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.
Rahul Krishnamurthy |he/him/his|
Speech-Language Pathology Doctoral Student | Second Year
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. His current research interests include neurophysiology of swallowing and speech production, and teaching learning methods in communication sciences and disorders.
Kayli Pham |she/her/hers|
Speech-Language Pathology Undergraduate Student | Third Year
Kayli is from Omaha, Nebraska and an undergraduate student studying speech language pathology, with minors in Education Studies and Spanish at UNL. She is currently working on a UCARE project in the SISC Lab studying the relation between acoustic voice factors and listener perception.
Alumni
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, and and is now applying the skills he acquired in the SISC lab to his postdoctoral work with pediatric populations at Northeastern University with Emily Zimmerman.
Cassidy Krawczak-Kummrow |she/her/hers|
Cassidy is from Minneapolis, Minnesota and 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 earned her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in August 2023 and is excited to begin her career as an SLP!
Bekah Hutchinson
Bekah is from Potter, Nebraska and received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2019. Under the guidance of Dr. Dietsch in the SISC lab (and with the support of a thesis assistantship), Bekah completed a master’s thesis that focused on the alignment between communication characteristics and gender identity. Bekah graduated with a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in August 2021 and works as an early childhood SLP near Omaha, NE.
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
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.
Kelsey Young
Kelsey Young is from Omaha, Nebraska, and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is also a Nebraska alum, having earned a bachelors degree in Speech-Language Pathology with minors in Education and Spanish. 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. She is specifically interested in working with English Language Learners and bilingual children with special needs.
Rachel (Feuker) Kallmann
Rachel is from Omaha, Nebraska, and completed both her undergraduate and graduate education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She began her involvement in the SISC lab as a UCARE research participant studying the effects of sensory manipulation on brain activity and swallowing mechanics. As a graduate student, Rachel completed a directed research project in the SISC lab with Dr. Angela Dietsch which provided collaborative experiences with the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior and opportunities to develop her critical thinking, analytical, and professional skills. In her career as a medical SLP in Omaha, NE, Rachel continues to utilize skills gained in the SISC lab on a daily basis through evaluation and treatment of individuals with swallowing disorders.
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.