Jacob is a sixth-year student in the joint doctoral program in Language and Communicative Disorders at SDSU and UCSD. He is interested in the neurobiological foundation of various social or pragmatic skills that are pivotal for functional langauge use and development, such as joint attention, “perspective-taking,” and gesture comprehension. His current work uses EEG to examine implicit word learning in children, as well as co-speech gesture processing in adults. During his free time, he tends to either play basketball or compose music with his computer.

Ashlie is a fourth-year doctoral student in the joint doctoral program in Language and Communicative Disorders at SDSU and UCSD. She is originally from Nebraska and earned her B.S. in Applied Psychology and Linguistics from New York University. She is interested in the relationship between language and cognition and is currently using a combination of electrophysiological (EEG) and behavioral methods to investigate 1) factors that affect word learning in adults and children with typical language and children with DLD, and 2) the timing of implicit cognitive-linguistic processing mechanisms in people with aphasia and children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and how alterations in those mechanisms might underly language impairments. She aims for her research to have a real-world impact by contributing to the understanding of language learning and processing in typical and atypical populations and aiding in the identification and treatment of individuals with language and communicative disorders. During her free time, she enjoys competitively weightlifting, eating ice cream, and hanging out with her husband and their dog and two cats.

Isabel Aguado is a first year MA student in the Speech, Language and Hearing Science program at SDSU. Before coming to SDSU, she attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she earned degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish. Isabel hopes to work with bilingual and multicultural communities, however whether that be with children or adults is still undecided. Isabel loves reading, yoga, discovering new restaurants and traveling. She is also the mother to a perfect black cat: Rock.

Kelly is a second year M.A. student in the Speech-Language Pathology program. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Linguistics with an emphasis in Speech-Language Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She received a post-baccalaureate in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Chapman University. She volunteered in an early intervention program at Tichenor Orthopedic Clinic for Children in Long Beach, which is where she grew her passion for providing speech and language services with children and their families. Outside of speech and language services, she is passionate about animals and has been volunteering at a dog shelter in Seal Beach since 2016.

Michelle is a second-year M.A. student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at SDSU. She is bilingual in English and Japanese. She graduated with a B.A. in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at SDSU in Spring 2020. Before pursuing her master’s degree, she worked for one year as a preschool assistant with children ages 2-4 years old. Her interests include child language intervention, treatment/assessment of culturally diverse populations, literacy, and more. Her goal is to work at a pediatric and adult outpatient clinic or elementary school to help people across age-ranges gain confidence and develop their language and communication skills. In her spare time, she enjoys embroidery, taking nature-walks, thrift shopping, and drinking green tea.

Kaleigh is a first-year M.A. student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at SDSU. She graduated from SDSU with a B.A. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in 2022. Her interests include social communication, literacy, and English as a second language. She hopes to work with students to support their daily interactions so that they feel empowered and successful in their communication skills. She enjoys reading, eating dessert, and playing board/card games in her free time.

Selena Llanes is a first-year M.A. student in the Speech-Language pathology program at San Diego State University. She earned her B.A. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at SDSU in 2022. Her interests have been in serving pediatric and adult populations and hopes to work with them in culturally diverse communities. Outside of being a student she enjoys pilates, thrifting, snacking, trying new restaurants, going on picnics and journaling.

Sophie is a second year M.A. student in the Speech-Language Pathology program. She graduated from Auburn University in 2021 with a B.S. in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Prior to graduate school, she worked at summer camps and as a caregiver for a child with special needs, which is when she grew her passion for working with children and providing support for their individual needs. In her free time, Sophie enjoys going to the beach, reading a good book, or watching reality TV.

Allie is a second-year M.A. student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at SDSU. She graduated with a B.S. in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, minor in Linguistics, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Spring 2021. Her goal is to work as an SLP in the public schools to promote language development, communication, and student confidence. Her interests in the field include school-age intervention and assessment, literacy development, and fluency disorders. Allie enjoys being outside, hiking new (and old) trails, and listening to albums on repeat. On the weekends, Allie works at the various farmers markets around San Diego selling loose leaf tea.

