Cohort 6

Hello! My name is Afreen and I am a first year student in the CCX program. After completing my undergraduate degree in International Relations, I held various positions in education including serving as a high school teacher in Oakland Unified.  My experience in the classroom sparked a passion for helping students with complex communication needs find their voice in ways that work best for them.  Outside of school, you can usually find me meditating, hiking, or spending time nature with my husband. I'm honored to participate in Project LISTEN and to continue learning about how AAC can make communication more accessible and empowering for the students we serve.

Ashley is a CCII Speech-Language Pathology student at Cal State East Bay. Ashley was born and raised in the Bay Area, but earned her Bachelor’s degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Health and Human Values from the University of Arizona. As a proud first-generation college student, Ashley is passionate about creating spaces where students from all backgrounds feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Ashley’s passion for the field has been shaped by her research on diversity, equity, and inclusion in speech-language pathology, particularly exploring the experiences of underrepresented individuals from undergraduate programs through professional practice. Her ultimate goal is to become an SLP dedicated to empowering and advocating for Black and brown children who are often overlooked or underserved. Outside of academics, Ashley loves listening and singing to music and spending time with her friends and cat, Frittata.

Hello! My name is Coral Pongsuwan and I am in my first year of the CCX Masters cohort for Speech Language Pathology at CSUEB! Last June, I graduated from UC Davis, in which I studied Human Development and Linguistics, with a minor in Education. I am excited to be apart of this grant in order to develop my skills as a future SLP, working with children that may use various forms of communication. On my free time, I enjoy reading, watching movies, hanging out with friends, and exploring new areas of the Bay!

Hi, I am Janki! I am an emerging speech-language pathology clinician who is passionate about helping students communicate in their own ways. I am currently earning my Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at California State University, East Bay. My experience as a paraprofessional and substitute teacher helped me recognize the importance of family involvement and interprofessional collaboration in supporting a student’s success. My goal is to be a resource for underserved populations because of my family’s tedious experiences navigating the education and healthcare systems. Through this grant, I hope to build my skills in AAC and learn how to better support classroom teachers and staff in creating inclusive communication environments. 

Hello, my name is Alejandra, and I am a first-year student in the CCII Speech-Language Pathology program. My interest in working with children began when I was 16, when I volunteered at a preschool and discovered how meaningful it was to support young learners. Since then, I have worked in ABA and with children on the autism spectrum, where I gained valuable experience supporting communication and working with AAC users. These experiences sparked my passion for understanding diverse communication needs and guided me toward the field of speech-language pathology. I am excited to continue learning and growing so I can make a positive impact on the children and families I work with.

I am a 1st year SLP CC2 here at CSUEB and I have a huge nerdy passion for language and neurodivergence. I worked in special education for years before pursuing Speech Pathology, where I acquired significant experience with different forms of AAC. In my first semester of the graduate program here, I helped run the AAC support group at AbilityNow where I became adept at using, altering, and training with a wide variety of devices and needs. Helping people with special needs to communicate is one of my biggest passions in life!