2026 Convention Speakers

Lea Allbaugh has a unique background as a speech-language pathologist, qualified orofacialmyologist through Neo Health Services, and former dental hygienist. She received a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from the University of South Dakota and a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from the University of St Augustine for Health Sciences. Her integrative perspective on orofacial structure and function combined with a diverse clinical background allow her to bridge the gap between oral structural development and its impact on oral function. Applying experience across medical, dental and outpatient settings, Lea enjoys educating and supporting SLPs to feel confident in recognizing and addressing the root causes behind persistent communication and feeding challenges.

Emily Aust has been a Speech-Language Pathologist and is currently serving as the MN Speech-Language Hearing Association Past President and co-chair of the Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Committee.  Emily has experience working in a variety of both educational and healthcare settings with individuals across the age span.  She is currently a special education lead and speech-language pathology lead in Eden Prairie schools.

Sally Asquith has been in private practice near Charleston, SC, for more than 25 years. Her clinical interests include autism, PFD, outcomes of prematurity, movement disorders and rare conditions. Sally completed her MS degree the University of Texas.

Matt Barker has spent the last decade and a half running a research and development company focused on auditory processing (aka psychoacoustics). He has developed evidence-based approaches to improve testing procedures and improve access to theapeutic interventions. He has published multiple peer-reviewed articles and has presented internationally on the topic.

Mary Bauman Spooner, MS, CCC-SLP is a an assistant professor at St. Cloud State University (SCSU), Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Mary is a speech language pathologist clinical instructor for SCSU Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic and teaches the graduate level AAC course. She has 20 + years of experience in the public school systems working primarily with children who had complex communication needs.

Patrick Beasley is a voice-specialized speech-language pathologist at The Lions Voice Clinic at the University of Minnesota. A former professional actor and singer, he focuses on voice and upper airway disorders with special interest in gender-affirming voice care, professional voice use and interdisciplinary collaboration in evidence-based, inclusive clinical practice.

Kristin Berndt is the Director of the Center for Communication Sciences and Disorders and a faculty member at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She teaches and supervises across undergraduate and graduate programs, emphasizing simulation, clinical readiness and cultural humility in speech-language pathology education. Kristin is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education degree at Winona State University, where her research focuses on first-year graduate students’ perceptions of clinical readiness and self-efficacy.

Amy Bradbury has worked as an educational audiologist in the Central New York region for the past 22 years. She serves as a preceptor for Au.D. students enrolled at Syracuse University. Amy is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of testing for- and the treatment of- auditory processing deficits in schools. With a particular focus on the role of audiologists and SLPs. She has actively developed protocols and collaborated with various regions/professionals within the US and globally, to establish effective and successful approaches to improve the scholastic success of students who struggle with auditory processing deficits and language/reading delays.

Kaitlyn Cavanaugh is the owner of The Art of Eating, LLC. She is a licensed occupational therapist and certified lactation counselor. Kaitlyn received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. She specializes within the complex field of pediatric feeding and swallowing assessment and treatment. Kaitlyn has been trained in the “Get Permission Approach” to Feeding and Mealtimes by Marsha Dunn Klein, MEd, OTR/L, FAOTA, leading expert in the field of pediatric feeding. She has a strong pediatric therapy background and loves helping children with feeding and eating difficulties. She has practiced within a variety of settings (hospital system, outpatient clinic and home based services). Kaitlyn is passionate about helping to ensure that mealtimes are stress free and fun for the whole family, while each child is fully supported with developing confidence in their eating skills, allowing them to thrive.

Ashley L. Dockens, PhD, AuD, CCC-A, is the Associate Provost of Academic Innovation and Digital Learning at Lamar University, where she drives academic innovation and excellence. A recognized leader in educational AI, she directs all university AI initiatives and is a sought-after speaker and consultant on AI training and policy development for organizations. Dr. Dockens serves as the inaugural chair of the international AI Taskforce for the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Additionally, she serves on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Learning Technologies Advisory Council and the Texas Department of Information Resources AI User Group. She also works globally with educators in Africa through Project AIEd. Previously, she was Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Enhancement and directed the Doctor of Audiology program. Across all roles, Dr. Dockens demonstrates an unwavering commitment to advancing higher education through servant leadership.

