Lab Alumni

Past Doctoral Scholars

 

Neda Tahmasebifard, PhD

Neda Tahmasebifard completed her doctoral work in December 2023. Neda’s research focuses on feeding knowledge outcomes as it relates to patients with a history of cleft palate. 

Dissertation: Feeding Knowledge and Feeding Confidence of Professional Groups in Eastern North Carolina Who are Involved in Providing Prenatal Care Visits for Parents Having a Baby Diagnosed with Cleft Lip With or Without Cleft Palate. 

Neda’s Bio & Contact Information

Eshan Schleif, PhD, CCC-SLP

Eshan Schleif completed her doctoral work in December 2022. Eshan’s research focuses on utilizing MRI to examine changes in the velopharyngeal musculature before and after jaw surgery and determine predictors of velopharyngeal insufficiency in the population born with cleft lip and/or palate.

Dissertation: The Influence of Orthodontic Appliances on Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Velopharynx.

Eshan’s Bio & Contact Information

Abigail Haenssler, PhD, CCC-SLP

Abigail Haenssler completed her doctoral work in May 2021. Abby’s research focuses on the effectiveness of surgical protocols and the anatomical and physiological changes that occur after primary cleft palate repair surgery

Dissertation: Anatomical and Physiological Changes Following Primary Palatoplasty Using the Buccal Flap Approach

Abigail’s Bio & Contact Information

Katelyn Kotlarek, PhD, CCC-SLP

Katelyn Kotlarek completed her doctoral work in July 2019. Katelyn’s research focuses on the anatomical variations of the levator veli palatini and surgical outcomes in cleft palate.

Dissertation: Investigation of the Anatomical and Physiological Changes Following the Use of a Pedicled Buccal Fat Pad Graft during Primary Palatoplasty

Katelyn’s Bio & Contact Information

Kazlin Mason, PhD, CCC-SLP

Kazlin Mason completed her doctoral work in December 2017. Kazlin’s area of research focuses on the anatomical underpinnings for successful surgical and speech outcomes. Her work utilizes MRI and 3D computer visualization technology to study surgical approaches used to treat resonance disorders secondary to craniofacial anomalies.

Dissertation: The Effects of Gravity and Scar Contracture on Post-Surgical Tissue Changes and Speech Outcomes Following Pharyngoplasties

Kazlin’s Bio & Contact Information

Graham Schenck, PhD, CCC-SLP

Graham Schenck completed his doctoral work in October 2016. Graham utilizes MRI and 3D imaging applications to investigate velopharyngeal muscle and morphological parameters in children with submucous cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies. His research is aimed at understanding the relationship between anatomical and physiological differences in the velopharynx and their effect on speech production.

Dissertation: Velopharyngeal Muscle Morphology in Children with Congenital Palatal Malformations

Graham’s Bio & Contact Information

Lakshmi Kollara-Sunil, PhD, CCC-SLP

Lakshmi Kollara-Sunil completed her doctoral work in July 2016. Lakshmi’s research focuses on using MRI to study the speech mechanism in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Her work involves the development of non-sedated, child friendly MRI scanning protocols across healthy controls and clinically complex groups.

Dissertation: Variations in Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Structures Among Individuals with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

Lakshmi’s Bio & Contact Information

Past Graduate Students

  • Eshan Pua
    Thesis: Nasalance in Mandarin Speakers
  • Katie Broadwell
    Thesis: Variations in upright and supine pressure-flow and nasalance scores among adults
  • Jillian Nyswonger
    Thesis: Variations in velopharyngeal muscles among adults with and without repaired cleft palate
  • Holly Nelson Jordan
    Thesis: Correlations between craniometric measures and velopharyngeal valving function

Past Undergraduate Students

  • Sarah Porter
  • Lexi Holiday
  • Hannah Ragsdale
  • Anna Paige Daniel
  • Caroline Banard
  • Elizabeth Broadway
  • Mary Hannah Wilson
  • Imani Gilbert
  • Amber Faircloth
  • Abigial Schwan
  • Gretchen Schultz
  • Madeline Funke
  • Emily Wolf
  • Alanah Miller
  • Shana McCusker
  • Brianna Swain
  • Ella Jordan
  • Katie Coleman
  • Regan Herndon
  • Kelly Hauhuth
  • Kori Engler
  • Jenny Cahoon
  • Jade Hughes
  • Lindsey Bates
  • Payton Nall
  • Julia Skinner
  • Mary Elizabeth Waterman
  • Madison Currier
  • Haley Dinice
  • Brittany Colley
  • Megan Cartrette
  • Kristen Golding
  • Sara Maxwell
  • Emma Wells
  • Emily Barber
  • Emma Wells
  • Emily Barber
  • Meredith Batchelor
  • Ellen Brown
  • Sudie Brown
  • Jena Bruno
  • Sylvia Cockerill
  • Gina Federal
  • Eryn Gaynor
  • Savannah Hatfield
  • Alexyss Hedrick
  • Camille Molineux
  • Alex Nolan
  • Alonna Pate
  • Leigh Ann Pfeiffer
  • Ashley Ritter
  • Sara Clover
  • Ashleigh Stanley