Leadership
Julius Fridriksson – Director
Julius Fridriksson is a professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and a SmartState Endowed Chair of Memory and Brain Functioning. He graduated from the Sudurnes Community College (Iceland) with a university preparatory degree (studentsprof) and later completed his M.A. in speech pathology at the University of Central Florida. He then received a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in Speech and Hearing Sciences in 2001. Following completion of Ph.D. study, Dr. Fridriksson joined the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Carolina. In 2016, he received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop the Center for the Study of Aphasia Recovery (C-STAR). He is currently serving as the Vice President of Research at the University of South Carolina.
Dirk den Ouden – Primary Investigator
Dirk den Ouden is an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders. He was trained in formal phonology and syntax at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and completed postdoctoral training in EEG and functional MRI, before moving to the University of South Carolina in 2010. Dirk directs the Neurolinguistics Lab and serves as the interim director of the Aphasia Lab in 2021-2022. Dirk’s research interest lies in the relation between language representations and language use, and in how their interplay is affected in language disorders. He has combined models based on linguistic theory with psycho- and neurolinguistic evidence in the investigation of language processing and impairment, particularly in the domains of phonology and syntax. However, he is also very much interested in the use of drama and music to improve quality of life in speakers with aphasia!
Sara Sayers – Associate Clinical Director
Sara Sayers is the Associate Director of the Aphasia Lab at the University of South Carolina. She graduated with a B.S. in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2007 and a M.S. in Speech Language Pathology at Towson University in 2009. She is an ASHA certified Speech Language Pathologist who specializes in adult neurogenic communication disorders. Her current focus is investigating how peoples’ brain health changes as they age as well as the neurological and social-emotional impacts of COVID-19 on recovered individuals. In her free time, Sara enjoys spending time with her family and friends, doing yoga, walking, and trying out new recipes.
Sarah Newman-Norlund – Associate Research Director
Sarah Newman-Norlund is the Associate Research Director and leads the Aging Brain Cohort (ABC) which is a research team dedicated to understanding the factors influencing brain health across the adult lifespan. She graduated from Mary Washington College (VA) with a B.A. in Psychology (2001) and earned her Master’s in Psychological and Brain Sciences (2003) from Dartmouth College. Sarah moved to Columbia, SC with her husband Roger in 2009 from the Netherlands where she worked on an international research project looking at communicative intentions and the brain. She has dedicated her career to research in multiple domains including cancer research, communication, cognition, neuroscience, and pediatric medicine. Everything is better with teamwork, and she loves being a part of ABC and C-STAR. Sarah also enjoys spending time with her three children, hiking, baking, making jewelry, and walking her dog, Bella.
Roger Newman-Norlund – Director of the McCausland Center for Brain Imaging (MCBI)
Roger is a cognitive neuroscientist interested in how the brain supports language production and comprehension. As a graduate student at Dartmouth College he mapped brain changes accompanying sound and gesture-based second language acquisition. As part of the Aphasia Lab at the University of South Carolina he uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to understand how the brain changes as people get older, as well as how the brain adapts following traumatic events. He has over a decade of experience in the application of computer technology-based training interventions designed to develop communication skills in clinical populations including stroke, traumatic brain injury and autism.
Staff
Ben Fisher – Program and Data Resource Manager
Ben Fisher is the Program and Data Resource Manager for the Aphasia Laboratory. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University in African Studies and Journalism and completed graduate coursework in Gender Studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. His experience working in public health programs, research programs and advocacy organizations inspired his passion for data quality. In his free time, he enjoys reading fiction and non-fiction, listening to podcasts, and watching crime and suspense thrillers on Amazon Prime, Acorn, and BritBox.
Kelli Powell – Administrative Assistant
Kelli Powell is the Administrative Assistant in the Aphasia Laboratory. She has a B.S. in Business Administration & Management Science from the Darla Moore School of Business at UofSC. Although originally from southwest Florida, Kelli has called Columbia, SC home since obtaining her degree. In her free time, she loves to travel with her family but can usually be found at a baseball game or Gamecock sporting event.
Research Associates
Mary Aitchison – Speech-Language Pathologist
Mary Aitchison, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a Research Associate and ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist with the Center for the Study of Aphasia Recovery (C-STAR). She graduated with her B.A.Sc. degree from the University of Guelph in Canada, and was awarded her Master’s and Ph.D. in Speech Pathology degrees from the University of South Carolina. With a career nearing 3 decades, Dr. Aitchison has held positions that allowed her to maintain and share her passion for clinical practice and collaboration in conjunction with teaching, supervision, and research. She served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the UofSC School of Medicine – Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, and as Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her clinical experience includes specialization in the rehabilitation of adults impacted by stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological conditions.
