About
I am an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist who specializes in treating adults with voice and upper airway disorders. I am also an exercise physiologist, as I recently earned my PhD in Kinesiology with a specialization in Exercise Science. Now I am Assistant Professor Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University, with a joint appointment in Otolaryngology in Feinberg School of Medicine.
I am Director of the Multi-system Voice Physiology (MVP) Lab, where we conduct interdisciplinary voice research, applying exercise science principles and methodologies of metabolic muscle performance to better understand how the vocal mechanism changes with age. We aim to develop objective, clinically meaningful outcome measures and interventions that drive more effective rehabilitation strategies and personalized voice therapy. My current research is funded by NIH.
Assistant Professor | Communication Sciences and Disorders, Otolaryngology, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University | present
Lecturer | School of Professional Studies, Northwestern University | present
Mancosh Postdoctoral Fellow | School of Communication, Northwestern University | 2024 - 2026
PhD | Auburn University | 2020 - 2024
Adjunct Instructor | Alabama State University | 2021 - 2022
Speech Pathologist | UAB Voice Center | 2022 - 2023
Speech Pathology Clinical Fellow | USC Voice Center | 2019 - 2020
MS | Communication Sciences & Disorders | University of Kentucky I 2019
BA | Spanish and Linguistics | Emory University | 2016
Selected Presentations
Muscle Matters: Centering Vocal Function in a Metabolic Framework / 2023 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention
Cultural Competence in Voice Therapy: Checking Your Blind Spots / 2021 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention
Addressing Healthcare Disparities: Framing the Issue (Invited Lecturer) / USC Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Grand Rounds.
Multicultural Considerations for Voice Evaluations: Culturally Responsive Voice Care (Invited Lecturer) / CMDS 7540: Advanced Voice Disorders, Auburn University.
Beyond Hard Conversations: Responding to Racism, Sexism, Transphobia and Ableism in Our Settings (Invited Panelist) / American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) SIG 3: Voice and Upper Airway Disorders
Healthcare Access Disparities in Voice Treatment / National Black Association of Speech, Language and Hearing Convention (NBASLH)
Addressing the link between health literacy and access to care: Practical steps for clinicians and researchers (Invited Speaker) / 2023 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention
Addressing Healthcare Disparities for Voice Disorders: A Theoretical Framework / Australian Voice Association Voice Symposium 21
How do we get there? – Conversation about The Fall Voice Health Equity Grant (Invited Breakout Session Panelist) / The Fall Voice Virtual Conference
Adult Normative Data for the OMNI-Vocal Effort Scale / The Voice Foundation Virtual Voice Symposium
Developing a Clinical Protocol for Remote Data Collection / West Coast Voice Consortium
Introduction to Voice / California State University, Los Angeles COMD Symposium
Vocal Function Exercises for Normal Voice: The Effects of Varying Duration / The Fall Voice Conference
Promoting Health Equity in Voice and Upper Airway: Tools to Reduce Bias in Clinic, Research, and Supervision (Invited Panelist) / 2023 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention
Evidence for Vocal Function Exercises in Voice Disordered Teachers: A Critically Appraised Topic / National Black Association of Speech, Language and Hearing Convention
Vocal Function Exercises for Normal Voice: The Effects of Varying Duration Preliminary Data / Center for Clinical and Translational Science Spring Conference
Improving Voice Quality Among Teachers: A Critically Appraised Topic /Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association Conference
Construct Validity of the OMNI Vocal Effort Scale for Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia (ADSD) /National Black Association of Speech, Language and Hearing Convention