Our Current AACCT Team
The Scientific Minds Turning Little to No Functional Speech into Communication
Kris Brock
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Kris is an Assistant Professor at Idaho State University in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. He is also the President Elect of the Idaho Speech, Language, and Hearing Association. In addition to research, he is starting a Podcast series for SLPs. More to come!
Andrea Silva
M.S. SLP Candidate
Andrea Silva is a first-generation Mexican-American. She is pursuing her Master's in Speech-Language Pathology at Idaho State University. Her work in the AACCT lab includes looking at the effects of a newly designed language toggle feature, allowing for more fluid code-switching within a speech-generating device (SGD), in persons with bilingual aphasia.
Erica LaBranch
M.S. SLP Candidate
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Erica is a first-year graduate student in speech-language pathology at Idaho State University. Erica's work with the AACCT Lab investigates communication amongst stakeholders on AAC teams in the schools. Erica's research into this topic was inspired by her previous clinical work experience in multidisciplinary private practices.
Margo Asla
Research Assistant
Pre-M.S. Candidate
I am a research assistant with the AACCT Lab. I collect data for research on animated symbol-based language in AAC. I also work with ISHA to connect Idaho SLPs to one another.
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Jamie Zolkoske
M.S. Candidate
Jamie Zolkoske is a SLPA for the Central Point, OR school district. Jamie graduated with honors from Worcester State University in 2017 and is currently a graduate student in Speech Language Pathology at Idaho State University. She is assisting Dr. Brock in his research regarding the use of animations to improve receptive communicative outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorders.
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Sarah Aldrich
M.S. Candidate
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Mallary Owen
M.S. Candidate
Mallary Owen is a second-year graduate student hailing from Portland, Oregon. She is interested in studying how cognitive skills such as problem-solving impact language functioning in people with and without aphasia and is currently working on a thesis investigating the effects of interface display and cognitive function on story retell in both neurotypical adults and adults with aphasia.