The Team

Kathrin Rothermich, PhD

Dr. Rothermich has 20 years of research experience in Communication Science and Disorders, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Neurolinguistics. Her main goal as a director of the SCONE Lab is to advance knowledge about how humans communicate and perceive speaker intentions. To that end, she uses behavioral tools, eye tracking, neuroimaging, and brain stimulation to explore social communication abilities in healthy participants and individuals with neurogenic disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease and after stroke. In her free time, you can find her listening to podcasts, rescuing feral cats, biking, and lifting weights.

Rosie Baker

Rose Baker is a third-year doctoral student and linguist who focuses her research on the intersection of social communication, neuroscience, and linguistic theory. She received her BA from Gordon College in Massachusetts and has experience working in minority language development. Her current work focuses on speech accommodation theory and neuroscientific methods such as EEG with older adults or L2 speakers of English. She is also earning a certificate in Quantitative methods to apply statistical modeling to language data. In her free time, Rose likes to go on walks, cook new recipes, read, and do her latest thrift-store jigsaw puzzle. Her favorite thing about being a graduate student in the lab is sitting down at the lab computer with some tea and writing about her most recent findings.

Mary Lynn Dawson

My name is Mary Lynn Dawson, and I am from Kinston, North Carolina.  I am currently a senior in the speech and hearing sciences program here at ECU, and I am also working on a minor in psychology. Upon graduation, I hope to continue my education and obtain a master’s degree in communication sciences and Disorders with hopes of being a speech-language pathologist. I joined the SCONE Lab in spring of 2024 and have loved it so far, it has given me so many connections, opportunities, and a chance to learn more about research. In my free time, I love to get outdoors, play with my dog, and hang out with friends and family.

Dai’Sha Dowson

Hello! My name is Dai’Sha Dowson and I’m the project coordinator for the lab. I was born in South Carolina, but I’ve lived in Raleigh, NC since I was a kid.  I’m a recent graduate with a psychology/ speech and hearing degree, and now a graduate student in the Rehabilitation Counseling Program at ECU. My research interests include behavioral interactions, psychosocial interventions, and autism. 

Hannah Ragsdale

Hi everyone! I’m Hannah Ragsdale, and I am a second-year master’s student in the Speech-Language Pathology program, and I am from Wake Forest, NC! I went to ECU for undergrad where I majored in Speech and Hearing Sciences and had minors in Hispanic Studies, Biology, and Composite Natural Sciences. I had the pleasure of being involved with the SCONE lab in my undergrad as well. I am particularly interested in speech accommodation, especially how individuals adapt their speech when communicating with someone from a different native language or culture. In my free time, I love to spend time with family, friends, and my dog, exercise, arts and crafts, and cooking!

Elisha Eanes

Hi, my name is Elisha, and I earned my Bachelor in Linguistics and French Linguistics at Rutgers University. I’m continuing my journey at ECU, earning my Master in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In my free time, I like to visit plant nurseries and try to talk myself out of buying anything. I’m highly interested in the means of social communication we use today, especially with the current technological age’s impact on our speech and means of communication.

Makyah McNeill

I am Makyah McNeill, born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Currently enrolled as a Speech-language Pathology (SLP) Provisional student at ECU, I am eagerly anticipating joining ECU’s Communication Sciences & Disorders MS Program in Fall of 2024. At this stage, I am actively exploring various research interests within the program. My goal is to establish my own private practice to provide speech services to underserved rural communities.  Beyond academics, I thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in captivating books, journaling, indulging in romantic comedies alongside my bearded dragon Kimchi, and occasionally live streaming. 

Emily Drake

Hi, my name is Emily Drake and I live in Ayden with my four dogs, eleven chickens, and my husband. I studied neuroscience in undergrad, and my interest in neurolinguistics led me to become a speech-language pathologist. I work part-time with Venture Rehabilitation Group and specialize in early language intervention, as well as communication in children with autism. Furthermore, I hope to pursue research in nonverbal communication and receptive language in the future, and am currently working on writing a fiction novel in my spare time!

Olivia Mather

My name is Olivia Mather and I am from Raleigh, NC. I am a junior majoring in Speech and Hearing Sciences, with a Psychology and Disability Studies minor. I am a member of the Honors College, and the treasurer for Pirates of Down Syndrome Awareness (PDSA). When I graduate, I hope to pursue a Master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders, to one day become a speech-language pathologist. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, listening to music, and going to the beach. I am excited to be a part of the SCONE lab this year!

Alanna Lisewski

My name is Alanna, and I am from New Bern, NC. I just started my first semester in the nursing program. I have had prior lab experience and have always wanted to perform research. I am very interested in neurobiology/linguistics and the SCONE lab seemed like the perfect intersection of those two interests. I hope to work as an ED nurse while I go back to school to pursue an MS in counseling.

Megan Bowling

Megan is from Windsor, NC. She chose to major in Speech and Hearing Sciences after witnessing her dad’s journey dealing with sudden sensorineural hearing loss caused by a stroke. She is currently a first-year graduate student in the speech program at ECU. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, cooking, traveling with her friends, and staying active.

Amritha Alaguraj

My name is Amritha Alaguraj, and I’m from Cary, North Carolina. I’m majoring in neuroscience and psychology. I’m interested in one day becoming an industrial research scientist and specifically doing work with neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental conditions and diseases. In my free time, I love to draw, write, and volunteer. Currently, I volunteer as a mentor for high school students to give them college advice. I also love to garden; right now, I’m growing some succulents and cacti.

Peyton Disser

My name is Peyton Disser, and I am a junior in the Honors College here at ECU. I have been intrigued by the workings of the brain for years now, so I the SCONE Lab is  a perfect fit for me! I am double majoring in Biology and Neuroscience with a minor in Hispanic Studies. After graduation, I plan to continue researching the human body through either a MD or PhD program. In my free time, I enjoy the great outdoors, play soccer, go to the gym, and listen to music.

Essence Hopkins

My name is Essence Hopkins, and I am a junior here at ECU. My majors are Neuroscience and Hispanic studies, so SCONE Lab was right where I needed to be! In my free time I enjoy reading, playing volleyball, or watching movies. After graduation, I plan on applying to PA school to work towards becoming a physician’s assistant.

Rhiannon Phillips

My name is Rhiannon, and I am from Wilson, NC. I am a Senior double majoring in Speech and Hearing Sciences as well as psychology. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends and family as well as catching up on my favorite TV shows.