Rosemary A. Lester-Smith, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is the Director of the UT Voice Lab and an Associate Professor of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin. She received a B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of New Mexico, M.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Indiana University, M.S. in Clinical Investigation from Northwestern University, and Ph.D. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Neuroscience from the University of Arizona. She completed postdoctoral training at Mayo Clinic, Boston University, Northwestern University, and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago). She is a certified speech-language pathologist and has worked in a variety of clinical settings, primarily evaluating and treating adults with voice and swallowing disorders. Her research aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurogenic voice disorders.

ResearchGate

Jessy Brown, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, MT-BC is a postdoctoral fellow in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy and a master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Florida State University. She earned a dual PhD in Neuroscience and Gerontology from Iowa State University, where her research focused on therapeutic singing for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Her work centers on developing innovative, interdisciplinary interventions for neurogenic speech, voice, and swallowing disorders, and on improving access to care in under-resourced communities.

Nayanika Ghosh is a doctoral student in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She completed her undergraduate and Master’s degrees in speech-language pathology at the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore. She also completed hospital internships in speech-language pathology and worked as a clinical speech-language pathologist in India before beginning the Ph.D. program at UT. Her research interests include neurological voice disorders and evidence-based treatment of voice.

Chloe Proshuto is a Master's student in speech-language pathology in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She received a Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. Her clinical areas of interest include voice and neurogenic communication disorders in adults.

Sidney Becktold is an undergraduate student in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in the Moody College of Communication and Voice in the Butler School of Music. Her research interests include voice disorders and preventative health strategies for vocal professionals. She intends to pursue master's degrees in speech-language pathology and vocal pedagogy.

Kara Nelson is an undergraduate honors student in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in the Moody College of Communication. Her clinical interests include neurological voice and speech disorders. She intends to pursue her master’s degree in speech-language pathology.