Meet the Team

Chad is a co-founder of Therapy Abroad and serves as president and managing director. He has more than 20 years of experience working domestically and internationally in community-based program design and implementation, program management, and volunteer management. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines where he developed his love for working with people, organizations, and communities and a passion for international travel. Since then, he has lived and worked in Thailand, South Africa, and Australia as a project leader and country director for a student volunteer and travel organization. He continues to travel and explore the world whenever he can. Chad attended Florida State University where he received his undergraduate and master’s degrees in geography.

Jessy is a co-founder and research advisor for Therapy Abroad. Jessy completed her undergraduate degree in music therapy with classical guitar as her primary instrument and began her career as a music therapist working for hospice for 5 years. After taking a career break to travel in Southeast Asia and South America, she decided to return to school and pursue a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders. Jessy worked as a speech-language pathologist for several years before moving to Thailand where she lived and worked for nearly six years. Since returning to the USA, she has worked in a variety of settings including home health, schools, outpatient clinic, state residential hospital, and acute care. With nearly 20 years of clinical experience, she returned to school to focus on research. Jessy earned a PhD with a dual major in Neuroscience and Gerontology from Iowa State University. Her current research lies at the intersection of music and speech therapy in persons with Parkinson’s disease. She has a particular interest in dysphagia in those with neurodegenerative diseases as it relates to decisions at the end of life.

Katie is the Director of International Programs for Therapy Abroad. She has over 10 years of experience working in study abroad, global education, project management, program development, and international risk management. Katie has also traveled to over 30 countries and six continents. She's hoping to make it to Antarctica one day! Katie earned her Bachelor's degree at the University of South Carolina and her M.Ed. in Global Studies at the University of Illinois. In 2021, Katie decided to return to school for speech-language pathology and combines her two passions working at Therapy Abroad. She graduated with her Master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at East Carolina University in May 2024. In addition to traveling, Katie loves outdoor adventures, sports, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures, and spending time with her fur baby, Wagz.

Matthew Gross is the Director of Operations at Therapy Abroad. He possesses a Master of Arts in Intercultural Service, Leadership, & Management from the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute and two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Elementary Education & Music from St. Michael’s College and a certificate in Human Resources Management from Portland State University.  He has over 20 years of experience working in the fields of education/training, positive youth development, and community development both in the US and internationally (Nicaragua, Mali, Malawi, Philippines, and Thailand) with 10 of those years serving in management and leadership roles. Matthew has dedicated his life to affecting positive social change by using education as a catalyst for change.  He believes that education and training of both children and adults leads to strong, confident, knowledgeable, and empowered individuals who help make our communities thrive and be prosperous, which ultimately leads to long-term, sustainable growth and development.

Erica is a seasoned community builder and purposeful traveler with over a decade of experience in the travel sector. As the Director of Community at NomadicMatt.com, she created The Nomadic Network (TNN), cultivating a vibrant travel community and hosting hundreds of inspiring events, particularly during the pandemic. With diverse volunteer and work experiences in countries like Nicaragua, Qatar, Thailand, South Korea, Zambia, Costa Rica, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Erica excels at fostering cross-cultural connections. In college, she helped create a thriving international exchange program. Later, she played a key role in setting up the non-profit FLYTE, which sent underserved high schoolers overseas. Most recently, she managed dozens of TNN tours to destinations such as Turkey, Morocco, and Mexico. Her passion for impactful travel is deeply rooted in her global experiences, which started as a student studying abroad.

Patricia Angela Dixon Sebastian, born in Belize City, is a passionate educator. She worked in the Ministry of Education for 37 years as both a teacher and then a Special Education Officer. She has also served as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Belize and a tutor in her neighborhood. Dixon's passion for education led her to enroll in the Belize Teachers Training College and receive her Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education and Master's in Special Education from the University of North Florida. Her focus is on Special Education, where she ensures students with varied abilities are well-cared for. She networks with universities and organizations to provide resources for her clients. She is married to Errol Ellis Sebastian and has four children. Dixon lives a life of faith and is a testament to the Proverbs 19:17.

Jayme Vance is the current OT Programs Manager for Therapy Abroad and is a licensed Occupational Therapist, experienced outdoor and adventure guide, certified yoga instructor and former professor. Jayme received her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Disability Studies from the University of Delaware. She went on to complete her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University. Jayme has worked in a variety of traditional healthcare settings as well as community-based non-profits. While pursuing her career in Occupational Therapy, Jayme simultaneously pursued her passion as an outdoor adventure guide. She began in the field of wilderness therapy and has since continued to train and guide in a variety setting both domestically and abroad. As a former professor at the University of Virginia, Jayme enjoys supporting students to explore and develop their passions both in, and out of, the classroom. She is also the co-founder for The Nature of Mind Body, an integrative health platform focused on holistic interventions and wellness outcomes. In her free time, Jayme can be found rolling around on her mountain bike, climbing up rock walls, paddling reasonable rapids on her kayak, trail running alongside her pup Tofu, or simply sitting still and finding solace in nature. She resides in central Virginia where she enjoys mild winters, long growing seasons, and time with her lifelong adventure buddy and husband.

