Shawn Cummings

Shawn Cummings is a Ph.D. student in the Laboratory for Spoken Language Processing, working with Dr. Rachel Theodore. He is a recipient of the Donald Shankweiler Language Sciences Award from the CNC-CT program, and an NSF NRT fellow. He received undergraduate degrees in both Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Linguistics from the University of Rochester. His current research examines causal reasoning as a mechanism for adaptation in speech perception.

Lee Drown

Lee Drown is a Ph.D. student and a CNC-CT trainee working with Dr. Rachel Theodore. She obtained a BS in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology at Ithaca College, and a clinical Master's degree in Communication Disorders at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her current research interests include phonological representation and auditory processing skills in populations with both acquired and developmental language disorders.

Nikole Giovannone

Nikole Giovannone is a PhD student and Jorgensen Fellow working with Dr. Rachel Theodore. She received her BA in Psycholinguistics from Mount Holyoke College. Her interests include speech perception, prosody, functional plasticity, and electrophysiology.

Emily Jackson

Emily Jackson is a PhD student and OSEP scholar participating in the Early Childhood Intervention Doctoral Consortium (ECiDC). She received a B.A. in Psychology and Education & Child Studies from Smith College and a clinical M.A. in Communication Disorders from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Emily received her CCC-SLP and is an ASHA-certified Speech Language Pathologist with clinical experience working with children and families in early intervention. Her research interests include cultural responsiveness in parent coaching models, family-centered practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration of professionals in early intervention.

Alexa Kolias

Alexa Kolias is a Ph.D. student working with Dr. Jennifer Tufts. She received her Au.D. from Northwestern University and is an ASHA-certified Audiologist (CCC-A). Prior to returning to academia, she worked clinically and as a research assistant on the Regional Hearing Conservation team at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory in Groton, CT, where she gained experience in hearing conservation research and programs. Her research interests include hearing conservation, noise induced hearing loss, impulse noise exposure and acquired central auditory processing disorders.

Amanda Wadams

Amanda Wadams is a first year PhD student working with Dr. Mozeiko. Prior to returning to academia, Amanda worked clinically in skilled nursing and home health settings.  Amanda’s research focuses on the relationship between cognitive functioning and language, especially in those with acquired brain injury. Specifically, Amanda is researching attention, working memory, executive function and metacognition in people with aphasia.

Kacie Wittke

Kacie Wittke is a doctoral student and NSF IGERT Fellow working with Dr. Tammie Spaulding. Prior to returning to academia, she worked as a speech-language pathologist in a pediatric medical setting where she gained experience with a variety of childhood language and developmental disorders.  Her current research interests include specific language impairment, autism, and executive functioning.