest include early-intervention and childhood language disorders, although she is also interested in other areas of pediatric intervention.

Rita Massie, BS

Rita Massie is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Armstrong State University. She worked in long-term care facilities throughout her undergraduate career, which led her to become very interested in speech-language pathology. Her areas of interest include traumatic brain injury, strokes and early childhood language disorders.

Christina Matta, BS

Christina Matta has a B.S.Ed. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and is currently a graduate student at Valdosta State University interested in bilingualism and hearing loss.

mattaposterhandout.pdf

Jairus Matthews, PhD, CCC-SLP

Jairus-Joaquin Matthews, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist and assistant professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders. He has practiced in public schools, geriatric home health, private practice, and the hospital setting. He has also worked with business professionals on accent modification and professional athletes on communication training. Dr. Matthews teaches courses in assessment of communication disorders, counseling in communication disorders, communication disorders in multicultural populations, neurogenic communication disorders, and voice disorders. His research interests are in the areas of critical literacy and identity, multicultural populations, and male students and professionals in female majority professions.

Elizabeth Melton, BS

Elizabeth is a graduate student in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University.

meltonposterhandout.docx

Katie Montgomery, BS

Katie Montgomery is currently a graduate student of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of West Georgia. Upon graduating, Katie plans to focus on early intervention. She graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.

Karen Noll, MA, CCC-SLP

Karen Noll, M.A., CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Supervisor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University.

Haley Parker

Haley Parker is a senior in the undergraduate Communication Sciences and Disorders program at the University of West Georgia. Following the completion of her degree, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She is interested in working with geriatric patients in areas of dysphagia and aphasia. She is also interested in assessment practices and cultural competency.

Lauren Pigott, BS

Lauren Pigott is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado - Boulder. Her areas of interest include bilingual development, adult neurogenic communication disorders, and literacy. As a student clinician, Lauren has performed supervised assessments and therapy in the university clinic as well as speech-language and hearing screenings in the Chatham County school system.

Katelyn Presnell, BS

Katelyn Presnell is a graduate student at Valdosta State University. She is currently working towards obtaining a Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology.

presnellposterhandout.pdf

Crystal Randolph, PhD, CCC-SLP

Crystal Randolph is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Supervisor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University.

Eliana Rodriguez, BS

Eliana Rodriguez, Bed, is a graduate student of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of West Georgia.

Kendall Roe, BS

Kendall Roe is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Georgia as well as a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. She has worked with the adult and children populations in the areas of stroke, apraxia, and articulation. Her areas of interest include early intervention and working with the pediatric population.

Samina Sattar, BA

Samina Sattar is currently a graduate student of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of West Georgia. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, with a concentration in Communication Across the Lifespan and a minor in Arabic.

Lisa Savchenko, BS

Lisa Savchenko is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Georgia. She had an undergraduate assistantship in a public primary school where she developed an interest in literacy and bilingualism. She is fluent in Russian and hopes to work with the bilingual population or stroke patients.

Maria Smith, BS

Maria Smith is a first-year graduate student at Armstrong State University. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Spanish from The University of Georgia. Maria’s areas of interest include feeding and swallowing disorders, specifically those pertaining to pediatric craniofacial anomalies, as well as other pediatric speech and language disorders.

MariaSmithHandout.pdf

Taylor Struble, BS

Taylor Struble is a second-semester graduate student in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Valdosta State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Valdosta State University in May of 2015. Taylor has a strong interest in the areas of language and literacy with a desire to serve the pediatric population.

strublegshahandout.pdf

Leslie Wall, BS

Leslie Wall completed her undergraduate coursework at the University of Georgia and is currently pursuing her Master’sDegree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Armstrong State University. Leslie seeks to serve as a speech-language pathologist with a focus on geriatrics, and hopes to provide assistance to the victims and caregivers of individuals suffering from dementia and strokes.

LeslieWallPosterHandout.pdf

April Ward

April Ward is currently a senior at Valdosta State University. She is majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and is minoring in Deaf Studies. After graduation, April plans to pursue a Master’s degree and a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders with hopes to teach aspiring SLPs. In her free time, April volunteers with VSU Dance Marathon and serves as an officer of VSU’s NSSLHA chapter.

Sarah Waters, BS

Sarah Waters, BS, is currently a graduate student in Communication Disorders at Auburn University. She is working on a thesis entitled: Graduate Preparation and Professional Development: A Grounded Theory Study.