People

Dr. Angela Dietsch  |she/her/hers|

Lab Director
Associate Professor, Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders
Resident Faculty, Center for Brain, Behavior, and Biology (CB3)

Dr. Dietsch earned her Ph.D. from University of Kansas after more than a decade as a medical speech-language pathologist. This clinical background drives her research and teaching strategy, including fostering partnerships that incorporate cutting-edge analysis methods to advance the science of patient care across disciplinary and geographical boundaries. Her current CV is available by clicking HERE.

Caitlin Cloud |she/her/hers|

Doctoral Student in Human Sciences (Speech-Language Pathology) | First Year

Caitlin is from Fort Collins, Colorado. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience & Linguistics from Tulane University in 2016, followed by her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2021. She worked clinically as a medical speech-language pathologist before joining the SISC Lab for her doctoral studies, and her clinical experiences inform her current research questions and pedagogical interests. Her research interests center on neural control of swallowing and speech. She is specifically interested in exploring the contributions of sensation to neuromotor control and establishing more robust treatment paradigms that are accessible and feasible for practicing clinicians. 

RJ Joyce |they/them/theirs|

Doctoral Student in Human Sciences (Speech-Language Pathology) | First Year

RJ received their Bachelor’s degree in communication sciences disorders in 2019, and their Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2021, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. RJ was a member of the SISC lab during their graduate studies as well, completing a thesis on the alignment between communication characteristics and gender identity. Before returning to UNL, they worked as a speech-language therapist in rural public schools in the Northeast Nebraska area for several years, with a focus on early intervention.

RJ’s current research interests focus on gender-affirming communication services for transgender and gender diverse individuals. Acoustic analysis, quality of life outcomes, coordination of services with allied professionals, and service models for neurodiverse individuals within the transgender and gender diverse community are all topics of interest.

Kayli Pham |she/her/hers|

Speech-Language Pathology Undergraduate Student | Fourth Year

Kayli is from Omaha, Nebraska and an undergraduate student studying speech language pathology, with minors in Education Studies and Spanish at UNL. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Kayli completed a UCARE project in the SISC Lab studying the relation between acoustic voice factors and listener perception and is now extending that work into an Honors thesis.

Rahul Krishnamurthy  |he/him/his|

Rahul is from Bangalore, India, and received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, University of Mysore. He completed his PhD at UNL in May 2024 and is now pursuing postdoctoral studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Rahul's research interests include neurophysiology of swallowing and speech production, the mechanisms of neurorehabilitation, and pedagogy within communication sciences and disorders.

Ross Westemeyer  |he/him/his|

Ross is from Iowa City, Iowa. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Northern Iowa and completed his PhD at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May 2023. Ross has several years of experience assisting with data collection and analysis of ongoing studies in the SISC Lab, developed a dissertation project focused on strength- vs. skilled-based training for rehabilitation of dysphagia. After completing postdoctoral training with pediatric populations at Northeastern University with Emily Zimmerman, he has returned to his roots at Univeristy of Northern Iowa as an Assistant Professor.

Cassidy Krawczak-Kummrow  |she/her/hers|

Cassidy is from Minneapolis, Minnesota and earned her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in August 2023. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Hearing Science and English from the University of Minnesota. Cassidy assisted with data collection and analysis of ongoing studies at the SISC Lab with a focus on multidisciplinary and community-centered approaches to gender affirming communication services. Cassidy is excited to begin her career as an SLP!

Abbie (Rehurek) LaFave

Abbie Rehurek is from Yankton, South Dakota and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2021. Abbie received a UCARE award for her multi-year work in the SISC Lab, which focused on the trajectory of dysphagia recovery in persons who have sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Abbie's research experience in the SISC lab set the stage for her graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Kansas. Her next adventure is as a pediatric SLP in an outpatient private practice in Phoenix, AZ. 

Sam Galligan

Sam Galligan is from West Des Moines, Iowa and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2021. As part of the SISC Lab team, Sam was supported by a UCARE award while assisting with data collection and analysis and learning more about speech-language pathology, swallowing anatomy and physiology, and research design. He completed his master's degree in in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Iowa and has returned to Lincoln to work as a medical SLP.

Madison Felix

Madison Felix is from Lincoln, Nebraska and earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. During her undergraduate studies at Nebraska, Madison completed a UCARE project in the SISC lab. It focused on clinical utilization patterns of expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) devices and their impact on swallowing. Madison’s interests include autism, traumatic brain injury, and swallowing. She is applying what she learned in the SISC lab to her clinical career as a speech-language pathologist in North Carolina.