Kris is an Assistant Professor at Idaho State University health Sciences Center who specializes in neurogenic communication disorders and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). His primary research interests concern the development of AAC interface designs that are more compatible with the cognitive-linguistic capabilities of persons with aphasia and children with autism. Additionally, he is interested in translational research that investigates the communicative competence (e.g., turn-taking and longer communicative interactions) of individuals using currently available AAC technologies. Kris is also the Co-advisor of the CSUF National Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association chapter. While traditional didactic lectures are an important component of learning, Kris understands that repeated practice, structured mentorship, and active learning in the field are better teaching techniques that develop clinical scientists capable of engaging in lifelong learning. For more information about AAC programs email aac@therapyabroad.org

Hello! I am a second career, bilingual SLP in the U.S. Virgin Islands. I graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College in 2018. I completed my CF in a skilled nursing facility in Rochester, NY before taking a position in the public schools of St. Croix in 2019. I have done everything from bilingual evaluations for preschoolers to dysphagia treatment and aphasia therapy with elderly stroke and/or dementia patients. Currently I am focused on speech and language therapy at the Jr. and Sr. High School level, but I am soon to begin a new adventure at the local hospital in St. Thomas. Prior to grad school I worked as a youth rehab counselor, a cabinet maker, a study abroad administrator, a licensed youth minister, and an outdoor educator. I grew up in a Costa Rican/American family. I attended high school in Madrid, Spain and taught English in GuangZhou, China. I am deeply interested in matters of cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and cultural competence. In 2018 I had the privilege of presenting on the topic at the IALP conference in Taiwan. I have absolutely fallen in love with the historical, cultural and linguistic heritage of the Virgin Islands. In my free time, you can find me paddleboarding, kayaking, kiteboarding, sailing, running, camping on the beach, playing the ukulele and fostering all the stray puppies!

Evan is a native Oregonian and serves as the physical therapy/occupational therapy program supervisor for Therapy Abroad Thailand. He is a local physical therapist out of Portland, OR, Assistant Professor for Pacific University's physical therapy program, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. He finished his orthopedic residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago and fellowship in orthopedic manual therapy from Regis University. Although he primarily specializes in orthopedics and sports, he has a huge passion for pediatrics as well. He has had multiple abroad experiences (South Africa, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, and Thailand), where he has served as a treating therapist and supervising prospective therapy students. He continues to take advantage of traveling whenever he can and learning about new cultures.

Kate Barlow, OTD is an occupational therapist (OT) from Massachusetts. She graduated with her OT degree from Boston University and then went back for her post-professional master's and doctorate at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has over 20 years of experience working in pediatrics. Kate has been teaching pediatrics at American International College in the OT program since 2015. Kate has previous experience leading students on service-learning trips to Ghana, Peru, and Ecuador. She has also traveled to Morocco to work in a neurorehabilitation clinic training physiotherapists in pediatrics. Kate is the founder of the International Interprofessional Mentorship program that provides monthly mentorship to therapists in over 20 countries. Check out the website: https://libguides.aic.edu/OT_Resources

Jess has 10 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist working in a variety of settings including a pediatric clinic, in-home, and schools. She has supervised graduate students from Chapman University (her alma-mater). Jess specializes in Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) and has worked with multiple funding sources to help children and adults gain access to these systems. Jess firmly believes in presuming competence and feels that everyone deserves a voice. When she is not working, Jess enjoys traveling and has visited over 30 countries. Some of Jess’ favorite places she’s explored are Portugal, Spain, Lebanon, and Denmark.

Jenna completed her Bachelors in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She then escaped the cold north to earn her Masters in Occupational Therapy at the University of St. Augustine School of Health Science in Florida. From there, she specialized in upper extremity rehabilitation and honed her adaptive splinting skills. Recently, Jenna was drawn to the creativity and diversity of pediatric therapy. Since beginning her adventure in pediatrics, she has been drawn to the effects of trauma on the neurodevelopment of people and interventions to help reorganize the nervous system. She loves to build activities around the client’s strengths and interests. In her free time, she can be found reading, outside with her dog, and running around with her three nephews.

Milca is a Florida native who enjoys music, sewing, trying different foods, church activities and connecting with people. Following her Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the Florida State University, she moved to North Carolina for a teaching opportunity. She later obtained her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and has since called N.C. her second home. Milca’s interest in traveling began with her own experiences going to and from her family’s native country Haiti and navigating two cultures/languages. She developed an affinity for international traveling in college through studying abroad in England and participating in cultural exchange programs in Jamaica and Germany. In addition to working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations in the U.S., Milca has had the opportunity to provide sustainable clinical services in Haiti. She enjoys collaborating with individuals, families and other professionals to help break communication barriers. Her clinical experiences include working in schools, homes and private practice clinics. She currently runs a small private practice focusing on teletherapy school contracts, AAC and stuttering.

“Ms. A” has been working as an Occupational Therapist for over 16 years. She has focused on School- Based OT and Early Intervention but also enjoys treating Adults and helping them regain a meaningful and fulfilling life. She has treated people with a variety of abilities, syndromes, and spectrum disorders from Autism to Down and other Syndromes, and Traumatic Brain Injuries. Adrienne is a Certified Handwriting Specialist through Handwriting Without Tears and she is an author of handwriting books, workbooks, and functional journals. She publishes YouTube Videos, courses and multimedia materials as her desire is to help more children and families on a broader basis. Adrienne has operated Write Track Therapy and Education Specialists since 2009 and approaches therapy from a holistic manner including sensory integration, nature, animals, nutritional aspects, brain re-training and individual interests. She also conducts engaging seminars and professional development courses.

