Becoming a speech-language pathologist is more than a career goal for me, it is a passion fueled by my commitment to serving my community and supporting individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds. After working as an SLPA for 12 years, I made the decision to return to school after a significant gap in time, determined to expand my knowledge and skills. Emerson’s dedication to student success and the incredible support they provide reassures me that I made the right choice in furthering my education here. As a dedicated student on the 9-term track, I am committed to evidence-based practice and lifelong learning, with the goal of advocating for equitable access to communication services and making a meaningful impact as a future clinician.

I am originally from Philadelphia, PA and have lived in San Diego since 2008 upon graduating from my undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech. I am a mother to two elementary school aged children and have been married to my husband since 2011. I spent 12 years in the engineering industry as a Technical Writer and in the marketing industry as a project manager, while also working as a yoga instructor in the evenings. My decision to become a Speech Language Pathologist had been on my mind for many years and I decided to finally turn my dream into a plan during the Covid years when I was home with my very young children. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and doing yoga. 

Hi! I'm Kristen, and I'm currently on the 5-term track. Before starting at Speech@Emerson, I earned my undergraduate degree in Biology and worked in a vaccine research lab. Becoming an SLP has always been a goal of mine, but the timing never felt quite right—until I discovered Speech@Emerson! Since starting the program, I’ve grown so much—both through my clinical placements and in the classroom. I really enjoy connecting with new people and look forward to chatting with you! 

Mars is a trans disabled Speech@Emerson student, Peer Tutor, and Student Ambassador. Their career goals are medically focused SLP work with special interest in the intersection of rare and neurodegenerative disorders and associated dysphagia and communication disorders as well as the role augmentative and alternative communication for such populations. As a rare disease patient, Mars approaches all clinical work through a disability justice lens, with a foundation of patient advocacy, self-determination, and empowerment. They have extensive experience in public speaking, specifically within the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and rare disease communities. Their writing has also been featured by The Ehlers-Danlos Society and in The CREDIT Institute’s first annual publication, Speech Anthology, a collection of stories, accounts and vignettes written by SLPs with minoritized identities. In addition to their graduate studies, Mars is working toward becoming a Board-Certified Patient Advocate and becoming fluent in American Sign Language.