Allison Croxton – Speech-Language Pathologist
Allison Croxton, M.S.P., CCC-SLP, is a research associate for the Center for the Study for Aphasia Recovery (C-STAR). Raised primarily in Central Kentucky, she moved to Columbia, SC during high school. She graduated from Dreher High School (’94), and earned a B.A. in English from Wofford College (’98). Her interests in language acquisition/recovery, the power of communication, and her desire to work in a field where she could help improve others’ quality of life, led her to pursuing a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She graduated in 2000 with her Master of Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina. Allison is excited to be a part of such important research, and is continually inspired by the individuals and families with whom she works. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her three children, extended family, and friends. She also enjoys walking, yoga, reading, photography & music.
Cissy Farrar – Speech-Language Pathologist
Sandra (Cissy) Farrar, M.C.D., CCC-SLP, is a research associate for the Center for the Study for Aphasia Recovery (C-STAR) and the Speech Neuroscience Lab. She graduated from Columbia College with a BA in Speech Language Pathology in 2001 and a MA in Communication Disorders from the University of South Carolina in 2005. Cissy has held various positions as a Speech Language Pathologist, targeting age groups within early childhood and geriatric populations. Her recent clinical experience focused on rehabilitation of adults affected by stroke and other neurological conditions. Her passion lies in validation and improvement of life’s quality and purpose of individuals experiencing communication deficits. Cissy enjoys outside activities (specifically beach time), playing the piano and spending time with family.
Research Faculty and Post-Doctoral Fellows
Laura Giglio
Laura Giglio is a postdoctoral fellow in the Aphasia Lab. Originally from Italy, Laura completed a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Glasgow, followed by a Master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. She earned her PhD in the Neurobiology of Language Department of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, in affiliation with the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, where she investigated the brain networks for sentence production and comprehension. After a postdoc in the same lab, she moved to the USC to study language processing after stroke. In her free time, she enjoys bouldering, reading and travelling.
Natalie Hetherington
Natalie (Busby) Hetherington, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow from the UK where she earned both her B.S. in Psychology and Biology and M.Res. in Neuroscience from Newcastle University. She graduated with her doctoral degree from the Neuroscience and Aphasia Unit at the University of Manchester at the end of last year before moving to SC. Her research interests include using neuroimaging, in particular structural connectivity, to investigate language recovery post-stroke. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys travelling and photography.
Sigfus Kristinsson
Sigfus Kristinsson is a Research Assistant Professor in the Aphasia Lab. Sigfus graduated with a B.A. in Icelandic from the University of Iceland and later completed his M.Sc. in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) at the University of Iceland. Sigfus worked clinically as an SLP after graduation, primarily providing speech therapy to stroke survivors. He then completed his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 2021. Following completion of his Ph.D., Dr. Kristinsson joined the UofSC Aphasia Lab as a postdoctoral fellow.
Ida Rangus
Ida Rangus, MD, is a postdoctoral research fellow who studied medicine at the Charité in Berlin, Germany, where she also earned her doctoral degree in cognitive neurology. Before joining the Aphasia Lab, she undertook a comprehensive neurology residency at the Charité, coupled with training in neuroimaging. Her passion for working with acute stroke patients fueled her research interests in the disruption and recovery of neural networks following strokes, particularly those impacting language. In the Aphasia Lab, her research focuses on understanding how brain health determinants influence these networks. Outside of her academic pursuits, she finds joy in exploring the world through travel and immersing herself in art exhibitions.
Nicholas Riccardi
Nicholas Riccardi, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow. Nick graduated with a B.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina. He then completed his Ph.D. in 2023 at the University of South Carolina, where he used neuroimaging and neurostimulation to study how language is organized in the brain. Nick also uses neuroimaging to understand the neural correlates of language impairments post-stroke. He now works primarily with the Aging Brain Cohort, where his focus is on investigating brain health and cognition across the lifespan. He continues to collaborate with the Aphasia Lab and is part of an ongoing effort to establish a South Carolina Alzeihmer’s Disease Research Center.
Alex Teghipco
Alex Teghipco is a postdoctoral fellow. Alex studied psycholinguistics at the University of Rochester, where he received a B.A in brain and cognitive science as well as philosophy. He spent two years studying language reorganization in epilepsy and stroke patients at the Rochester Center for Brain Imaging before getting his Ph.D in cognitive neuroscience at the University of California, Irvine. Alex is interested in understanding which changes in the brain following injury facilitate language recovery. He enjoys spending his free time with family and friends, especially while hiking, camping, and playing board games.”