Leslie is a licensed Speech Pathologist, Hatha & Yin yoga instructor, and Holistic Health Practitioner. After earning her Master’s degree from Florida State University, she began working to give children and adults the gift of voice, and the gift of wellness. As a speech pathologist, and owner of The Kids Yoga and Speech Center, she has worked with all ages, treating a variety of speech and language disorders. A holistic approach to speech and wellness is what piqued her interest in using alternative tools for therapy. She might use nature, music, aromatherapy, mindfulness practices, relaxation techniques, animals, or yoga during a session. She looks at the “whole person” when deciding her treatment, which includes her clients’ spiritual, emotional, physical, and social well-being. She is also soon to be board certified with the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Leslie spends much of her free time exploring the world, relaxing or meditating on the beach, hiking along a scenic trail, or writing in her journal.

Lisa Lachance, originally from Maine (has lived in 8 different states and Germany), is a medical Speech-Language Pathologist, with 30+ years of experience working with the adult neurogenic population in the acute hospital setting. She continues to work clinically and is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor, at Chapman University, with areas of expertise in swallowing, voice, and motor speech disorders. She is a clinic director of the university funded Adult Learning Lab that provides pro bono evaluation and treatment services to adults with language and cognitive-communication disorders. Lisa has 20 years of experience as a graduate student clinical supervisor. She also works to promote interprofessional education in healthcare. Volunteer work includes a community-based BE HEARD group for people with Parkinson’s Disease. She is the proud mother of two amazing daughters, a dog and a cat. In her free time, she stays active by going to the gym, hiking/backpacking, gardening, and exploring new places. To relax, she likes to read, do jigsaw puzzles and crafts, listen to music and binge watch a great show. She is super excited to be a part of the Therapy Abroad program.

Carly received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Baylor University, both in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She most recently finished her third year as a Travel Speech-Language Pathologist, moving back to her hometown of Denver, Colorado. During travel therapy, she enjoyed working in a variety of locations and SLP settings from coast to coast, including inpatient and outpatient rehab, as well as acute care. She is passionate about helping people find their voice, from early intervention patients to geriatric patients, during an Autism diagnosis or after a stroke, or the moments proceeding a TBI or a prolonged extubation. She believes it’s a similar experience when someone gets the chance to immerse themselves in a new country for the first time, striving to encourage them to also find their voice and perspective. She has been to several countries throughout Africa, Europe, Central America, and South America. She now works with medically fragile pediatrics and infants in home health, and PRN’s at a level one trauma hospital as well as an inpatient rehab hospital. In her free time, Carly loves rock climbing, hiking, exploring, running, surfing, traveling, visiting old friends, and meeting new friends.

Noel Marie Spina received her BS in physical therapy, with a physiology minor from California State University (CSU), Long Beach and her DPT from Western University of Health Sciences.  She is a senior clinician at Children’s Hospital Orange County specializing in caring for medically complex infants as well as young children diagnosed with cancer.  With over 20 years of experience in pediatrics, she specializes in collaborative treatment incorporating family-centered care and community integration for the infant, early intervention and school aged populations.  Noel teaches the pediatric curriculum for the Department of Physical Therapy at California State University Long Beach and is faculty in training for the renowned Dr. Mary Massery.  She remains passionately involved in innovative, evidenced-based program development and community outreach, collaborating with and consulting for a variety of adaptive recreational programs and community agencies.   Noel is an APTA pediatric certified specialist, a certified clinical instructor, and an APTA Pediatric Program Committee member.  She holds certifications and advanced training in Prechtl’s General Movement Assessment of Infants, Neonatal Touch and Massage, Sensory Integration and Praxis and Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT). Noel’s love is her family and her joy is sharing small moments of life with others.  She and her partner Jim are avid cyclists and watermen with a passion for the outdoors.

Callie received her Bachelors of Arts in Linguistics from UNC-Chapel Hill in May of 2019, and her Masters of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University in May of 2021. She completed her CF in a skilled nursing facility, then shifted her focus primarily to pediatrics in both outpatient and public school settings. Callie most enjoys working with pediatric feeding disorders and has experience with lactation counseling through her CLC certification. In addition, she also works closely with dysphagia, aphasia, and dysarthria in acute care settings as a PRN employee. Outside of speech-language pathology, her interests include history, exploring other cultures through traveling, painting, hiking, and creative writing.

Marisa Dana, MOT, OTR/L received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy in 2015 from Nova Southeastern University after receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication and minor in Recreation. She has advanced training in the SOS Feeding Approach, Sensory Integrative Intensive, Handwriting without Tears, and Clinical Management of the Spinal Cord Injury. While Marisa has honed her expertise in the pediatric realm, her versatility extends to skilled nursing, acute care, home health, and schools. Specialty services include sensory driven feeding needs, aquatic therapy, full comprehensive pediatric and adult occupational therapy evaluations. Marisa’s professional journey spans across diverse age groups and conditions, including orthopedic injuries, chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities, pre/post-operative care, and more. Her commitment to patient well-being is evident in her genuine care and attentiveness to their priorities, aiming for the best functional outcomes.