Megan Dohm serves as the Academic Director of the Maverick Family Simulation Center and nursing faculty teaching using simulation-based strategies at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Dr. Dohm has developed, facilitated and evaluated simulation-based learning activities for nursing and other allied health faculty during her time at the university. In previous roles, Dohm served as Coordinator of the Simulation Center and was responsible for all aspects of a simulation program, including program planning, budget, student learning outcomes and evaluation. Dohm has facilitated medical-surgical, home health, obstetric, pediatric and emergency department simulations for undergraduate nursing students. In her work with other allied health professions, she has assisted faculty in facilitating simulations for athletic training, dental hygiene and speech pathology students. Dohm’s research interests include interprofessional simulation and academic/practice partnerships in simulation and psychomotor skills training.

Elizabeth (Beth) Halpin is an occupational therapist with 17 years of experience, primarily in pediatric care. She has worked across various pediatric settings, including inpatient acute care, NICU, outpatient, school-based and home care. She holds a specialty certification in Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing from the American Occupational Therapy Association. Elizabeth has been published in peer-reviewed journals and has presented on feeding at both state and national levels.

Rachel Kassel is an Associate Professor in Pediatric GI at the University of Alabama Birmingham where she is outpatient operations director for the division. Her clinical interests are in pediatric feeding disorder, malnutrition and complex care. She is the GI director for the Aerodigestive Program. Her current research areas include caregiver wellbeing and natural history of severe pharyngeal dysphagia. Dr. Kassel completed pediatrics residency and GI fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her MD and PhD degrees at the University of Virginia.

Anne Larson is an Assistant Professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the Department of Speech, Hearing and Rehabilitation Services. She holds a Ph.D. Educational Psychology, Special Education from the University of Minnesota, and is an ASHA-certified speech-language therapist. She has worked in early childhood settings as a preschool teacher, SLP, administrator and in higher ed preparing preservice early childhood special educators and SLPs to work with families and their young children. Dr. Larson’s teaching and research are focused on advancing equity in early childhood systems, particularly through culturally and linguistically responsive assessment, caregiver coaching and systems-level change. Her work is grounded in community partnerships and aims to improve access to high-quality services for multilingual children and their families.

Catherine Larson-Nath joined the University of Minnesota’s Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition team in 2015. She completed her medical school, residency at the University of Minnesota where she also stayed on for an extra year as a chief resident. She then completed her fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin before returning to the University of Minnesota. At the University of Minnesota, Dr. Larson-Nath started the multidisciplinary intestinal rehabilitation program which she currently leads. She also initiated and continues to run nutrition focused rounds in the Neonatal and Cardiac Intensive Care Units. In addition to these clinical programs Dr. Larson-Nath serves as the Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition fellowship program director. Dr. Larson-Nath’s research interests include body composition assessment and nutritional management of children with chronic disease. She is interested in validation and optimization of bedside body composition tools and better understanding the relationship between nutritional provision, body composition and short and long term growth, developmental, and clinical outcomes.

Angie Lauderbaugh is an Assistant Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is a speech-language pathologist and former special education supervisor with experience across school, medical and long-term care settings.

Natalie Martin is a speech-language pathologist with 20 years of professional experience in the field. She spent 17.5 years working in a private pediatric clinic, where she developed strong clinical skills serving children with a wide range of communication needs. After transitioning to the school setting, Natalie is currently in her fourth year with Eden Prairie Public Schools, working specifically at the high school level.

In addition to her clinical work, Natalie has experience supervising and collaborating with a speech-language pathology assistant (SLP-A) for approximately one year. She found this experience to be highly positive and beneficial, enhancing service delivery and strengthening team-based support for students. Natalie remains committed to providing high-quality, student-centered speech and language services.

Anna Melicher, CCC-SLP, is a Speech Language Pathologist currently in her third year working in an elementary school setting. In addition to her school-based role, she works part time in a pediatric clinic, gaining experience with a variety of communication needs across settings. Anna has experience collaborating with SLPAs and supervising SLPA student interns.

Tricia Nissen is a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) who has been serving students across elementary schools in Eden Prairie for the past two years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of South Dakota and earned her SLPA certification from Alexandria Technical and Community College.

Through her work in Eden Prairie, Tricia has developed strong skills in collaboration with educators and related service providers to support student success. She works closely with her supervising speech-language pathologist and together they have established effective systems that promote high-quality services and positive outcomes for students.

