Alison Prahl, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Director and Primary Investigator, Language Impairment and Down Syndrome Laboratory (LIDS)
Dr. Prahl is an Assistant Professor at Baylor University. Her research focuses on improving language and literacy outcomes for children with language impairment, including children with primary language impairment and children with Down syndrome. She has authored several peer-reviewed publications and presented her research at local, state, and national conventions. Dr. Prahl is also a certified speech-language pathologist and has worked with children with various speech and language disorders in the public school setting.
Education
- B.S., Communication Disorders, Texas Christian University (2012)
- M.S., Speech-Language Pathology, Texas Christian University (2014)
- Ph.D., Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University (2020)
Amanda Lancaster
Graduate Research Assistant
Amanda Lancaster is a graduate student from Austin, Texas. She is currently studying Communication Sciences and Disorders on the speech pathology track. Amanda is interested in working with special-education children in schools in the future. Her favorite thing about Baylor is how absolutely gorgeous the campus is year-round!
Kaley Birchfield
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kaley is a senior from Sammamish, Washington. She is currently studying Communication Sciences and Disorders on the speech pathology track and minoring in Spanish. In the lab, Kaley enjoys administering language assessments in both English and Spanish and working with children and their families. Someday, Kaley hopes to work as an SLP in an elementary school setting. You can find her at her favorite place, the Waco Downtown Farmers Market, on Saturday mornings!
Mandy Huene
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mandy is a senior from Fresno, California. She is currently studying Communication Sciences and Disorders on the speech pathology track and minoring in Sign Language Interpreting. In the future, Mandy hopes to work in pediatric speech pathology, particularly with children who benefit from sign language. Her favorite thing about Baylor is the community of amazing people!
Destiny Kramer
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Destiny is a senior from McMinnville, Oregon. She is currently studying Communication Sciences and Disorders on the speech pathology track and is double minoring in Spanish and Child and Family Studies. Destiny is planning to work in pediatric speech pathology in either a hospital or private practice. Outside of school, Destiny can be found hanging out with the five children she nannies for or playing with her dog!
Eleanor Pacanowski
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Elle is a senior from Holland, Michigan. She is currently studying Communication Sciences and Disorders on the speech pathology track and minoring in Medical Humanities. Elle hopes to work in either a hospital or private practice in the future. She loves how speech pathology combines her passions for science and helping others, and she enjoys conducting independent research studies in the lab. In her free time, she loves to be outside, especially skiing and hiking with her family.
Catherine Leftwich
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Catherine is a senior from Dallas, Texas. She loves being part of the LIDS Lab, where she works closely with the HUDDLE team. HUDDLE, or Hangout for Unique individuals with Developmental Disabilities Learning and Engaging, is a social event for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities that meets monthly at Bitty and Beau’s Coffee Shop in Waco. When she’s not working in the lab, Catherine enjoys her job at Revival Eastside Eatery.
Stephanie Robinson
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Stephanie is a junior from Chandler, Arizona. She is currently studying Communication Sciences and Disorders on the speech pathology track and minoring in Medical Humanities. In the lab, she enjoys reading informational articles each week and learning about different research practices. She is also in charge of promoting the LIDS Lab to the Waco community via social media. In the future, Stephanie hopes to work as a hospital-based SLP. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys hanging out with her friends, hiking, and baking.
Regina Orozco Barrero
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Regina is a sophomore from Davie, Florida. She is currently studying Communication Sciences and Disorders on the speech pathology track. Regina’s favorite part of working in the lab is being able to interact with both children and their families. She specifically recalls helping patients through studies and loves forming personal connections with the children and their parents. Regina looks forward to recruiting and working with more families in the future!
Sofia Toriello
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sofia is a junior originally from Guatemala City, Guatemala. In the lab, she enjoys seeing her clients’ progress over multiple sessions. She specifically loves how happy her patients look after improving their skills. Sofia looks forward to continuing her research in the LIDS Lab and conducting more studies in the future.
Former Lab Members
Reagan Whitaker
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Reagan graduated from Baylor in 2023 with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders on the audiology track and a minor in Medical Humanities. Reagan will be attending Vanderbilt University to obtain her doctorate in audiology. In the future, she is interested in working in pediatrics in a hospital setting.