Stacy is a native New Yorker currently residing in Cleveland, Ohio. She completed her Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Assistive Technology Practitioner certificate from Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). Currently, as the Program Director of the AT&AEM Center at OCALI, Stacy leads initiatives that enhance access to assistive technologies and accessible educational materials across Ohio and beyond. Her career includes leadership in multiple school districts, state-level roles, university instruction, and consultation across five states.  Stacy started traveling abroad over 15 years ago with the CITTI project, building capacity in communities in Ecuador to create low-cost sustainable adaptations and tools to improve the function and participation of individuals with disabilities at home, school, and their community. As a team coordinator traveling during summers over 5 years, Stacy assisted in developing two publications that provide examples and strategies for creating resources from locally available materials for increasing participation at home and school. In her free time, Stacy enjoys traveling with her family, hiking, yoga, live music, and exploring new places. She is excited to be joining the Therapy Abroad team and combining her love of traveling and her love for Occupational Therapy.

Hi!  My name is Summer Stout-Bloyer.  I have been a Speech Language Pathologist for 10 years.  I began my work in the medical field, at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital and at a school.  A few years ago, I decided to resign from the hospital and begin supervising SLPA’s in home health.  I continue to serve pediatrics in the school as well. I have a Clinical Trauma Specialist certificate, a  Cognitive Retraining Certification as well as an Acceleration Evolution Coaching Certification. I currently teach virtual classes on Trauma  and healing and have been accredited by NCBTMB, and I am working on being accredited by other organizations. One of my passions is supervising and mentoring, as I feel that it is one of our greatest opportunities to support and guide upcoming SLP’s and SLPA’s in our field. I love to travel, hike, do yoga and spend time with my amazing 4 children, here in Arizona.

Cheri Dodge Chin is an assistive technology consultant, speech pathologist, adjunct professor, and published researcher. Dr. Dodge is a pioneer in the world of SLP blogs and social media. She was one of the first SLP bloggers and her blog, Super Power Speech, contains over 700 posts. Dr. Dodge is the proud mama of two young adults and two adorable (but naughty) dogs. She and her husband live in beautiful Portland, Oregon. In her free time, you can find her hiking, Pelotoning, or reading.

Elizabeth Cleveland is the Associate Director at the University of Arkansas Partners for Inclusive Communities. After she became a speech-language pathologist, she worked with children from ages 3-18 and now specializes in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Elizabeth's research interests fall within two areas: 1) executive functioning in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and 2) diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in university programs. She directs the only FASD diagnostic clinic in the state of Arkansas and has presented regionally, nationally, and internationally on the topics of FASD diagnosis and intervention. In addition to her own presentations, She has also mentored many student presentations at both state and national levels. Elizabeth is also the Director of Training for the Arkansas Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (AR LEND) program which trains future disability advocates from a variety of fields. Elizabeth enjoys interprofessional collaboration and advocating for individuals with disabilities. In her spare time, Elizabeth likes playing with her two children, spending time with her husband, and traveling. 

Natalie is a state licensed and certified speech and language pathologist in the state of California. She began her college experience at California State University, San Bernardino earning a degree in Psychology. Next, she earned a multiple subject Cross Cultural, Language, and Academic Development Teaching Credential. This led to a path as a Deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher in the San Bernardino Unified School District.  She enjoyed this work for three years and developed a love of speech and language skills.  This led to returning to school to complete a Graduate degree at California State University, Fullerton in Communicate Disorders.  Natalie has currently worked for the Corona Norco Unified School District for more than 20 years.  During this time, she has worked with students from three years old to 22 years.  Natalie enjoys traveling, rock climbing, yoga and spending time with family.

Marissa is a Speech-Language Pathologist with a passion for working with cleft palate and craniofacial disorders. She obtained her B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Indiana University and her M.S. in Speech Language Pathology from Purdue University. From there, she completed her clinical fellowship at The Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Disorders in Atlanta, GA. She then worked with a range of pediatric populations in a private practice setting. Marissa moved to Corpus Christi, TX in 2018 and served the children of South Texas for 3 years. As part of her role on the rehabilitation team at Driscoll Children’s Hospital, she flew to McAllen, TX monthly for craniofacial clinics. In 2021, Marissa returned to the Midwest and accepted a position as an SLP for The Craniofacial Anomalies Program through the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Marissa has also had the privilege of working with many different nonprofit organizations (Operation Smile, Smile Train, etc) to serve the cleft palate population overseas through direct treatment and training local therapists. Countries visited include China, Philippines, Cambodia, India, and Mexico. She is excited to be continuing her work with disadvantaged populations by joining the Therapy Abroad team. When Marissa is not working, she is hiking with her dog or trying different artistic projects.

Rennie T. Saltzman, PT, DPT, earned her Bachelor of Science in the Physical Therapy Department of New York University’s School of Education in 1997 and her Doctor of Physical Therapy with an elective in Pediatric Science from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2011.    She is an APTA Board Certified Pediatric Clinical specialist, an APTA certified clinical instructor and an APTA PT Moves Me Ambassador.  Rennie is the Vice President of Pediatrics at Easter Seals Superior of Sacramento, California.  She is a lecturer and teaching assistant for the Department of Physical Therapy at California State University Sacramento.  With over 20 years of experience in pediatrics she is involved in direct patient care for clients aged 0-21 as well as administrative and academia-related responsibilities.  She is a passionate advocate for integration of diversity, equality and inclusion within the health care profession and has provided guest lectures on the topic to physical therapy programs throughout California. She holds certifications in Prechtl’s General Movement Assessment, Yoga Instruction, Green Belt/project ImPACT (Improving Parents and Communication Teachers) and Kinesiotaping.  Rennie provides continuing education courses integrating yoga and pediatric physical therapy.  Her joy is her family including her husband and son, all of whom are avid rock climbers, snow skiers and adventurers.

