Speech-Language Pathology: The UDC Edge
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Program Faculty
Weynshet Demessie, B.S. (SLP), Clinic/Office Manager
Weynshet Demessie is the Clinic/Office Manager and holds the B.S. degree from the University of the District of Columbia.
Tiffany C. Gurley Nettles, Ph.D. CCC-SLP
Tiffany C. Gurley-Nettles holds a Ph.D. In Health Psychology from Walden University, a M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of the District of Columbia, and a B.S. in Public Administration and Management from Virginia State University. She is a specialist in adult neurological disorders with an emphasis in medical speech pathology, cognitive disorders, dysphagia, aphasia, and counseling. Her instructional and supervisory focus is Medical Speech Language Pathology. Her research interests include post-stroke depression, cognitive traumatic encephalopathy, family caregiver stress, and cognitive aging.
Richard Kalunga, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Kalunga holds a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Howard University, an M.S. degree in Speech – Language Pathology from the University of the District of Columbia, and a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, UK. He specializes in language acquisition and disorders, literacy, sociolinguistics, and fluency disorders. His research emphasis is in literacy and developmental correlates.
Natalie A. Ottey, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Ottey holds a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Howard University, an M.Sc. degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of the District of Columbia and a B.A.A. degree in Early Childhood Education from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. Her research interests include neurogenic motor speech disorders and pediatric neurogenic language impairments, with an emphasis in the treatment of apraxia of speech disorders. She provides instruction in neurophysiological disorders of speech and swallowing.
Tabia Pope, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Pope holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S., from Howard University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her clinical instructional and supervisory focus is within Concussion Clinics, as well as Medical Speech-Language Pathology and Neurogenic/Cognitive-Communication Disorders. Her research interests include traumatic brain injury, with an emphasis in academic sports concussion management, interprofessional education and collaboration, and brain health support group counseling. Dr. Pope also integrates contemporary issues and policies within CSD into her instruction including health communications for community outreach and timely identification, multicultural considerations for assessment, functional treatment and interventions, and diversity, equity and inclusion to foster interest in and understanding of initiatives that address health disparities and cultural competency.
Carmen Ana Ramos-Pizarro, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Ramos-Pizarro holds a Ph.D. degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Voice Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She specializes in Voice and its Disorders and currently teaches graduate courses in Voice and Speech Science. Dr. Ramos-Pizarro is currently involved in research with colleagues in Argentina, Colombia, and Puerto Rico and her research interests include the speech patterns of persons from multicultural backgrounds and individuals in transition (transgender), evidenced-based intervention in voice disorders and voice feminization, and the use of simulation in the training of auditory-perceptual rating skills.
Sulare Telford Rose, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Telford received her Ph.D. from Howard University with a specialization in child language disorders and a concentration in sociolinguistics and psychometrics. She obtained her undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Andrews University. Dr. Telford has over seven years of experience working as a bilingual speech-language pathologist, early interventionist, and clinical supervisor. She is keenly interested in exploring and developing effective assessment and intervention methods for addressing the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse populations, particularly those from Caribbean English Creole-speaking backgrounds.
Dorothy Gaspard-St. Cyr, M. Ed CCC-SLP
Dorothy Gaspard-St. Cyr, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who has been providing speech therapy services for over 20 years. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at the City University, City College of New York, and began to work as a Teacher of Speech and Hearing in the city’s early intervention and preschool programs. She then moved to Virginia and earned her Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Virginia. Professor Gaspard-St. Cyr has worked in public schools, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, and in private practice. She enjoys working with both the adult and pediatric populations and has experience with, voice, fluency, childhood language disorders, and adult neurogenic/cognitive-communication disorders.
Emily Gibson, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS
Emily Gibson holds a B.A. degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a M.S. degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of the District of Columbia. She is a certified brain injury specialist with a history of providing speech-language pathology services across the lifespan in home and outpatient medical settings. Areas of clinical expertise include management of adult neurological disorders of swallowing and communication, gender affirming voice and communication, voice disorders and management of laryngeal airway problems, including PVFM and chronic cough. Special interests include evidence-based practice for management of neurological disorders, cognitive motor learning principles for management of voice and laryngeal airway disorders, and dynamic assessment and functional treatment geared towards community reentry for individuals recovering from traumatic brain injury and stroke. She provides clinical supervision and instruction for graduate students treating both pediatric and adult clients.
