CSD Research Symposium
Undergraduate and graduate students in Communication Sciences and Disorders are actively engaged in research opportunities within the department and across campus.
Each year, we host a research event allowing student researchers to share their research with the broader community.
2025-2026 Event
Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 5:30-8 p.m.
Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic
Research Building A, off Hastings Road
This year's event features posters from Penn State undergraduate students, as well as students from North Carolina A&T State University, through a collaboration under the National Science Foundation’s Build and Broaden Program. NC A&T posters are indicated with an asterisk.
The symposium will occur in two sessions. Posters ending in A will present from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Posters ending in B will present from 6:45-8 p.m. Questions about the event can be directed to Navin Viswanathan.
Session A: 5:30-6:45 p.m.
1A) Feasibility of Online Group Cycling Program for People with Aphasia
Presented by: Abigail Silberman
Research Mentor(s): Chaleece Sandberg, PhD, CCC-SLP
*2A) Chronic and Acute Parental Mental Illness: Effects on Early Language and Pathways for Intervention
Presented by: Alyssa Liverman
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
3A) An EPIS Guided Qualitative Study: From Exploration to Preparation
Presented by: Molly Jenkins, Eva Brauer
Research Mentor(s): Salena Babb, PhD; Jessica Caron, PhD, CCC-SLP
*4A) Voices from the Start: Best Practices in Communication Assessments for Infants Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy
Presented by: Jada Tate
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
5A) Simultaneous Encoding and Decoding Instruction for AAC users: A Pilot Study
Presented by: Leah Daukshus
Research Mentor(s): Jessica Caron, PhD, CCC-SLP
*6A) Best Practices: Language Assessment in Infants and Toddlers at Risk Due to Limited Prenatal Care
Presented by: Trinity Griffin
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
7A) Intraparticipant Speaking Rate Differences Across Tasks and Sessions
Presented by: Riley Neilon
Research Mentor(s): Nicole Etter, PhD, CCC-SLP
*8A) Supporting Multilingual Students in Monolingual Classrooms: Observations from Service Learning in Belize
Presented by: Madison Talton
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
9A) Impact of Jaw Kinematics on Speech Production in Individuals with Down Syndrome
Presented by: Sunanda Paulraj, Carter Price
Research Mentor(s): Jimin Lee, PhD, CCC-SLP
*10A) Early Assessment and Intervention Strategies for Young Children with Visual Impairments
Presented by: Carmen McDowell
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
11A) Evaluation of a Mobile Training to Support Pre-service Speech-Language Pathologists in Creation and Use of Effective Visual Scene Displays
Presented by: Kristina Exton
Research Mentor(s): Janice Light, PhD
*12A) Best Practices in Speech/Language Assessment and Intervention Strategies for Children Diagnosed with Cru Di Chat
Presented by: Maiya Campbell
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
13A) Vowel Acoustics in Individuals with Dysarthria Secondary to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Presented by: Maya Vaisman, Kate Coll
Research Mentor(s): Jimin Lee, PhD, CCC-SLP
*14A) Caregiver Understanding on Speech/Language Reports: Best Practices and the Role of the SLP
Presented by: Maya Rogers
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
15A) Administering Language and Cognitive Assessments for Syntactic Priming
Presented by: Analise Wengender
Research Mentor(s): Chaleece Sandberg, PhD, CCC-SLP
*16A) Optimizing Language Outcomes in Children with Epilepsy: The Role of Family Centered Care
Presented by: Treasure Carson
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
17A) Communication Between Speakers with ALS and their Interlocutors: Observations from Transcribing Diapix Conversations
Presented by: Abby Hasselman, Sam Hirschhorn, Paige Manbeck
Research Mentor(s): Annie Olmstead, PhD
*18A) Early Feeding and Swallowing Difficulties in NICU Infants: Associations with Later Speech and Language Outcomes
Presented by: Kameron Rolack
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
19A) Measuring Consonants Produced by Speakers With and Without ALS: Observations of Speech Variability
Presented by: Arielle Lacap, Madeline Diodato, Morgan Lapp
Research Mentor(s): Annie Olmstead, PhD
20A) Investigating the Effects of Hairstyles on the Quality of Electroencephalogram Data
Presented by: Gidey Gezae
Research Mentor(s): Carol Miller, PhD
21A) The Contribution of Cognitive and Executive Functioning in DLD Language Performance
Presented by: Isha Agni, Isabella Romano
Research Mentor(s): Carol Miller, PhD
Session B: 6:45-8 p.m.