Tara claims Oklahoma City and the DFW metroplex as home. She is currently living in Atlanta, Georgia running a small private practice with emphasis on early childhood intervention. Tara also contracts with the Atlanta Public School District as a school physical therapist. Tara received her Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy from Alabama State University in 2005. She has practiced as a physical therapist since August 2003. Tara has worked in several settings in her career, with her initial start in an outpatient orthopedic setting. Tara continued her PT journey practicing in the following settings; school districts (Texas and Georgia), army base in Fort Steward as lead PT in the Warrior in Transition Battalion, aquatic therapy supervisor, private practice Lead Therapist and in acute medicine. Tara’s main passion in the therapy field continues to be with the pediatric population with the emphasis of early childhood intervention. She is currently working closely with family and services in the Clarkston area of Atlanta, which includes a refugee resettlement program. She finds joy with supporting families and providing resources for optimal health. Tara is interested in all things that include movement and wellness including aquatics aerobics, strength training and yoga. She is excited to join the Therapy Abroad team to provide service abroad and learn different cultures.

I am a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) currently employed in a small school district nestled in Southwest Virginia, and I have proudly dedicated the last nine years to this fulfilling profession. I thrive in the dynamic school setting, relishing the diverse challenges that each day presents. My focus lies in providing support to students in kindergarten through third grade, specializing in addressing articulation and language disorders. Additionally, I collaborate with classrooms focusing on everyday living skills of autistic students and those with multiple disabilities. Having previously worked in an urban setting within a larger district characterized by a diverse student population, my experiences have enriched my ability to adapt to varying educational landscapes. The heart of my passion lies in connecting with students, observing their developmental milestones and navigating the rewarding, albeit occasionally challenging, journey of facilitating their progress. Therapy Abroad has expanded my horizons as well! Outside of work, I cherish time with my family and friends, relishing in outdoor activities and exploring my culinary skills. Traveling and immersing myself in different cultures are among my favorite pastimes, reflecting my enduring curiosity about the world.

Jennifer has been a school-based SLP for 14 years. She received her undergraduate degree at Northern Arizona University in Electronic Media and after working in the broadcast/news field for several years, she decided to go back to school to earn her MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University in partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage while living in Alaska. In addition to helping children communicate and be able to work collaboratively with amazing people in the educational setting, she loves the work-life balance that being an SLP has afforded her.  She has the opportunity to work with preschool - 8th-grade students and is passionate about supporting future SLPs. Jennifer has supervised several graduate-level students for their school-based rotations and also supervises SLPAs in the home health setting. In her free time, Jennifer loves traveling and is always planning her next adventure. She also loves going to concerts, attempting to garden, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and kitties in beautiful Arizona.

Ellen serves as program advisor for Therapy Abroad’s Belize program. She has over 14 years of experience working in domestic and international special education, including applied behavior analysis, public awareness and child advocacy. Ellen served in the United States Peace Corps as a special education teacher trainer in Belize for 27 months. She knows the ins and outs of the country and has a strong language and cultural understanding of Belize. Ellen’s love for adventure and helping those in need has taken her all over the world from studying chimpanzee behavior in South Africa to backpacking through southeast Asia and working with local schools in India to increase their knowledge in working with children with autism. She most recently graduated with her master’s degree in sustainable living and is thrilled to be returning to Belize on a regular basis to work with Therapy Abroad and their mission to give students from the United States a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and cultural awareness.

Leah is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Chapman University. She specializes in social communication, specifically in the middle and high school populations. Her current projects include training middle/high school students about code switching, social interactions with authority figures and language use in high stress situations. Additionally, she trains parole officers and police officers about what language disorders are and how to interact with someone who has one. She also conducts private, in-home therapy for a range of children from 18 months to 10 years old. She has experience in early intervention, AAC and with a wide range of disorders. Leah is also the faculty advisor for the CU National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association chapter. In her spare time Leah enjoys hiking, kayaking and traveling anywhere in the world.

Meghan lives in Colorado and is a bilingual (Spanish) Speech Language Pathologist and an entrepreneur who founded an organization called Team Neurodivergent.  She has experience working in public education as an SLP, Social Emotional Learning specialist, early childhood special education coach, assistive technology specialist, and gifted and talented specialist.  She received a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish from the College of Saint Benedict, a M.A. in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado.  She studied abroad in Chile in college.  She is a dancer, writer, reader, educator, artist, activist, lifelong learner, and courageous leader.  She enjoys exploring new cultures, spending time in nature, and deep conversations. She and her partner have the privilege of parenting two amazing, neurodivergent children who continuously teach them!

