About

Research interests: My research interests are grounded in more than 22 years of clinical practice and will continue to evolve throughout my doctoral studies. I am excited to contribute to the work of the Communication and Speech Emergence (CaSE) Lab under the direction of my advisor, Dr. Helen Long. The lab’s focus on early identification and intervention for young children with neurodevelopmental disabilities aligns closely with my clinical work in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and assistive technology (AT).
I am particularly interested in how communication, leadership, and organizational systems influence equitable access to services for individuals with communication disabilities, as well as supervision and culturally responsive clinical practices.

Area of specialization: My career has primarily centered on school-based practice, with additional experience in higher education and private practice. Across every setting, however, my work has been guided by a simple belief: meaningful communication begins with meaningful relationships built on a solid foundation of trust, collaboration, and connection.

About me: I am originally from Louisiana and have lived in Michigan, Texas, and now Ohio. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Southern University and A&M College, an HBCU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and my graduate degree from Western Michigan University, both in speech-language-hearing sciences.
Throughout my career, I have remained active in professional volunteerism, most notably serving on the Board of Directors for the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH) from 2023-2026, and as the 2024 Speech-Language Pathology Co-Chair for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention. Outside of work, I enjoy collecting action figures, baking cakes from scratch, and can even say I’ve appeared on an episode of HGTV’s House Hunters.