*1B) Implementation of a Support and Training System for Breastfeeding in Black Women
Presented by: India Bradsher
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
2B) Context Matters: Existing Practices and Perceived Fit of a Phonics Program for AAC Users
Presented by: Shannon Smyth, Madelyn Rottkamp
Research Mentor(s): Jessica Caron, PhD, CCC-SLP
*3B) Articulatory Phonetic Skills of Undergraduate Students at NCAT in a SLP Program
Presented by: Deja Anderson
Research Mentor(s): Joy Kennedy, PhD, CCC-SLP
4B) Drivers of Adoption: Perceived Need and Organization Decision-Making in Phonics Implementation for AAC Users
Presented by: Molly Fletcher, Ryenne Barros, Viviana Armendariz
Research Mentor(s): Jessica Caron, PhD, CCC-SLP; Salena Babb, PhD
*5B) Malocclusion and Speech Sound Disorders in Children: A Meta Analysis Review
Presented by: Fallon Cooper
Research Mentor(s): Melanie Shorter, PhD
6B) Voice Outcome Measures for People with Parkinson’s Disease Participating in SPEAK OUT!® Therapy
Presented by: Sarah Jacobs
Research Mentor(s): Nicole Etter, PhD, CCC-SLP
*7B) Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: Impact of Speech and Language Development and the Role of the SLP
Presented by: Clementine Hayden
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
8B) A Case Study on the CVI/AAC Framework: Timing, Teaming, and Themes
Presented by: Vivienne Booz, Taylor Kalik
Research Mentor(s): Krista Wilkinson, PhD
*9B) The Village Start Initiative: Addressing Health Equity and Accessibility of SLP Services in Early Intervention
Presented by: Brielle Mendenhall
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
10B) Improving the Design of AAC Displays: The Effects of Targeted Motion
Presented by: Leah Daukshus, Kristina Exton
Research Mentor(s): Janice Light, PhD
*11B) Impact of Early Caregiver Child Separation on Attachment and Communication Development in Infants and Toddlers
Presented by: Clara Rhinehart
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
12B) Speech Intelligibility in Dysarthria Secondary to ALS
Presented by: Kathleen Coll
Research Mentor(s): Navin Viswanathan, PhD; Madison Diehl, BS
*13B) Early Intervention Strategies for Developmental Language Disorders
Presented by: Andre Griffin
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
14B) Syntactic Characteristics of Complex Sentence Repetition by Adults with Down Syndrome
Presented by: Victoria Paylo, Leah Grassa
Research Mentor(s): Krista Wilkinson, PhD
*15B) The Role of the SLP in Addressing Best Practices in Assessment and Intervention for Children Diagnosed with Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome
Presented by: Griffin Williams
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
16B) GLM and ART fMRI Scan Analysis for People with Aphasia
Presented by: Johanna Barber, Charles Minnis
Research Mentor(s): Chaleece Sandberg, PhD, CCC-SLP
*17B) The Role of the SLP in Promoting Literacy Skills in Marginalized Communities: Culturally Responsive Strategies
Presented by: Jayln Thomas
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
18B) Longitudinal Vowel and Sentence Intelligibility Changes in Individuals with Dysarthria Secondary to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Presented by: Xaura Stager-Kamats, Maya Obendorfer
Research Mentor(s): Jimin Lee, PhD, CCC-SLP
*19B) Early Intervention and Speech/Language Assessment Best Practices for Infants and Toddlers Diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Presented by: Jayden Hall Ingram
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
*20B) The Impact of Trauma Responses on Communication in School-Aged Youth
Presented by: Quinci Curtis
Research Mentor(s): Deana Lacy McQuitty, PhD, CCC-SLP
21B) Looking at Patterns of Linguistic Errors in Aided Language Samples of Spanish-speaking Children who use AAC
Presented by: Grace Meseck
Research Mentor(s): Gloria Soto, PhD