Bob is the Clinical Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Salus University, with a primary role of managing the Speech-Language Institute, the on-campus graduate student clinic, and coordinating the off-campus clinical practicum rotations. In addition to supervising students in the clinic, Bob teaches classes, including an interprofessional class that incorporates the 300+ graduate and professional students across the various health disciplines represented at Salus, focused on evidence-based practice. Prior to joining the faculty at Salus, Bob held clinical and administrative roles for a variety of healthcare providers. He has vast experience in assessing and treating adults in acute care, rehabilitation, and home health settings – he continues a small private practice for homebound patients still today. His research interests include clinical supervision and interprofessional education and practice in the field of Speech-Language Pathology and as well as adult neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders. After earning his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola University Maryland, Bob relocated back to his hometown of Philadelphia to practice. He holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, in addition to achieving specialty certification in the areas of voice and dysphagia. Bob enjoys traveling regionally, nationally and internationally and spends most of his free time walking his dog, Cooper, volunteering and attending sports, dance and other activities that involve his four children.

Heather has called Northern Michigan her home for the past six years. She and her family moved from Milwaukee, WI in 2012 to begin growing their roots in Marquette, MI. Currently, she is entering her seventh year teaching full-time at Northern Michigan University in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program. Prior to this program, she obtained a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology degree from Michigan State University. Preceding teaching at the University, she worked in the hospital, rehabilitation center, school, and long-term care settings from 2005 to 2012. Her clinical work has focused on a wide range of speech, language and swallowing disorders with special interests in the areas of traumatic brain injury and dysphagia. As a professor, she has adopted different roles, as needed – teacher, leader, consultant, counselor, and evaluator. Over the past years and the initial reason why she started teaching has to do with desire to create professionals that can work well with the individuals that she developed a passion for as a clinician. If she can do that, then she has met her goal.

Lisa is a bilingual speech-language pathologist currently working in the public schools near Santa Cruz, CA. She received her B.S. from the University of Illinois and her M.S. from San Francisco State University. She was an instructor and clinical supervisor at Southern Illinois University for five years. She specializes in bilingual language development and uses music in therapy. She has held a variety of positions including private practices, hospitals, nursing homes and public and private schools. She has traveled in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and the Caribbean Islands. Lisa is a certified craniosacral therapist and enjoys singing and playing the guitar and hybrid banjo-guitar.

Karen earned her BA and MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders at California State University, Chico. She couldn’t get enough of school, so she’s back and currently pursuing her Doctorate of Speech-Language Pathology at Loma Linda University. When not reading about Autism and echolalia, she’s the AAC specialist at a school district, runs her own private practice, and mentors budding Clinical Fellows.  Blending a client’s family and culture into speech therapy is a passion of her’s. She has a healthy addiction to traveling, playing board games, hiking, and collecting national park stamps.

Cynthia lives and works in Santa Cruz, CA. She received her B.S. at San Francisco State and her M.S. at University of Washington. Upon graduation she took a medical SLP position at a hospital in Santa Cruz, CA from 1992-1999, specializing in Traumatic Brain Injury rehabilitation. Her love of travel brought her to England in 2000-2001 to work at a locked head injury unit in Unsted Park, Surrey. Upon returning to California, she began work as an SLP in the Live Oak School District and has happily stayed working there since 2002. During the last 15 years, she has worked with a variety of ages and communication challenges. Currently, Cynthia works with students 12-18 years of age and most enjoys implementing the latest research in Social Thinking to delve into social communication. In 2016, she spent 5 weeks in Cusco, Peru with her 15 year old daughter going to Spanish School and volunteering at a Teen shelter. She is excited to be returning to Belize working with Therapy Abroad. When not working or volunteering, Cynthia enjoys traveling the world, listening to LPs with her family and eating her husband's cooking.

Phoebe obtained her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Cal State San Marcos. For the past five years, she has worked with students across the education spectrum in the public schools of Orange County, California. Her passion is working with young adults with moderate to severe needs in acquiring functional communication, self-advocacy, and social skills. She also provides teletherapy services to students in Guam. In her time off, she enjoys making last minute travel plans and learning about other cultures through food. Some of the favorite cities she has travelled to include: Paris, Delhi, and Cape Town. When she is not traveling or working, she enjoys doing yoga, listening to podcasts, being by the beach, and exploring Southern California.

Lauren obtained her B.S in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of New Hampshire in 2011 and her masters from Emerson College in 2015. She currently works in a school district outside of Boston, M.A. working with children in grades k-5. In addition to working in the schools, Lauren also works at a private local clinic. She has special interests in working with children with hearing impairments, social-emotional and behavioral needs, and AAC. She has previously participated in Therapy Abroad’s Belize program as an SLP supervisor and is beyond excited to be back! In her free time Lauren enjoys yoga, snowboarding, reading, cooking and traveling.

Erin obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina where she majored in Elementary Education and minored in Communications and Disorders, while playing Beach Volleyball. She went straight on to Jacksonville University where she currently studies Speech-Language Pathology and serves as the Graduate Assistant Coach for Indoor and Beach Volleyball. Erin will graduate with her M.S. in April 2019. After graduation, Erin plans to work in the acute hospital setting working with adults who have had traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and other neurological disorders. She has special interests in Dysphagia, Cognition, Aphasia, Head and Neck Cancer/Laryngectomies, and Voice. In her spare time, Erin enjoys the outdoors, reading, playing sports, and traveling. Erin has participated in a program called Coach for College where she traveled to Vietnam with other student athletes and taught and coached 7th and 8th grade Vietnamese students. She is excited to blend her love for Speech-Language Pathology and traveling into one this summer!

