MS-SLP Program

Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann, PhD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann has extensive experience in higher education and program leadership. Her research, clinical and teaching expertise focus on severe speech sound disorders and multilingualism, with emphasis on the assessment and intervention of childhood apraxia of speech in monolingual and multilingual individuals and typical and atypical speech development in Spanish-English bilinguals.  Dr. Gildersleeve-Neumann earned

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Lizzette Roman-Marrero, PhD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Lizzette Roman-Marrero has more than 10 years of experience in higher education and 35 years of clinical experience. She earned a master’s and doctorate in speech-language pathology and a doctorate in human services with a specialty in gerontology.  Before joining the University, she was the program director for the Master of Science in Speech-Language

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Albert Villanueva-Reyes, EdD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Albert Villanueva-Reyes is a bilingual, American Speech Language Hearing Association-certified (ASHA) speech-language pathologist with more than 30 years of experience in academic, administrative and clinical areas. He has taught at several academic institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico.  He holds a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, a doctorate in teaching and curriculum

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Claryssa (Clary) Montgomery, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Claryssa (Clary) Montgomery joined the University in 2023 as a clinical educator and transitioned to her current position in October 2024. Her experiences as a medical speech-language pathologist (SLP) navigating the healthcare systems in Texas and New York have influenced her approach to patient care and clinical mentorship.  Dr. Montgomery’s areas of clinical expertise

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Kathryn Flurry Mercer, MCD, CCC-SLP

With nearly three decades of experience in speech-language pathology, Kathryn Flurry Mercer has worked in a variety of adult and pediatric healthcare settings, as well as diverse educational environments. She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) in 2019 and works as the clinical coordinator of the MS-SLP program on the Dallas,

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Amanda Eaton, PhD, CCC-SLP

Amanda Eaton, PhD, CCC-SLP specializes in adult medical speech-language pathology and is committed to advancing the education of future clinicians and the understanding of communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders in adults.  She earned her Doctor of Philosophy with a specialization in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where she developed a foundation in

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Jie Yang, PhD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Jie Yang has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in phonetics, speech science, speech-language development and speech sound disorders. She has worked as a bilingual speech-language pathologist in public schools and private clinics. Additionally, she has received a research grant from the National Science Foundation and has presented at national and international conferences.  Dr. Yang’s

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Casey Keck, PhD, CCC-SLP

Before joining the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2024, Dr. Casey Keck worked as a clinical speech-language pathologist on interdisciplinary neurorehabilitation teams in pediatric outpatient settings. Her primary teaching interests are cognitive and communication skills across the lifespan, particularly after acquired brain injuries. In her courses, she employs active learning strategies such

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Remyanne Hilchey, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Hilchey is a speech-language pathologist with more than 20 years of experience. She has worked extensively with medically complex adults, children and veterans in various settings, including home health, inpatient and outpatient hospitals, private practice, schools and skilled nursing facilities. She holds a doctorate in speech-language pathology and joined the University in 2024.

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Monica Putt, MS, CCC-SLP, IBCLC

Monica Putt earned her Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies from the University of Arizona in 2007 before pursuing her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from New York University, graduating in 2011. In June 2023, she received international board-certified lactation consultant certification through the University of California San Diego. This milestone equipped

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Lekeitha R. Morris, PhD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Lekeitha R. Morris is a speech-language pathologist certified through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association with more than 20 years of clinical experience providing services to children and adults to enhance communication skills. A transformational educator, administrator and researcher, she began her higher education experience in 2011. At Delta State University, she served as a department

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Ellie Cooper, PhD, CCC-SLP, LSLS, Cert. AVT

Dr. Ellie Cooper is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Listening and Spoken Language Specialist. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Arkansas and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Fontbonne University. As a practicing SLP, Dr. Cooper provided intervention to deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH)

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