Dr. Chitwood is a licensed speech-language pathologist with 28 years of experience in the field. Kerrie is the founding director for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and an associate professor in the Department of Education and Leadership. She has been an integral member of intervention research teams focused on early language and literacy, augmentative and alternative communication, and assistive technology applications. She is committed to translational research and strives to bridge the gap between research and practice, specifically as it pertains to students and families with neurodevelopmental disorders. She has taught courses focused on research methods and evidence-based practice, augmentative and alternative communication, birth-to-five language disorders, and autism spectrum disorders.

Dr. LaSalle has been teaching speech-language pathology coursework and supervising student clinicians for over 30 years.  Her clinical and research interests center around developmental stuttering, and she has published widely on childhood stuttering assessment and treatment-related topics and recently on the pharmacological considerations for adults who stutter.  Dr. LaSalle is a professor in the Masters-SLP department in the Department of Education and Leadership at California State University-Monterey Bay, and she currently supervises student clinicians and teaches Fluency Disorders, Voice Disorders, Articulation and Phonology and Counseling.  

Dr. Schwartz is a licensed speech-language pathologist with 8 years of field experience in public schools in Minnesota and Hawaiʻi. She is a member of the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), and an assistant professor in the Department of Education and Leadership. She received her MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and her Ph.D. in Second Language Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Her research interests include child second language acquisition in typical and disordered populations, child Pidgin (Hawaiʻi Creole), narrative development, and teacher/therapist education. Other clinical interests include AAC/AT, cleft lip/palate, and school-age speech/language development. She is currently teaching courses on assessment and multicultural issues in the practice of speech-language pathology.

Maria is a licensed speech-language pathologist (since 2013)  specializing in medical speech-language pathology. Maria is a founding member for the CSUMB SLP program. She has extensive experience providing services to adult and geriatric populations across acute care, rehabilitation, and outpatient medical settings.

Maria is Board Certified in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S) and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS). Throughout her career in acute care, Maria has developed speech-language pathology and dysphagia programs and has written evidence-based clinical policies and protocols aimed at advancing patient care and interdisciplinary practice. Her clinical and research interests include bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, with particular emphasis on dysphagia and critical care. In addition to her clinical practice, Maria serves as Coordinator of Clinical Education for the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program at California State University, Monterey Bay, where she oversees clinical education and supports the development of graduate clinicians across medical, educational, and community-based settings.

In her spare time, Maria loves to do ceramics, camp and travel. 

Paige is an experienced Speech Language Pathologist who has served the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula since 2012 as an outpatient clinical therapist. She has facilitated a community group since 2016 for people with communication impairments of varied types. She obtained her undergraduate degree from California State University, Monterey Bay (2009), Master of Communication Disorders from California State University, San Jose (2012), and Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Southern California (2022). In addition, she currently serves as adjunct faculty for her alma mater, CSUMB, for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program. She has research interests in adult language and motor speech disorders and manual therapy in Head/Neck Cancer.  In her spare time, she enjoys reading and taking care of her 6 cats, 2 dogs, and 2 turtles. 

Katie is a medically focused speech language pathologist and certified brain injury specialist with ten years of experience.  She has worked with patients across the continuum of health care including acute care, acute rehabilitation, outpatient, and home health. Her clinical areas of interest and neurogenic disorders impacting speech, language, cognition, swallowing and voice.  She is passionate about working with individuals with right hemisphere brain damage, stroke, and Parkinson's disease. Outside of speech therapy she loves spending time outdoors with her family and friends, running, and planning her next trip to Disney.

Chandni is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist, who has been a medical SLP since 2014. She has earned her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Central Florida and has experience in various different settings, including acute-care, outpatient, skilled nursing facility, long-term care, home health care and private practice. She is a registered Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile clinician and has additional certifications in Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), VitalStim therapy, Myofascial Release, Lymphedema management in head and neck cancer, and Kinesiology Taping Techniques for swallowing disorders, to name a few. She currently works as an SLP at the Community Hospital in Monterey Peninsula and as an adjunct professor for the Master of Science graduate program at CSUMB. Chandni has special research interest in dysphagia and cognitive-communication disorders.

Barbara is a  licensed speech-language pathologist with 40 years of experience, she has dedicated the majority of her career to serving children and individuals with communication needs in the public school setting. Her professional experience also includes private practice, consulting for an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) manufacturing company, and teaching an AAC course at the college level.

Her clinical passion is supporting individuals with severe to profound disabilities, particularly those who benefit from augmentative and alternative communication. She has extensive experience implementing inclusive, classroom-based and push-in intervention models that integrate communication goals into meaningful activities such as music, literacy, cooking, and art. She is also passionate about mentoring new speech-language pathologists and supporting their development of clinical knowledge, confidence, and practical skills.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1982 and her Master of Education in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1988.

Michele is a speech-language pathologist and the clinical supervisor at CSUMB’s Adult Language Clinic. A graduate of UC Davis and the University of Utah, she brings extensive experience working with adults across healthcare settings, with a specialized focus on neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders.

Michele previously owned and operated an SLP private practice and also practiced at CHOMP, where she developed a lasting connection to the Monterey Peninsula community. She especially enjoys mentoring graduate clinicians and supporting their clinical growth through compassionate, person-centered care.

Outside the clinic, Michele enjoys traveling, hiking, staying active, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets. She especially loves being outdoors in two places that feel like home to her, the beautiful California coastline and the mountains of Utah.