Deirdre is an assistant professor at The College of St Rose in Albany, NY. She has worked in the area of autism and developmental disability for 25 years. She specializes in behavioural feeding disorders in children with autism and other developmental disabilities and her current research studies are in this area. Deirdre is also working on a research project in the area of receptive language skills in children with autism. In addition to holding certification as an SLP, Deirdre is a board-certified behaviour analyst and she teaches about, and uses, behaviour management skills in classroom and clinic settings. Deirdre is the faculty mentor for the National Student Speech Language Hearing Chapter at the College, a chapter that serves both graduate and undergraduate students in the communication disorders program. Deirdre is from Ireland and she has travelled extensively throughout Europe including recent trips to Denmark, Norway and Turkey. When she is not working or travelling, Deirdre can be found in training – on her bike, running, or in the pool - for the next sprint triathlon.

Chris obtained his Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Cal State Northridge. He has a strong background in working with individuals with learning disabilities and in program improvements for high school students. Chris is currently the CSHA District 10 Director-elect and works at Rancho Cucamonga High School. In addition, he supervises at a private practice. Growing up in Southern California, Chris was raised snowboarding and surfing. In his younger years, he played both soccer and baseball, as well as played guitar in a pop-punk band. He loves to travel and enjoys scuba diving, hiking, playing guitar and dancing. As a hobby, he is a part-time DJ and wedding officiant.

Dr. Myers is an Associate Professor of Spanish at Iowa State University. She is the Director of the Languages and Cultures for Professions Program and a Faculty Affiliate in the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). Megan is the author of a book of literary criticism titled Mapping Hispaniola: Third Space in Dominican and Haitian Literature and she is the co-editor of an anthology titled The Border of Lights Reader: Bearing Witness to Genocide in the Dominican Republic. Myers has lived abroad in countries including Uruguay, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. She spends summers with her family in the Dominican Republic where she has co-directed an Iowa State University Global Seminar. In 2022, she was a Fulbright Fellow in the Dominican Republic. In her spare time, Myers enjoys spending time with her young children, training for marathons, and riding her horse, Jaquinta.

Monique received her B. A in Communications Science Disorders from Temple University and M.S from Long Island University. She has gained experience working as a traveling Speech-Language Pathologist in multiple settings, including schools and skilled nursing facilities. She specializes in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating various communication disorders: receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, social skills, auditory processing disorders, and other developmental delays. She currently practices teletherapy for grades K-12. She is from Kingston, Jamaica, and loves solo traveling around the world. She also enjoys ceramics, painting, yoga, and photography.

Kayla obtained her B.A.A. from Central Michigan University, as a double major in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Early Child Development & Learning. She will graduate with her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology in May 2019. Until graduation, she is completing her clinical internship in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, covering a K-12 education setting and a medical setting including inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care rehabilitation. During her first year of graduate school, she served as a trainee for the Michigan Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MI-LEND) program, where she gained extensive training regarding interdisciplinary healthcare for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. Her primary areas of interest include: pediatric feeding and swallowing, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and child language. When Kayla is not working, she enjoys doing anything outdoors!

Amber is a Speech-Language Pathologist who is passionate about working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) populations. From addressing the needs of people and organizations through process improvement initiatives in Silicon Valley, to teaching English in South Korea, Amber found her way to the field of communication sciences and disorders. She obtained a M.S. degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where she was a Graduate Assistant to the Program Director. During that time, she was a co-lecturer on African-American English and Bilingualism for an undergraduate course on Multicultural Issues in Clinical Service Delivery, and taught an Introduction to Linguistics course to a cohort of international students pursuing their Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. Amber, then, traveled to New England where she worked with students of mild to complex needs in the Manchester School District and with neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders at a Dartmouth-Hitchcock affiliated hospital. Amber enjoys the assessment process and educating team members on linguistic differences. She views her role as that of a partner; where she collaborates with the clients, his/her family, and other service providers to work towards mutual goals and facilitate the development of effective communication skills. She highly values a multi-disciplinary approach to care, and keeps current on the latest research in the field. Amber enjoys connecting with her global community of friends and colleagues, a good cup of coffee, yoga, hiking and spending time on the Northern California Coast. She is currently working in Sonoma County schools and is a Coach for Girls on the Run.

Amelia is a speech-language pathologist who has dedicated her career to working with children at multidisciplinary pediatric clinics and schools since she earned her master's degree from the University of Colorado in 2012. Amelia believes that it is critical to unlock the full communication skills of those with speech and language delays. She has seen first-hand that a trained therapist can make all the difference for a child or adult with communication delays, expanding upon their latent abilities to help them blossom and realize their true speech and language potential. Born in New York, Amelia transplanted to Seattle as a child and has spent her adulthood exploring the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Amelia is passionate about travel, music, and games of all kinds, and she embeds fun into every goal-oriented speech session with her pediatric clients.

Rachael received her B.A. from California Baptist University in Communication Disorders, and her M.S. in Speech Pathology from University of Hawaii. During her time in Hawaii, she worked for a hospital providing outpatient and inpatient speech services to traumatic brain injury and stroke survivors. She also worked on a military base during the summer with school age kids who had severe disabilities such as autism, down syndrome, and apraxia. She focused her research in grad school on apraxia of speech and is passionate about articulation and speech sound disorders. She recently moved back from Hawaii to start her career as a speech pathologist working in the preschool setting with kids who have mild to moderate speech disorders. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, trying new foods, and traveling with friends.