Bernadette Mayfield-Clarke is a distinguished speech-language pathologist with expertise in Corporate Speech/Language Pathology and services for English-Language Learners. Her career spans clinical, educational, and leadership roles, including university professor and associate dean. She was ASHA’s 2025 Centennial President and an ASHA Fellow, with significant contributions to educational and professional organizations.

Phương Liên Palafox is a multilingual speech-language therapist, author and storyteller. For more than two decades, she has worked alongside schools, families and communities empowering communication rights and access. Today, she supports children and families in her clinic and shares her work globally through keynotes and workshops. Her passion lies at the intersection of multilingual practices and communication rights, literacy and advocacy for educators and service providers. She is the author of The Heartbeat of Speech-Language Pathology and Buoy, a children’s book inspired by her family’s refugee journey. Whether on the page, in the therapy room or on a stage, Phương’s hope is simple: that we feel seen, nourished and reconnected to the heart of why we do this work.

Amy Perron has worked at the Minnesota STAR program for nine years. First serving at the Programs Assistive Technology Specialist and currently as Program Director.

Carla Richards is a Speech Language Pathology Assistant working for Eden Prairie Schools. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Speech and Hearing Science. After graduating, she worked managing projects and accounts in corporate retail and real estate. In 2024 she decided to make a career change and go back to school at Alexandria Technical and Community College to obtain her certificate and subsequent licensure to become an SLPA.

Lauren Shnowske is a speech-language pathologist specializing in voice and upper airway disorders with the Lions Voice Clinic at the University of Minnesota since 2022. She attended St. Cloud State University (St. Cloud, MN), receiving a bachelor’s degrees in both Communication Sciences and Disorders and Music (Voice) with a minor in British Studies. Ms. Shnowske then earned her master’s degree at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT), completing a clinical externship with the Intermountain Voice and Swallow Center and research assistantship under the mentorship of Drs. Nelson Roy and Jenny Pierce. She also completed the Summer Vocology Institute and Vocology Certificate with the National Center for Voice and Speech at the University of Utah in 2019. Lauren completed her clinical fellowship year plus additional clinical work at the University of Kentucky’s Voice and Swallow Clinic (Lexington, KY). She previously presented at the 2023 Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention, discussing the evaluation and treatment of upper airway breathing disorders

Alma Silver is a passionate and outcome-driven disability advocate with 3+ years of experience in program development and project management. She specialize in adult education, and she has used her AAC device to deliver dozens of presentations on inclusive pedagogy and disability justice issues in both professional and higher education settings. She is motivated to use storytelling techniques and interview-based research to educate others on the nuances of lived disability experiences as they intersect with racial, gender, and socioeconomic inequities. In her free time, Alma can be found planning out her next accessible hiking and travel adventures.

Rebecca Tetlie is a speech-language pathologist and has worked with St. Paul Public Schools for 34 years where she led the Assistive Technology Team with a focus on augmentative communication and assistive technology for reading. She retired in 2020.

Katy O’Brien is a Senior Scientific Advisor with the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute at Allina Health. Her research addresses cognitive rehabilitation and return to productivity following traumatic brain injury and concussion, with a particular focus on return to learn, written language, and patient-provider communication.

Maria T. Unger is a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist and Regional Director with extensive experience supporting school districts across multiple states. With a strong foundation in evidence-based clinical practice and a passion for elevating communication outcomes for students, Maria specializes in building sustainable systems, coaching multidisciplinary teams and empowering educators with practical, classroom-ready strategies. Throughout her career, she has led large-scale therapy programs, developed MTSS-aligned language initiatives and provided clinical supervision and professional development for hundreds of therapists and instructional staff. Maria is known for her ability to translate complex SLP practices into simple, accessible tools that seamlessly integrate into daily classroom routines. Her work focuses on expanding language-rich environments, strengthening educator capacity and ensuring that all students—especially those with communication needs—have access to high-quality, functional support across the school day. Maria brings energy, clarity and a deeply collaborative approach to every training she leads, making her a trusted partner to districts, teachers and fellow clinicians.

Katie earned her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology, specializing in auditory-verbal therapy and cochlear implants, from the University of South Carolina in 2012. She received her Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS) certification through the Alexander Graham Bell Academy in 2017. Katie has experience in early intervention, private practice and outpatient clinic settings, and has been part of the adult and pediatric cochlear implant team at M Health Fairview since June 2015.