Lab Director
Dr. JoAnn Silkes
Dr. JoAnn Silkes earned her B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Indiana University and her M.S. in Communicative Disorders from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. After working as a clinical speech-language pathologist with adults in medical settings for 10 years, she earned her Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Washington. Her research focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms of aphasia and devising ways to improve treatment for the word retrieval problems that are typical of aphasia.
Doctoral Students
Christina Sen
Christina is a fifth-year Joint Doctoral Program student at SDSU and UCSD. She received her BA in Speech Sciences from the University of British Columbia. Her current research explores the mechanisms of cognitive and linguistic processing in people with aphasia. She uses a combination of eye-tracking, pupillometry, and behavioral methods in her research. She is also in the process of obtaining her clinical certification in speech pathology, in hopes of expanding the research on aphasia treatment.
Master’s Students
Cora Neisen
Cora Neisen is a second-year M.A. student at SDSU studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and is part of the Bilingual Certificate Program. Cora received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Minnesota. She taught English to adult immigrants and refugees for 8 years in a variety of settings before doing a post-baccalaureate program in Speech Language Pathology. In her future clinical practice, she hopes to work with adults in a medical setting. Outside of her professional life, Cora loves cooking, running and spending time with her cat Debbie.
Isabella Vasiliadis
Isabella (Izzie) Vasiliadis is a second-year graduate student at SDSU Speech, Language, and Hearing Science. Izzie received her B.A. in speech-language pathology at California State University, Long Beach. She hopes to work in the medical setting but is still deciding on a population. Outside of school, Izzie loves pilates, going to the beach, and spending time with friends!
Kate Alpert
Kate is a first-year M.A. student at SDSU studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She earned her B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Arizona. In her future clinical practice, Kate hopes to work with the adult population in a medical setting. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, hot yoga, spending time outdoors, and cooking!
Isabel Arias-Purcell
Isabel is a first year M.A. student in the SDSU Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program. She received her undergraduate degree in Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Following her completion of the program, Isabel plans to enter the medical setting and work with adult populations. Her current interests include cognition and aphasia. In her spare time, Isabel enjoys doing puzzles, crocheting, and watching movies with friends.
Hamde Awad
Hamde is a first-year M.A. student at SDSU studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. He graduated with a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Professionally, he is interested in working with adult populations with language disorders. In his spare time, Hamde loves listening to music, playing piano, and spending time with friends and family!
Abbie Brandt
Abbie is a first-year M.A. student at SDSU studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She earned her B.A. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from SDSU. Abbie’s previous research experience has been in child language learning and hearing sciences. Moving forward professionally, she is interested in working with adults and/or pediatrics in a medical setting. Outside of her studies, Abbie loves spending time outside hiking, running, and going to the beach with friends!
Krystyn Fajardo
Krystyn earned her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and is now a first-year student in the SDSU Speech-Language Pathology M.A. program. She has a growing interest in cognitive-communication and hopes to work in a medical setting. For leisure, she enjoys reading, yoga, and trying new restaurants/cuisines!
Aya Sugimoto
Aya is a first year masters student at SDSU studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Science. She graduated with a B.S. in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience from University of California, San Diego. She is interested in further understanding the application of aphasia research to clinical practice.
Ally Yamashita
Ally is a first-year M.A. student at SDSU’s Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program. She earned her B.S. in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles. While she has considerable experience working with children, she is currently interested in working with the adult population and contributing to research that helps us better understand aphasia. In her free time, Ally enjoys music, food, reading, and spending time with friends & family.
Undergraduates
Bella Linz
Caden Sainog
Caden Sajnog is a fourth year undergraduate student in the SLHS program at SDSU and is also planning on minoring in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. He is a member of SDSU Best Buddies and a member of SDSU Club Men’s Volleyball. In the future he would like to work in the clinical setting helping people with communication disorders. He is excited to learn more about aphasia through this research opportunity.
Esha Singh
Esha is a third year undergraduate student at SDSU Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. I hope to work in a setting with adults with aphasia or other language disorders, however, I am open to other settings as well such as swallowing disorders (dysphagia). Outside of school, I love taking pilates or yoga classes, grabbing coffee or matcha with friends, picking up a new book, going to the movies, and spending time with my family.
Izzi Weets
Izzi is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with an emphasis in Neuroscience and a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies. She is originally from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and is interested in pursuing a career in Occupational Therapy. Izzi is especially looking forward to learning more about how aphasia affects individuals differently and how this knowledge can be applied to her future work in OT. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading, going for walks, and exploring new coffee shops.
Past Lab Members
- Julie Abitbol
- Kathryn Avila
- Alize Ayton
- Ellie Brownlee
- Marlene Chavez Corona
- Jesse Marie Di Carlo-Wagner
- Lauren Edh
- Claire Falkus
- Ava Guerra
- Hanna Hartzler
- Lindsay Hill, M.A., CCC-SLP
- Harper Kim
- Katelyn Krogfoss
- Michelle Lew
- Faith Moore-Thomas
- Brittany Moreno
- Anna Mucher
- Serena Mueller, M.A., CF-SLP
- Khanh Nguyen
- Natalie Nguyen
- Jessica Pablo
- Ashlie Pankonin
- Anna Pero
- Kimi Purcell
- Savannah Ricciardulli
- Danielle Rosoff
- Emily Simon, M.A., CCC-SLP
- Jillian Sorenson
- Rana Tabrizi, M.A., CCC-SLP, M.M.T., MT-BC
- Aryanna Talamantes
- Ame Tariq
- Rachel Wagner
- Stephanie Wan, M.A., CF-SLP
- Breanna Williams
- Alison Wong