Research Team
DIRECTOR
Lucía I. Méndez, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Méndez is a Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
She is interested in early language and literacy development, and her research focuses on developing high quality language and literacy-based instructional and assessment approaches that support school readiness and positive academic outcomes in young children from culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
CURRENT RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
loghan jones, B. S.
Loghan is a graduate Speech Language Pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences at East Carolina University in 2025. She is most interested in working as a pediatric SLP and learning more about fluency disorders.
Amy Mejia, M.S.
Amy is a PhD student and research assistant within the Human Development and Family Studies department at UNC Greensboro. Her research interests center on early childhood teacher preparation and the influences of technology in early childhood settings.
PAST RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Allison Moore, B. S.
Allison is a graduate Speech Language Pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Education at UNCG in 2022 and went back as a second degree student in the UNCG Communication Sciences Disorders Program. She is interested in working with the adult population and expanding her knowledge on pediatric feeding and dysphagia.
Betsy Perez-Luna, B. S.
Betsy is a graduate Speech Language Pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University. She is interested in working with the pediatric population and expanding her knowledge on cultural and linguistic awareness in speech-language pathology.
Cassidi Sockwell, B. S.
Cassidi is a graduate student studying Masters of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from UNC Greensboro. Cassidi has completed prior research about VNeST Aphasia treatment and evidence based practices used in therapy with traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Her research interests include dysphagia and the cognitive effects of traumatic brain injury.
Makayla Vaughn, B.S.
Makayla is a graduate Speech Language Pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is most interested in working as a pediatric SLP and learning more about motor speech disorders.
Kylee Combs, B.S.
Kylee is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Eastern Kentucky University. She is interested in working in all settings available to Speech Language Pathologists and is currently intrigued in pediatric language and dysphagia.
Laura Luna, B.S.
Laura is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University.
Brooke Ward, B.S.
Brooke is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Brigham Young University, Provo. She is most interested in working as a school-based SLP, but is also excited to learn more about dysphagia and cognitive-linguistic disorders in adults.
Kaleigh Baughn, B.S.
Kaleigh is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University.
Rudmary Hernandez Baez, B.S.
Rudy is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Laura Yang, B.S.
Laura is a graduate speech-language pathology student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from California State University, Sacramento.