Our Team

Principal Investigator

Kristen Allison, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Laboratory Director

Office: Forsyth 228 B
Phone: 617-373-3697
Email: k.allison@northeastern.edu

Dr. Allison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders and the director of the SMILe Lab. She received her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. She has extensive clinical and research experience working with children who have neurodevelopmental disabilities and is passionate about improving speech and communication outcomes for children.

View Dr. Allison Curriculum Vitae

Research Assistants

Morgan Hatfield, M.S. CCC-SLP

Study Coordinator

Morgan received her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Boston University. She completed her clinical fellowship in the early intervention setting and is a licensed speech-language pathologist. In addition to the Speech Motor Impairment and Learning Lab, she also works in the Speech and Neurodevelopment Lab at Northeastern. She has both research and clinical interest in pediatric feeding disorders as well as early speech and language development. Outside of the lab, Morgan currently practices clinically as a speech-language pathologist at a local private practice.

Maggie Camelio

Project Coordinator

Maggie received a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Clinical Speech-Language Pathology from Northeastern University.

Alyssa Sims

Graduate Research Assistant

Alyssa is a second year student in the Speech-Language Pathology Masters Program. She recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and a minor in dance. Her interests in the field include Early intervention, neurological speech disorders, speech tech, and motor speech disorders.

Amy Shah

Graduate Research Assistant

Amy is a second year student in the Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program. She recently graduated from University of Texas at Dallas with 2 degrees: B.S. in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology and Child Learning and Development. She hopes to be able to work with different populations and make a difference in the community!

Lauren Sullivan

Graduate Research Assistant

Lauren is in her second year of her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program. Lauren completed 2 independent research studies in undergrad, and plans to continue her research in Motor Speech Disorders in graduate school as well. She graduated with her BS in Communication Disorders from Bowling Green State University. Lauren was a college swimmer at BGSU and now is the Graduate Assistant for the Northeastern University Swimming and Diving Program.

April Pierson

Graduate Research Assistant

April is a second year student in the Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program. She recently graduated from Loyola University Maryland with a B.A. in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and a minor in Special Education. After she graduates in 2023, she hopes to be working in a medical setting with pediatric or adult clients.

Xuedi Yang

Graduate Research Assistant

Xuedi is a first year student in the Masters in Speech-Language Program at Northeastern University. She received her Bachelors in Linguistics from UC Berkeley.

Alanna Grimm

Graduate Research Assistant

Alanna is a first year student in the Masters in Speech-Language Pathology program. She graduated from Northeastern with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and Psychology in 2021. She took a year off and worked as an ABA Therapist, where she found her way to SLP. She hopes to work in the medical setting with adult or pediatric clients.

Jamie Klag

Graduate Research Assistant

Jamie is in her first year of her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Program through Northeastern University’s Plus-One Program.

Lauren Matachun

Graduate Research Assistant

Lauren is a second year in the Speech-Language Pathology Masters Program. She graduated in 2020 from Bridgewater State University with a B.S. degree in both communication sciences and disorders and psychology. Her interests in the field include pediatric feeding and swallowing, early intervention, and motor speech disorders.

Florencia Ferreyra

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Florencia is an undergraduate student at Northeastern University studying Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and plans to continue on to graduate school for SLP. She hopes to work with infants or children on feeding/swallowing issues, and participate in research during her undergraduate career.

Piper Lynn

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Piper is a second-year student studying Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. She intends to continue on to a SLP Masters Program and work with children in her career.

Sarah Sackey

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sarah is a second year undergraduate student at Northeastern University studying Biochemistry with a minor in Global Health and on the pre-medicine track. Her goal is to expand her research interests/skill set and prospectively work with children both in clinical and research fields.

Olivia Sabino

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Olivia is a second year studying Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. She intends on continuing her studies in an SLP Masters Program to hopefully work with pediatrics in the future.