Katrina (German) Maar

Katrina is from Cozad, Nebraska and earned both a Bachelor's degree (in Communication Sciences and Disorders) and a Master’s degree (in Speech-Language Pathology) the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As an undergraduate researcher in the SISC lab, Katrina's work aimed to help predict the severity and recovery period of dysphagia for patients who have undergone prolonged orotracheal intubation. She is pursuing a career as a medical SLP.
 

Meredith Konkol

Meredith received her B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2017 and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2020. During her directed research experience in the SISC lab, Meredith assisted with data collection and analysis of studies in the SISC Lab. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outside, studying at coffee shops, and teaching group fitness classes. She is proud to have been a part of the SISC Lab and brings all that she learned at UNL into her career as an outpatient SLP!

Veronica (Musser) Perison

Veronica is originally from Cleveland, OH. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Kent State University in 2018, and her Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2020. Veronica assisted with coding and analyzing data during her directed research project in the SISC lab and is now using the skills acquired at UNL in an outpatient SLP clinic in Ohio.

Megan (Asselin) Berning

Megan is from Lincoln, Nebraska, and she received her Masters of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology & Audiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is currently working at an elementary school in Lincoln. She is enjoying working with a variety of needs and a diverse student population. She is thankful for her time in the SISC lab as it has improved her ability to provide research-based intervention strategies for students and families.

Megan (Rovang) Burmeister

Megan is from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and she received both her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Working in the SISC lab helped her improve a variety of skills including time management, teamwork, and critical thinking. It also expanded her knowledge of various areas in the field of Speech Pathology. Megan currently works as a speech pathologist for Lincoln Public Schools at an elementary and middle school. She also occasionally does PRN work at a Rehab Center here in Lincoln.

Rachel (Feuker) Kallman

Rachel is from Omaha, Nebraska and earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from UNL. As an undergraduate, she worked in the SISC lab as a UCARE participant studying the effects of sensory manipulation on brain activity and swallowing mechanics. During her graduate training, she completed a directed research project in the lab. Presently, Rachel is applying the critical thinking, analytical and professional skills she developed throughout her lab experiences in her role as a medical SLP in Omaha.

Kelsey Young

Kelsey Young is from Omaha, Nebraska, and completed her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2020. She is also a Nebraska alum, having earned a bachelors degree in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) with minors in Education and Spanish. She has particular interest in working with English Language Learners and bilingual children with special needs. Her UCARE project with Dr. Dietsch focused on expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) devices and their clinical outcomes with patients experiencing respiratory weakness and speech and swallowing difficulties. After completing her clinical fellowship in Virginia public schools, she relocated to England where she continues her training and skills as an SLP.

Lauren Brandeen

Lauren is from Lakeville, Minnesota, and earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in Gerontology. Her undergraduate (UCARE) research in SISC investigated taste perceptions across ages as part of a larger swallowing project to develop new swallowing rehabilitation strategies. Lauren earned a master's degree at University of Wisconsin-River Falls and is now a medical speech-language pathologist in the Minneapolis area.
 

Regan Crane 

Regan earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology with minors in Psychology and Health Studies from the University of Louisiana-Monroe. She graduated with her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and now serves as an SLP Resource Specialist for Madison County Schools in Alabama where she applies the problem solving skills honed in the SISC lab to facilitating student success in academic environments.

Makenzie Logan 

Makenzie is from Moline, Illinois, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Psychology from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. She graduated with her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and now works at Bellevue East High School in Bellevue, NE. Makenzie is thankful for how the SISC lab helped her improve her skills in professional writing, critical thinking, problem solving, organization, and teamwork through this research opportunity.

Kaytlin (Tippin) Westbrook 

Kaytlin is from Des Moines, Iowa, and she received her B.S. in Communication Disorders from Truman State University. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology in August 2018. Being a member of SISC broadened her perspective of the field of speech-language pathology, increased her knowledge of neurology and dysphagia, and taught her how to creatively approach new questions and ideas. After graduation, Kaytlin was delighted to take a position as a speech-language pathologist at Park Hill School District in the metro Kansas City region.

Grace (Wilder) Stevens 

Grace earned her Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May 2017 and is a pediatric SLP at Stones Worth Stepping, P.C. in Omaha NE. She loves working with children and their families to empower them to communicate to their greatest potential. Currently, she is co-developing an AAC evaluation and treatment program and firmly believes that access to communication is a universal right. She is happy to report that life after grad school is magical and filled with infinitely more time for family and friends, board games, travel, and her many houseplants.

Soyoung Park

Soyoung earned the MA degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Kansas. She worked as a speech pathologist in a variety of health care settings in California and Nebraska prior to beginning her doctoral studies in the SISC lab at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her evolving interests include neuroplasticity and rehabilitation.