Lab Director
Rebecca M. Alper, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Alper is an ASHA-certified, licensed, speech-language pathologist (WI, PA, and NJ) and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Alper is also a Waisman Center Investigator. Dr. Alper completed her M.A., Ph.D., and a Graduate Certificate in biostatistics at the University of Iowa, where she was a Presidential Fellow under the co-mentorship of Drs. Karla McGregor and Richard Hurtig. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Temple Infant and Child Lab with Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek. Dr. Alper’s research focuses on understanding and improving language and academic outcomes for children who are at-risk as a result of learning environment and/or communication disorder status. This work includes clinical behavioral assessment research, as well as research on the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinician and caregiver-mediated early language and literacy interventions. Additionally, Dr. Alper is interested in research methodology and data analysis for speech-language research.
CURRICULUM VITE
Rebecca Alper on ResearchGate
Rebecca Alper on Google Scholar
Lab Coordinator
Emma Grindle
Emma is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and psychology as well as a certificate in Global Health. Though she is still refining her specific interests, she has developed a broad interest in speech pathology in working for the lab and plans to continue to explore different areas within the field.
Graduate Research Team Members
Maura O'Fallon, M.A., CCC-SLP
Maura is a doctoral student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Temple University. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Virginia, and her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland. After graduating from the University of Maryland, she worked as a school-based speech-language pathologist providing therapy to students with a variety of communication needs. She is interested in early intervention for children who are at-risk for later language disorders, as well as ways that speech-language pathologists can work with caregivers or teachers to improve children’s language outcomes.
Taylor Kalmus
Taylor is a second-year graduate student in UW’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program. She completed her post-baccalaureate training in communication sciences & disorders (CSD) through Northwestern University and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and biology. Taylor is a 2023-2024 WI LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental + Related Disabilities) Trainee in SLP through the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the Waisman Center. In the future, she hopes to combine her clinical and research interests to develop and implement neurodivergent-affirming interventions with young children and their families.
Undergraduate Research Team Members
Mallory Noel
Mallory is a junior at UW-Madison majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and getting a certificate in Education and Educational Services. After undergrad, she hopes to attend graduate school in order to obtain her master’s in Speech-Language Pathology. Mallory loves working with children and hopes to work with children in her future SLP career.
Naihua Wang
Naihua is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison double majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Human Development and Family Studies. In the future, she plans on pursing a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology. She is interested in early intervention, studying speech production and intelligibility, hopes to work with augmentative and alternative communication devices, as well as individuals who speak English and/or Mandarin.
Maddie Rieck
Maddie is a junior at UW-Madison majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After her undergrad, she plans to obtain her master's degree in speech language pathology. She is particularly interested in pursuing a career as a clinical Speech Language Pathologist and working with children.
Lucy Jumbeck
Lucy is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison double-majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish. In the future, she plans on pursuing a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology, in hopes of working with families and young children who speak English and/or Spanish. Her main interests in the field include bilingualism and second language acquisition, with her long-term goal of being a bilingual SLP provider.
Sydney Pitz
Sydney Pitz is a Sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Biology. In the future, she plans to pursue a healthcare career in either dentistry or optometry.
Zalaire Fellows
Zalaire is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and earning certificates in Disability Rights and Services and Education and Educational Services. She plans to pursue a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology, in hopes of one day working with children and their families. Some of her focused interests include literacy intervention and AAC.
Cayden Seltz
Cayden is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders while earning a certificate in Disability Rights and Services. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Cayden is particularly interested in early intervention and working with individuals with disabilities, aspiring to support children with communication challenges and their families.
Jessica Schiltz
Jessica is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison double majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish. She is also completing a certificate in Disability Rights and Services and her main interests in the field include early intervention services and bilingualism. In the future, she plans on pursuing a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology in hopes of working directly with children and their families in the community.
Katie Bakonyvari
Katie Bakonyvari is a senior at the University of Wisconsin Madison pursuing a major in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She plans to go to graduate school for Speech Language Pathology and wants to eventually work in early intervention speech therapy.
Paige Hoffman
Paige is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and earning a certificate in Disability Rights and Services. She plans to continue her education and obtain a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology. She is interested in early intervention and hopes to work with children.
Krista Hanna
Krista is a senior at the University of Wisconsin - Madison majoring in Biology. In the future she plans to go to Nursing School and her love for kids has her planning to work in Pediatrics.
Additional Members
Michelle Alexander, Gina Calise, Alejandra Castano, Katherine Eulau, and Nati Myers
Lab Alumni
Undergraduates
Lauren Achey, Emily Clark, Clare Corbett, Samantha Curran, Janessa Hughes, Jessica Fajardo, Josh Knappenberger, Celeste Lameira, Kaylyn Lawson, Omer Levi, Michaela Peel, Jovanna Penza, Caitanne Robinson, Adina Rom, Melanie Thomas, Lauren Wensel, Jessica Zbytniewski, Eliana George, Kaitlyn Genovese, Devon Schroeder, Dara Heiss, Autumn Deppe
Graduate Students
Carlene Majorino, Taylor Kalmus, Grace Witecha
Coordinators
Sarah Kautz, Julia Jaen
| Language, Literacy, and Learning Lab Rebecca M. Alper, Ph.D., CCC-SLP rebecca.alper@wisc.edu rebecca.alper@waisman.wisc.edu Phone: (608) 890-2259 |
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