I earned my bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) in Isfahan, Iran in 2004. I went on to earn my Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR) in Tehran, Iran in 2007. Before starting my Ph.D., I had served as a researcher, active clinician, lecturer, and clinical supervisor in various clinical and educational settings in Iran. I began my Ph.D. in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program at the University of Florida -Gainesville in 2012. During my Ph.D. I had the opportunity to get involved as a research assistant in different cutting-edge research projects in the area of swallowing. I received my Ph.D. in 2017 with my final dissertation’s focus on optimizing the existing electrical stimulation protocol for dysphagia rehabilitation. I joined as an assistant professor at Kent State Speech Pathology & