ANNUAL Fall CONFERENCE 2020

Dr. Ashwini Namasivayam-MacDonald is a clinically-trained speech-language pathologist whose research specializes in understanding the determinants and consequences of swallowing impairments in older adults. Her goal is to produce clinically-relevant research to inform frontline clinical practice. Her research currently focuses on dysphagia in people with dementia and identifying dysphagia-related caregiver burdens.

Dr. Shameka Stanford is an Associate Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders department at Howard University and the Juvenile Forensic Speech-Language Pathologist. Dr. Stanford is the first and only Juvenile Forensic SLP in the United States. Dr Stanford’s clinical and scholarly work specializes in Juvenile Forensics, Law Enforcement Interaction with youth with CD, and child language disorders. Her research focuses on the Confluence and Impact of cognitive and communication disorders on the school-to-confinement pipeline, status offenses, involvement with the criminal justice system, law enforcement interaction, and criminal recidivism in youth placed at-risk for delinquency and crime (especially Black and Brown youth from under-resourced areas). Dr. Stanford is also a clinically-certified and licensed speech-language pathologist and is licensed to practice in Maryland, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C. Through her work, Dr. Stanford has created cutting edge social justice and juvenile justice specialty courses for graduate CSD students, nationally known training programs for law enforcement and legal counsel, and national and international CE workshops and training for licensed SLP clinicians.

Dr. Kia Noelle Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston. She specializes in Fluency and Fluency Disorders with a focus on children who stutter. Her research interest is in the examination of speech disfluencies in culturally/linguistically diverse children.

Dr. Fannin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at North Carolina Central University. Her research interests include cultural effects on communicative functions, culturally and linguistically appropriate language evaluation, interdisciplinary intervention for children with developmental disabilities, and autism intervention for children in underserved, rural areas.

Dr. Carmen Ana Ramos-Pizarro (she/her/hers) is Assistant Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of the District of Columbia. She leads the Voice Care Clinic, offering pro-bono, gender-affirming voice and communication services in the Greater D.C. area. She is a member of ASHA’s Multicultural Issues Board and coeditor of “Exploring Cultural Responsiveness Guided Scenarios for Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Professionals.”

Ms. Andrea “Deedee” Moxley (she/her/hers) is Associate Director of multicultural practices, Office of Multicultural Affairs practice unit at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) National Office. Deedee is responsible for the administration of the S.T.E.P. Mentoring Program and serving as a subject matter expert in the areas of cultural competence and health literacy.

Dr. AC Goldberg (he/his/his) is an experienced public school-based clinician with expertise in neurologically complex profiles and paralinguistic communication. AC has a private practice offering gender-affirming voice services and sensitivity training to CSD professionals. AC has faced various forms of discrimination in his career.

Dr. Raul Prezas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Services at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. He has several years of clinical experience in the university, public school, and home health settings, particularly working with bilingual children and their families. 

Dr. Georgia Malandraki is an Associate Professor of Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences and Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University and a Board-Certified Specialist in Dysphagia. She investigates developmental and treatment neuroplasticity, neurorehabilitation, and telehealth for dysphagia. She has over 40 peer-reviewed publications and has been funded by NIH and private foundations.

Dr. Sheen Chiou is a professor and distinguished faculty scholar in the Department of Speech, Hearing and Rehabilitation Services at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She teaches courses in adult neurogenic communicative disorders, runs language and cognitive rehabilitation research, creates life participation aphasia and dementia programs, and promotes cultural humility. She currently serves as co-president of the Asian Pacific Islander
Speech-Language-Hearing Caucus.

Dr. Brandi L. Newkirk-Turner is an Associate Professor and Chairperson in the Department of Communicative Disorders at Jackson State University. Her research examines multicultural issues that are relevant to speech-language assessment of African American English (AAE) speakers and best practices in preparing graduate students to serve culturally and linguistically diverse populations. She directs the Language and Literacy in Diverse Children Lab and is currently working on NSF-funded projects that examine variation and the grammar of child AAE. She is a recipient of the ASHA Certificate of Recognition for Special Contributions in Multicultural Affairs.

Dr. Whitney D. Perkins is a clinical coordinator, instructor, and NSSHLA advisor in the Department of Communicative Disorders at Jackson State University. She has graduate degrees in Deaf Education, Communicative Disorders, and Early Childhood Education. She has worked in a variety of settings, including SNFs, schools, and pediatric clinics.

Dr. Susan M. Shaw, Professor of Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University, has led workshops on difference, power, and social justice around the country for the past 20 years. Her research is in feminist theologies and women in religion. She co-authored the introductory women and gender studies textbook, Gendered Lives, Feminist Visions and is general editor of the 4-volume Women’s Lives around the World: A Global Encyclopedia. Her most recent book, Intersectional Theology: An Introductory Guide, is co-authored with Grace Ji-Sun Kim of Earlham School of Theology. Dr. Shaw authored Reflective Faith: A Theological Toolbox for Women and God Speaks to Us, Too: Southern Baptist Women on Church, Home, and Society, and she co-authored Girls Rock! 50 Years of Women Making Music. She was Director of OSU’s Difference, Power, and Discrimination Program for six years and leads workshops on inclusion, equity, and justice in higher education around the country. She is also a co-PI on OSU’s National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant that led university administrators and senior faculty in a two-week, 60-hour seminar focused on improving campus equity.