Meet Our Staff

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Brello, MEd., CCC-SLP is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Ohio State University and the Director of the OSU Aphasia Initiative. She is a clinical supervisor, teaches courses in the undergraduate and graduate SHS program, academic advisor, and faculty mentor for the OSU Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She has over 20 years of experience working with adults who have experienced acquired brain injury. Jennifer received an MEd from the University of Toledo in 1998 and worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist and Team Leader of the TBI System of Care at Wexner Medical Center from 1998-2009. She also served as the Program Director of the Ohio Valley Center for Brain Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation from 2009-2012, where she planned and directed educational programs, conducting training courses on accommodating the effects of traumatic brain injury and coordinated research protocols. She lives in Columbus with her husband and two children.

Arin Sheeler, M.A., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at The Ohio State University. She serves as a Clinical Supervisor in the OSU Aphasia Initiative for students in the MA-SLP program at OSU. In addition to her work in the Aphasia Initiative, Arin also works part-time at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center at Dodd Hall Rehabilitation Hospital where she provides inpatient speech therapy services to patients in the stroke and TBI units. She was previously employed in Baltimore, MD, at The Snyder Center for Aphasia Life Enhancement (SCALE) at The League, where she provided speech therapy services under the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA) service delivery model. Arin received her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2008 from Ohio University and began her career working with children in the K-12 school setting prior to transitioning to working with adults with acquired brain injury in 2012. She lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband and 3 children. 

Melody Culbert, MA, CCC-SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center -East Hospital. She provides SLP services to patients in acute care and outpatient rehabilitation. Melody serves as a Clinical Educator for MA-SLP graduate students placed at OSU East Hospital. Melody developed a love for the OSU Aphasia Initiative and a passion for working with the East Columbus community while in graduate school. This inspired Melody to expand the Aphasia Initiative by forming a satellite program at OSU’s Outpatient Care East, in December 2022. Melody develops programming, supervises graduate student clinicians and advocates for the community through many volunteer events. Melody received her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from The Ohio State University in 2020; lives in Reynoldsburg with her husband and 3 children.

 

 

 

 

 

Christine Sulka, M.S. CCC/SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at The Ohio State University. She serves part-time as a Clinical Preceptor for both the Aphasia Initiative and the newest treatment program, Brain CARE, for students in their M.A. SLP program. Christine also works part-time in the Gahanna school district with the elementary school population. Previous work includes over 13 years at OSU Dodd Hall inpatient rehabilitation hospital as a staff SLP as well as in their inpatient admissions office the last two years. Christine received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Purdue University and Miami Ohio University, respectively. Outside of work, Christine resides in Worthington and enjoys travel and being with her husband and daughter. She additionally serves in the nonprofit group Stop the Suffering (STS) animal rescue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Aphasia Initiative works to serve not only persons with aphasia but students as well. Each semester, we have new Graduate and Undergraduate students offering support to our clients. These students help facilitate and plan our group sessions alongside our licensed clinicians.