Dr. Aaron Shield, Ph.D.
Hometown: Providence, RI
Alma Maters: Wesleyan University (CT), The University of Texas at Austin
Role: Research Lab Director
Fun Fact: Dr. Shield once had a story published in the book “Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul”.
Madelyn Russell
Year: First Year Graduate Student
Hometown: Dayton, OH
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Role: Graduate Assistant for Dr. Shield, Leader of ASL Spanish study
Fun Fact: Madelyn has driven a manual since she was 16
Jenna Lindeman
Year: Senior
Hometown: Carmel, IN
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minor: Disability Studies
Role: Data Coder, Participant Recruitment, Videographer, Editor
Fun Fact: Jenna loves to crochet
Hannah Ballinger
Year: Senior
Hometown: Hamilton, OH
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minor: Child Studies and Youth Development
Role: Data Coder, Social Media Outreach
Fun Fact: Hannah has two puppies named Teddy and Graham after the Teddy Graham crackers
Brooke Rosenthall
Year: Senior
Hometown: Denver, CO
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minor: Disability Studies
Role: Data Coder, LAPT Parent Interviews
Fun Fact: Brooke has a dog with only one eye
Sydney Simpson
Year: Junior
Hometown: Liberty Township, OH
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minors: Disability Studies, Gerentology
Role: Data Coder, Social Media Outreach
Fun Fact: Sydney plays intramural pickleball
Mareyhana Scurry
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Dayton, OH
Major: Psychology
Role: Participant Recruitment, LAPT Parent Interviews
Fun Fact: Mareyhana is the only Deaf member of the research team
Dasha Sekulich
Year: Junior
Hometown: Harrisburg, NC
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minors: Disability Studies, Russian
Role: Data Coder
Fun Fact: Dasha raises and trains future service dogs
Mary Mangan
Year: Junior
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minor: Child Studies and Youth Development
Role: Data Coder
Fun Fact: Mary loves to play golf
Scarlett Studebaker
Year: Junior
Hometown: Hillsboro, OH
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Role: Data Coder
Fun Fact: Scarlett lives on 75 acres of farm land at home
Shannon Whitlock
Year: Junior
Hometown: Mokena, IL
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minor: Disability Studies
Role: Data Coder
Fun Fact: Shannon was a competitive dancer for 14 years
Erica Nekritz
Year: Junior
Hometown: Northbrook, IL
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minor: Disability Studies
Role: Participant Recruitment
Fun Fact: All of Erica’s family have dogs named after the Chicago Cubs
Emma Pooley
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Canton, OH
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minor: Disability Studies
Role: Data Coder
Fun Fact: Emma plays on the club soccer team here at Miami University
Ella Vannaken
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Morton, IL
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minor: Disability Studies
Role: Data Coder
Fun Fact: Ella’s hometown is the pumpkin capital of the world
Lillian Hild
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Meadville, PA
Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology
Minor: Disability Studies
Role: Data Coder
Fun Fact: Lillian likes to go skiing in the winter
Kiera Lewis
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Miamisburg, OH
Majors: Speech Pathology and Audiology, Art Therapy
Role: Data Coder
Fun Fact: Kiera has been crocheting for 3 years and is the co-president of the Hook, Yarn, and Needles fiber arts club at Miami!