Chelsea is a 1st year M.A. student in the Speech-Language Pathology program. After graduating from UCSD with a B.A. in Linguistics and a minor in Education Studies, she completed her 2nd bachelors in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education at Utah State University. Her future career goal is to help immigrant families as a Cantonese/English bilingual SLP. She discovered her passion of working with children early on and has enjoyed many roles as a classroom tutor, gymnastics coach, dance teacher, and speech clinic volunteer. In her free time, Chelsea enjoys taking dance classes, listening to podcasts, snowboarding or backpacking.

Sarah is a second year M.A. student in the Speech-Language Pathology program. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a B.A. in Communicative Disorders. As an undergraduate, she worked as the peer mentor coordinator for the CSUF Department of Communication and Sciences and volunteered at two speech clinics that specialize in social skills group therapy and early intervention. After graduating, she plans on working with the pediatric population in a private practice. When she’s not at school, Sarah enjoys posting about immaculate food spots on her TikTok and taking long urban walks.

Luis is a senior undergraduate student majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Currently in the process of seeking out a graduate program with the hopes of working as a Speech-language pathologist. He hopes to work with bilingual children in immigrant communities one day. Outside of academics he enjoys playing guitar and visiting swap meets/thrift stores.

Aly is a senior studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University. After she graduates, she is planning to continue her studies of speech and language in graduate school. She hopes to become a licensed Speech Pathologist and work in an elementary school setting, but is also wanting to learn more about the medical side of speech and language. In her free time, Aly enjoys going on hikes, baking, and spending time with friends and family.

Priscila is a senior studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) at SDSU. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to attend graduate school and become a licensed SLP. She is most interested in working with school-aged children who have a language processing disorder or swallowing disorder. In this lab, she hopes to gain knowledge on what causes language difficulties for children. In her free time, Priscila enjoys working out, listening to music, and trying new food places!

Isabel Scarlata is a junior at San Diego State University majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Isabel would like to apply to grad school after she graduates in order to earn her MA degree, which is only one goal towards becoming a Speech Language Pathologist. Isabel is still undecided about the career route she will take since she is interested in both the language development of children and the impacts of aphasia in older individuals. Isabel loves to play Hand and Foot (Card game), collect quarters and travel. Isabel is fluent in English and conversationally fluent in Finnish.

Kaleigh is completing her fourth year as an SLHS undergrad student at SDSU. She is currently working to gain any experience she can to better understand the field. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to continue on to grad school to get her master’s in Speech Language Pathology. She is especially interested in working as an SLP with children with DLD and/or Intellectual Disabilities, but is open to exploring other career paths. Outside of school, Kaleigh enjoys singing, dancing, painting, exploring coffee shops, and Christian ministry.

Artah is a senior at SDSU studying SLHS. She is bilingual in English and Farsi. This year, she is trying to go out of her comfort zone in order to further grow and see where the road leads her. Her plan is to later go to grad school to further educate herself on areas of speech-language, hearing, and engage in difficult conversations plus thinking critically in order to be a better provider to the people she will work with. Getting to do research and expand the way she thinks and analyzes information on topics she loves regarding this field is another goal of hers. Right now, she enjoys the conversations that take place in her SLHS 514 class that she knows will expand her growth in areas about race, justice, diversity, inclusion, equity, and linguistic variations. Outside of school she enjoys buddy reading books with her friend, doing yoga & pilates, and trying exotic fruits!

Bianca Castueras is a senior at the University of California, San Diego studying Speech and Language Sciences and Cognitive Science. She is an aspiring speech pathologist and is the Vice President of the Linguistics Undergraduate Association on her campus. Bianca is hoping to gain experiences and connections from the lab while she decides what niche in SLHS is right for her before she joins a graduate program. For fun, she enjoys making TikToks, trying new food, makeup and fashion, thrifting, DIY projects and being in nature.