Cohort 5

Hello my name is Rylee! I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood Studies! I am a CC2 grad student who is passionate about AAC! I was first introduced to this form of communication in 2020 when I began nannying for families who have children with special needs! I have been fascinated by all of the positivity AAC can bring since learning about it! I hope to one day work with children who could benefit from using AAC and help them get acquainted and familiar with whatever type of AAC would work best for their individual needs!  

My name is Kamri. My career aspirations are driven by a desire for communication to be accessible and inclusive, no matter how an individual communicates. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I worked as an ABA technician and an instructional assistant in special education classrooms. Through these experiences paired with volunteer work for the Special Needs Aquatic Program and Camp ReCreation, I grew privy to the role of communication in fostering connection, learning, and high quality of life. Thus, I look forward to the opportunity Project LISTEN provides to collaborate with other scholars and develop the skills to better serve individuals with complex communication needs. 

Hello! My name is Luis Lopez, and I am a first-year student in the Special Education program with a focus on Mild/Moderate disabilities. As I embark on my journey as an educator, I am excited to grow both professionally and personally through the Project LISTEN program. This opportunity will provide me with valuable knowledge and experiences to support diverse learners effectively.

I look forward to applying the insights and strategies I gain through this program to my future practice, ensuring that I create inclusive and supportive environments for my students. Collaborating with peers across both the Special Education and Speech-Language Pathology programs will enrich my understanding and strengthen my ability to serve students with unique needs. I am eager to continue building the skills necessary to make a meaningful impact in the field of education.

Hello! My name is Grace, and I’m a first year graduate student in the CSUEB Speech Language Pathology Master’s program. I earned my BA in Early Childhood Development from East Bay in 2023 after starting my college education with an AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Santa Rosa Junior College in 2021. Prior to starting the graduate program, I worked for West Sonoma County Unified High School District as a behavioral assistant in a moderate/severe SDC. My time there led me to the field of Speech Language Pathology, and introduced me to the world of AAC. 

My goal as a future SLP is to become an AAC specialist with a focus on supporting special education students. I am a strong and outspoken advocate for inclusion and ensuring that participation in both educational and social environments is accessible to all students. I am excited to be a part of Project LISTEN and the opportunity to learn more about the impacts that AAC can have. 

Outside of school I love reading, video games and spending time with my favorite people. 

Hello! My name is Jenna McCormick. I am in my first year of the extended Speech Language Pathology Master's program at CSUEB. I grew up here in the Bay Area and studied Biopsychology at UC Davis. While working as a 3rd grade teacher's aid in San Francisco, I realized how much I enjoy working with children, and I found that I thrived most working in small groups with my students with IEPs. Combining this with my love for language, I found myself on the SLP path, and I couldn't be happier to be here in this program. 

Though I have minimal exposure to AAC, the little I have learned so far has sparked plenty of excitement about all the ways it helps people find their voice. I look forward to interacting with the AAC community and learning even more about its potential. It is an honor to be a part of this grant. In my free time, I love catching live music, competing in pub trivia, hiking, and watching classic movies. 

Hi! I'm Brenna. I'm a first year in the two year SLHS program at CSUEB. I have a background in education; from instructing HS wilderness skills to preschool forest school teaching, I enjoy connecting people to the outdoors! Becoming a speech therapist has been a distant dream of mine that is now a reality. I am grateful to be pursuing this field and plan to learn as much as I can to better serve children in the public schools. 

Current Scholar