DIRECTOR
Lucía I. Méndez, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Méndez is an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. She is interested in early language and literacy development, and her research focuses on developing high quality language and literacy-based instructional and assessment approaches that support school readiness and positive academic outcomes in young children from culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Dr. Méndez received a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from York University in Toronto, Canada, a Master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has several years of clinical experience as a Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist and practiced in acute care, educational, and family-based settings. Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), and the Early Care, Education, and Head Start Research Scholars Grant Program funded by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE).
PROJECT COORDINATOR
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Betsy Perez-Luna, B. S.
Betsy is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University. She is interested in working with the pediatric population and expanding her knowledge on cultural and linguistic awareness in speech-language pathology.
Cassidi Sockwell, B. S.
Cassidi is a graduate student studying Masters of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from UNC Greensboro. Cassidi has completed prior research about VNeST Aphasia treatment and evidence based practices used in therapy with traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Her research interests include dysphagia and the cognitive effects of traumatic brain injury.
Makayla Vaughn, B.S.
Makayla is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is most interested in working as a pediatric SLP and learning more about motor speech disorders.
PAST RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Kylee Combs, B.S.
Kylee is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Eastern Kentucky University. She is interested in working in all settings available to Speech Language Pathologists and is currently intrigued in pediatric language and dysphagia.
Brooke Ward, B.S.
Brooke is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Brigham Young University, Provo. She is most interested in working as a school-based SLP, but is also excited to learn more about dysphagia and cognitive-linguistic disorders in adults.
Laura Luna, B.S.
Laura is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University.
Rudmary Hernandez Baez, B.S.
Rudy is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Kaleigh Baughn, B.S.
Kaleigh is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University.
Laura Yang, B.S.
Laura is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from California State University, Sacramento.