Education:

• University of Georgia – Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
• University of Georgia – Master of Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Licenses & Certificates:

• Licensed to practice in the state of South Carolina
• Interdisciplinary Disability Studies Certificate from the University of Georgia.
  The Interdisciplinary Disability Studies Certificate provides undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to promote the true inclusion of individuals with disabilities. This certificate program allows students to develop an awareness of the social construction of disability, the history of disability, and demographics; understand current best practice across disciplines related to people with disabilities, including language, policy, and practice; learn effective ways to advocate for needed changes in attitudes, policy, and practice; apply knowledge through opportunities for service learning; develop positive attitudes toward and comfort in interacting with individuals with all types of abilities and methods of communication; and be prepared to serve children and adults from diverse cultures and with diverse abilities.

Work History:
During my time at the University of Georgia, I had the opportunity to work in a variety of clinical settings including: the UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic, primary and elementary schools, and inpatient rehab at a local hospital. Through these placements, I gained experience in evaluating and treating a variety of communication disorders including speech, language, voice, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders. Throughout my time in both undergraduate and graduate school, I also worked part-time at an afterschool program at a local elementary school. After graduating in May 2023, I moved to the Myrtle Beach area to begin my clinical fellowship at Young Talkers. My professional goal is to help the pediatric and adult population achieve their communication goals by creating an inclusive and encouraging environment that is full of interaction and positive energy!

Specialized Trainings:
SPEAK OUT!® and The LOUD Crowd (Trained Clinician), Parkinson Voice Project.

• This course reviews Parkinson Voice Project’s treatment protocol for evaluating and treating individuals with Parkinson’s and related movement disorders. It demonstrates a simple speech evaluation with stimulability testing, individual SPEAK OUT! therapy, and The LOUD Crowd group therapy. SPEAK OUT! is based on principles of motor learning and teachings of the late Daniel R. Boone, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. In the 1950s, Boone recognized individuals with Parkinson’s could improve their communication by “speaking with intent.” This course reviews the extrapyramidal (automatic) motor system and the pyramidal (intentional) motor system and explains WHY people with Parkinson’s can speak louder, clearer, more articulate, and more expressive when they are intentional and deliberate.