Lab Photos
Courtney Jewell, MA CF-SLP, a graduate research assistant and laboratory manager in the OSU Aphasia Laboratory, is in her fourth year of the Ph.D. program in Speech and Hearing Sciences. Initially enrolled as a dual MA-PhD student, she finished her Masters in Speech Language Pathology in May of 2023. Courtney is completing her clinical fellowship experience as an acute care speech language pathologist at Mount Carmel East Hospital while continuing forward with the doctorate portions of her studies. She also serves as the president of the Student Advisory Board of Interprofessional Education. In 2020, Courtney graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences, B.A. in Psychology, and minor in Gerontology. Her undergraduate honors thesis explored the word retrieval deficits of adults with aphasia across different semantic categories. Her current research interests are centered around the interplay between resilience and treatment outcomes (masters thesis), sources of chronic stress in people with aphasia, and bridging the gap between mental health services and people with communication impairments. In her free time, she enjoys playing sand volleyball, running, and traveling.
Grace Terry, MA, is a research assistant and graduate administrative associate for undergraduate advising, is in her first year of the Ph.D. program in Speech and Hearing Science. In 2021 Grace graduated from OSU with her B.A. in Speech and Hearing Science, as well as a minor in disability studies and an honor of research distinction. In 2023, Grace graduated from OSU with her M.A. in Speech Pathology. Grace’s current research interest is evidence-based caregiver resources created for individuals with all levels of health literacy to support their loved ones with communication impairments. In her free time, she enjoys running, spending time outside, snuggling with her dog Hamilton, and crafting.
Natalie Freitag, BA is a first year MA – PhD student and a graduate research assistant in the lab. She recently graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, with majors in Communication Sciences and Disorders & Neuroscience, as well as a minor in Spanish. At Augustana, she was a member of the Augustana Baby and Child Development (ABCD) Lab where she researched word learning from screens. Additionally, she worked in the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic as a student clinician her senior year. However, she discovered her passion for researching aphasia therapy in Summer 2021. Through Marquette University’s summer research program, she investigated the methodological quality of studies that used tDCS as an adjunctive therapy for aphasia. She is very excited to join the OSU Aphasia Lab and to develop her research interests! Natalie is a big dog person who loves gel nails and mac n cheese.
Krystal Archibald, MS, CCC-SLP is a research speech-language pathologist in the Aphasia Laboratory. In 2017, she received her Master’s in Speech Language Pathology from Florida Atlantic University. Prior to attending FAU, Krystal graduated with BA in Psychology & Sociology from Case Western Reserve University. Since graduating from FAU, she has been working as a Speech Language Pathologist in acute care, inpatient rehab, and skilled nursing. In her free time, Krystal enjoys painting and traveling.
Olivia Prexta, MA, CCC-SLP is a research speech-language pathologist in the Aphasia Laboratory. She graduated from OSU in 2016 with a B.A. in Speech and Hearing Science, then went on to Cleveland State University to earn her M.A. in Speech Language Pathology. Since graduating, Olivia has been working as a speech-language pathologist in the skilled nursing facility setting. In her free time, Olivia enjoys playing with her pets, gardening, and spending time with friends.
Jennifer Brello, MEd., CCC-SLP is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Ohio State University and the Director of the OSU Aphasia Initiative. She has over 20 years of experience working with adults who have experienced acquired brain injury. Jennifer received a 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. Jennifer lives in Italian Village with her husband and two children.
Graduated PhD Students
Victoria Diedrichs, PhD, CCC-SLP graduated with her PhD in August of 2023. Victoria served as the laboratory manager and research assistant in the Aphasia Laboratory for six years and was such a valuable asset! Victoria’s research interests lie in cognitive-linguistic changes following acquired brain injury and use of neuroimaging in diagnosis and measurement of treatment efficacy. Beginning in Fall of 2023, Victoria will be a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University working with Dr. Leora Cherney. We cannot see what else she accomplishes!! Check out her website here: https://www.victoriadiedrichs.com/home
Deena Schwen Blackett, PhD, CCC-SLP graduated with her PhD in May of 2020. Deena has been an extremely valuable member of the Aphasia Laboratory for the past 8 years and will be missed tremendously! Deena’s research interests include examining the effect of emotion on language processing in neuro-typical, aging adults and people with aphasia. Beginning in Fall 2021 Deena will be a postdoctoral fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina working with Dr. Leonardo Bonilha and his team. We cannot wait to see what Deena achieves in her next journey!
Alexandra Zezinka Durfee, PhD, CCC-SLP graduated with her PhD in December 2019. She was an integral part of the Aphasia Laboratory and will be missed very much! Her research interests include cognitive-linguistic changes following brain injury. Additionally, she is interested in developing ways to detect and treat acquired language and cognitive-communicative disorders through more implicit methods. Ally is now a post-doctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins working with Dr. Argye Hillis in the S.C.O.R.E. Lab. Congratulations, Ally!
Jennifer P. Lundine, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS graduated with her PhD in August 2016. She was extremely valuable to the Aphasia Laboratory and we will miss her! Her research interests focus on cognition and communication difficulties experienced by children and adolescents following acquired brain injury, with an emphasis on improving outcomes related to brain injury in children. She is now a faculty member in the Speech and Hearing Science Department here at The Ohio State University and the director of the CCCABI laboratory! Congratulations, Jenny!
Past and Present Aphasia Lab Volunteers
Abby Meyer
Alayna Rowell
Allison Kinross
Amy Woods
Audrey Hall
Breanna Lampron
Bailey Wills
Caitlin Berry
Caroline Conway
Chelsie Moffatt
Collin McGarrett
Danielle Serio
Erin Rundio
Haleigh Caldwell
Haley Beck
Haley Gilmour
Haley Ries
Jackie Marchi
Jenna Shiner
Josephine Boland
Kaitlin Louie
Lana Saqer
Mackenzie Chalifoux
Mackenzie Colombo
Madison Colton
Mallory Sharp
Maura Busemeyer
Maya Silva
Megan Blackburn
Meganne Muir
Monica Newport
Nicole Deley
Olivia Wolph
Patty Williams
Rachel DeLord
Robbie Davidson
Sam Lewis
Sydney Bruce
Taylor DiBucci
Tiniyja Burney