Christine is an assistant professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) in the Department of Clinical Health Sciences and also serves as adjunct professor at The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine. She completed her master’s and doctoral studies in Communication Sciences and Disorders at The University of Texas at Austin, and her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and French at The University of Vermont. Christine’s clinical and research expertise is in the area of developmental language disorders (DLD) and literacy. Her focus is on the assessment and treatment of children who are culturally and linguistically diverse including bilingual and multilingual learners. Her research addresses developing appropriate assessment tools for CLD learners and examination of cross language differences and transfer of learning across languages. She has extensive experience using Dynamic Assessment and Language Sampling methods to identify children with DLD. Her clinical experience includes early intervention and work in the public schools as well as serving as a clinical supervisor for graduate students at The University of Hawai’i and at TAMUK. She finds the energy and enthusiasm of students who are eager to learn to be a great source of joy. Christine is more comfortable in the water than on land. She enjoys sailing, outrigger paddling and surfing. On land she enjoys hiking and riding horses.

Nikki earned a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from California State University, San Marcos where she also received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development specializing in Children’s Services with a minor in Psychology. She has experience working with patients from 9 months to 98 years old within a private practice, educational, and inpatient hospital settings. Nikki has also had the opportunity to focus on the care and treatment at a primarily Spanish bilingual elementary school, as well as adults with mild to severe cognitive communication and intellectual disabilities. She has enjoyed giving back to the world of speech language pathology with the supervision of SLPA, undergraduate, and graduate students throughout her career. The last several years, Nikki has focused on the assessment and treatment of feeding disorders, apraxia, and aphasia. Nikki is a California native who recently relocated to North Carolina where she is working at a private practice for children and adults, as well as an elementary school. She enjoys hiking, working out, playing with dogs, cooking and traveling.

Elisabeth “Liz” Mlawski is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Yeshiva University in New York. She began her career as a school-based clinician with the New York Department of Education while also dabbling in Early Intervention in the evening. After getting married and starting a family, she switched gears and began working as a clinical supervisor for graduate students completing their internship at a university- based clinic. This experience led her to return to school for her PhD with the goal of helping to educate the next generation of SLPs. At Yeshiva University, she teaches normal language development, language disorders, diagnostics, professional issues, and serves as the Faculty Advisor for the National Student Speech-Language, and Hearing Association Chapter. She also had the opportunity to be a faculty chaperone for undergraduate students traveling to Florence, Italy for a summer abroad program. When not preparing a lecture, grading student work, or holding office hours, she loves practicing on her yoga.

Rebecca Prosser is a California native who recently relocated to Chicago to join the amazing team at Chicago Occupational Therapy. After earning her Bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University in California in Early Childhood Education, she taught preschool for several years before returning to school. After graduating from California State Dominguez Hills with her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, she combined her love of education and working with children and families and began her career as a pediatric occupational therapist. Rebecca has an extensive history working with children with a variety of abilities such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), sensory processing disorders (SPD), fine and gross motor delays, genetic conditions, physical disabilities, and more. She enjoys working with a great multidisciplinary team to provide holistic, quality care. Rebecca believes that mentoring fieldwork students and new graduates is the best way to give back to the field of OT. She has supervised several level one and level two fieldwork students and finds these opportunities as a great way to teach, while growing as a clinician. She has also been a part of the mentor team at Chicago Occupational Therapy, supporting new therapist as they grow and flourish. When it comes to travel, Rebecca loves to get out and explore. She's backpacked extensively through the Trinity Alps in California, lived in Germany and Hawaii, and tries to take a trip abroad every year. She got involved in international therapy trips in graduate school, traveling to Mazatlan Mexico for a week to provide support at a pediatric clinic and wheelchair center. She's excited for new adventures as a new team member with Therapy Abroad!

Veronica is a Spanish bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist currently working in the public charter school system in Oakland, California. She earned her MS from San Francisco State University and her BS from Biola University. She has worked in the early-intervention and school-age population and is currently the Co-lead for the SLP team in her current position which entails providing professional development trainings to improve SLP practice and supervise Speech-Language Pathology Assistants. She is passionate about serving students and families from various socio-economic and culturally-diverse backgrounds, specifically topics such as bilingual language development, determining language disorder vs. language difference, and the effects of stress and trauma on language development. Veronica’s love of her career and traveling began in 2014 when she graduated with an undergrad degree and traveled to Guatemala to support a SLP from the States at a Mayan Special Education school. That experience was very transformational that it solidified her decision to apply for graduate school. She has traveled to various countries such as Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Japan, Iceland, Sri Lanka, China, Denmark, England, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and all around the States! She is excited to be joining the Therapy Abroad team and combining her love of traveling and her love for speech and language therapy

Diane is a native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She had also spent 10 years in Phoenix, AZ, but decided to return to her roots and the four seasons. Diane earned her Master’s degree from Michigan State University and remains a fan of Spartan basketball. Throughout her career, she has worked in multiple hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, schools, outpatient programs, and home health. In September of this year, she accepted a position at Northern Michigan University as the Director of Clinical Education. Diane’s passion has always been therapy. Taking the position at NMU made sense as a way to share her diverse clinical background with the students studying Speech Pathology/Audiology. Diane also enjoys interacting with students. She loves their creativity and energy. NMU is also planning to open its graduate program back up in June of 2021. Diane enjoys doing anything outdoors with friends/family and her dogs. She also enjoys traveling with her husband.