Doctoral Students
Makayla Gibson
Makayla Gibson is a doctoral student in the Cognitive & Neural Sciences program at the University of South Carolina. A South Carolina native, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health in 2018. Makayla has assisted in curating large publicly available datasets such as the SOOP database and ARC, both hosted on OpenNeuro. Makayla’s research focuses on investigating factors that impact brain health and stroke outcomes, particularly as seen on MRI. By combining her background in public health with her passion for neuroscience, she hopes to contribute to a better understanding of how lifestyle choices and environmental factors influence our brain’s resilience and recovery from injury. In her spare time, Makayla enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it’s fishing or combing the beach for shark teeth.
Lauren Hammond
Lauren Hammond, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and doctoral student. She graduated from California State University-Fullerton with a B.S. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders and from California Baptist University with an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology. Most recently, Lauren worked as an SLP in a variety of medical settings including skilled nursing, outpatient rehabilitation, and sub-acute rehabilitation, specializing in adult cognitive and linguistic evaluation and treatment. Lauren’s research interests include formal measurement of functional communication and how psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic features of speech and language use impact quality of life and life participation in persons with aphasia.
Samaneh Nemati
Samaneh Nemati, M.S, Biomedical Engineering is a doctoral student in the Aphasia Laboratory at the University of South Carolina. She graduated with a M.S in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience at Ferdowsi University (Iran). Then she joined Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and the National Center for PTSD, as a Postgraduate Associate Researcher where her work focused on applying connectivity-based approaches to elucidate biomarkers of stress-related psychiatric disorders. Her current focus is application of multivariate methods of data analysis to neuroimaging data of healthy and damaged brains, with a particular emphasis on a clinical population of stroke survivors.
Sarah Wilson
Sarah Wilson is a doctoral student in the Linguistics program, specializing in Psycholinguistics. She received her B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Tennessee in 2018 and her M.A. in Linguistics from the University of South Carolina in 2022. She is a member of the Aging Brain Cohort (ABC) team in the Aphasia Lab. Her research interests include using behavioral and brain stimulation techniques to study lexical and syntactic processing, linguistic alignment, and the role of memory in discourse. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, horseback riding, exploring historic sites, and spending time with family.
Graduate Students
Danielle Arnett
Danielle Arnett is a speech language pathology graduate student at the University of South Carolina. She is from Statesboro, Georgia where she obtained her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Georgia Southern University. Danielle is primarily interested in working with the adult population in an acute rehabilitation setting, but also enjoys working with children and adults with disabilities. She is excited for the opportunity to enhance her education at USC by becoming a member of the Aphasia Lab and looks forward to all the experience the Aphasia Lab has to offer!
Marisa Binkley
Marisa Binkley is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Myrtle Beach, SC and graduated from Loyola University Maryland with a B.A. in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. Marisa is looking forward to all of the learning opportunities and experiences that the aphasia lab and USC have to offer, and is especially interested in working in a pediatric medical setting! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, going for runs, and reading.
Gillian Bowman
Gillian Bowman is a graduate student in the University of South Carolina Speech-Language Pathology Program. She is from Greenfield, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Speech and Hearing Science. Gillian is looking forward to being a graduate assistant in the Aphasia Lab! She enjoys reading, traveling, and staying active in her free time!
Shatyrah Copeland
Shatyrah Copeland is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at USC. I am from Oak Ridge, TN and recently graduated from East Tennessee State University with a B.S. in Rehabilitative Health Sciences. I enjoy spending time with family and friends!
Maddie Dinkins
Maddie Dinkins is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Blythewood, SC and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Public Health. She hopes to work with adults who have neurogenic disorders in a hospital setting one day! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog and going to the lake.
Peyton Earl
Peyton Earl is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from the Orlando, Florida area and graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Public Health and minor in Psychology. In her free time, she loves to travel and spend time with friends and family. She is excited for the opportunity to grow and learn within the Aging Brain Cohort/Aphasia Lab and experience all USC has to offer!
Meg Goebel
Meg Goebel is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Huntsville, AL, and graduated from the University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy!) with a degree in Exercise Science. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her cat, tend to her plants, read, and stay active. She is excited to experience Columbia and everything the university has to offer!
Lauren Grumbacher
Lauren Grumbacher is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Indianapolis, Indiana, and graduated from Purdue University in May 2024 with a B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. She is excited to be a graduate assistant in the lab and learn more about research within the field of speech pathology! In her free time, Lauren enjoys going on walks, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and reading.
Sarah Katon
Sarah Katon is a graduate student at the University of South Carolina’s Speech-Language Pathology program. She is originally from Hilton Head, SC, and she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina with a B.S in Public Health. She is excited to join the Aphasia lab as a graduate assistant. In Sarah’s free time, she enjoys trying new coffee shops, hiking, and reading.
Miya Morrison
Miya Morrison is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Barboursville, WV, and graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with minors in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. In her free time, she loves to spend time with friends and family, go on walks and try new things. She is excited to be introduced to the diverse opportunities that both the COMD program and the University of South Carolina have to offer!
Claire Niermeier
Claire Niermeier is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Bristow, Virginia and attended the University of South Carolina receiving her B.A. in Early Childhood Education in 2021. Claire has taught first and second grade the past couple of years but is very excited to jump in and learn the world of Speech-Language Pathology and work as a graduate assistant in the Aphasia Lab! In her free time she loves to try new restaurants, spend time with friends & family, and travel!
Laura Oliver
Laura Oliver is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is originally from Birmingham, Alabama where she most recently worked at a pediatric therapy clinic serving children with neurologic and developmental disorders. She received a BA in studio art with a minor in sociology from American University and completed her COMD prerequisites at the University of Alabama. She is eager to contribute to the field and expand her knowledge as a graduate research assistant in the Aphasia Lab.
Devyn Rankin
Devyn Rankin is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Columbia, SC and attended Appalachian State University where she earned her B.S. degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders. Devyn is looking forward to being a GA in the Aphasia lab. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, working out, scuba diving, reading, and hanging with friends.
Kacey Schlais
Kacey Schlais is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at the University of South Carolina. She is from the suburbs of Chicago and graduated from South Carolina with a B.S in Public Health. She is excited to start working with the Aphasia Lab during her graduate studies. Kacey is very interested in learning more about neurogenic disorders as well as the treatment/rehabilitation for individuals with cochlear implants!
Emma Sells
Emma Sells is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Michigan City, Indiana and earned her B.A. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Butler University. Go Dawgs! She is excited to be a graduate assistant in the Aphasia Lab and to be introduced to all the opportunities at the University of South Carolina. Emma hopes to work in a medical setting with adults with neurogenic disorders. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, going on walks, and going to the beach.
Melanie Semcesen
Melanie Semcesen is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Charlotte, North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned her B.S. in Psychology with minors in French and Speech and Hearing Sciences. She is excited to learn more about the field of Speech-Language Pathology and work in the Aphasia Lab. Melanie enjoys spending time with her friends, hiking and camping, travelling, and reading in her free time.
Veronica Snell
Veronica Snell is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Therapy Master’s program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Princeton, New Jersey and graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Veronica is interested in working in a medical setting with children or with adults who have neurological disorders. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, spending time with friends and family and traveling. Veronica is excited to gain more experience and explore Columbia!
Undergraduate Students
Hailey Kimmel
Hailey Kimmel is an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Psychology. She is from Summerville, SC. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in anesthesiology. In her free time, Hailey enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying new food, working out, and playing with her dog.
Ansley Martin
Ansley Martin is a freshman undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior on the pre-medical track. She is looking to study functional connectivity, cognitive, and lifestyle correlations to migraine within the ABC study data. Outside of her work with ABC, Ansley does neuroimaging research on Parkinson’s disease and in her free time she likes to work out and paint with friends!
Ty’Mya Myers
Ty’Mya Myers is a neuroscience major and military science minor. She is currently working on a project with CSTAR. She aspires to be a neurosurgeon. She is in the ROTC program and does volunteer work in her free time with the Columbia animal shelter and her church.
Neekan Nasiri
Neekan Nasiri is an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina majoring in Neuroscience on a premed track. He is from Daytona Beach and is currently working with the ABC vowel study in the Aphasia Lab; using programs such as Pratt to separate formants in vowel production along with data collection. After graduation in May of 2027, he plans to continue pursuing a career in neuroscience and attend medical school. Neekan enjoys swimming and hanging out with his friends in his free time.
Avani Shah
Avani Shah is an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina. She is from Fort Mill, South Carolina. She is currently majoring in Public Health with a minor in Biology and is on the Pre-Med track with plans to go to Medical School. In the future, she hopes to work as an Ob-Gyn or in Internal medicine. In her free time, she loves trying new foods, binging tv shows, dancing, and hanging out with her friends!
Nilofar Sherzad
Nilofar Sherzad is an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Biology. Nilo plans on attending Med-school after graduating in Spring 2025. She is greatly interested in how the human brain functions and is looking forward to gain experience in the healthcare field. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing soccer or watching Grey’s Anatomy (for the fourth time).
Ava Stienes
Ava Stienes is an undergraduate student in the South Carolina Honors College. She is from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish. Ava is very interested in neurologic diseases related to aging. In the future, she hopes to attend medical school and possibly pursue a career in Neurology. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, listening to music, going to concerts, and spending time with friends and family.