Leadership Academy Alumni

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ramesh Kaipa, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Oklahoma State University since 2018. Before being a department head, he served as the Graduate Program Director from 2016-2018. He is also currently serving as the Vice President of the Oklahoma Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the executive board member of the South Asian Caucus of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. His research focuses on developing evidence-based treatment for individuals with neurogenic communication disorders. He is equally passionate about teaching. During his time at Oklahoma State University, his teaching and research endeavors have been recognized by several awards, including the President Faculty Fellow Award, College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Awards, and Mortar Board’s Golden Torch Award.

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.

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. She has served as the director of the MU Speech and Hearing Clinic since 2015 and has been a clinical supervisor 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, is 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).

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 aprofessor 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.

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.  

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. 

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.

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.

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.  

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 Salus at Drexel University, with a primary role of administration, in addition to teaching and clinical supervision roles. Prior to joining the faculty at Salus 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.

Jennifer Simpson is a Clinical Professor and Associate Head in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue 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.

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.

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, Ph.D., 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.

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.

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.