Our Team

Lab Photos

 


Dr. Stacy Harnish, Principal Ivestigator

Dr. Stacy Harnish

Stacy Harnish, PhD, CCC-SLP is the Director of the OSU Aphasia Lab. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science and teaches courses in Adult Language Disorders and Counseling. Dr. Harnish is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist with research interests in cognitive and genetic predictors of aphasia treatment response. In her spare time, she enjoys wrestling alligators (her elementary-aged kids), and snuggling with vicious beasts (her Pit Bull, Maine Coon, and husband).

 

 

 

 


Courtney Jewell

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.

See Courtney’s CV here

 


Grace Terry

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

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, research speech-language pathologist

Krystal Archibald

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, research speech-language pathologist

Olivia Prexta

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

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.

See Jen Brello’s CV here

 

 


 

Graduated PhD Students

 

Victoria Diedrichs

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

See Victoria’s CV here

 

 

 

Deena Schwen Blackett, graduated lab member

Deena Schwen Blackett

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!

 

 

 

 

 


 

Ally Zezinka Durfee, graduated lab member

Ally Zezinka Durfee

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, graduated lab member

Jennifer P. Lundine

 

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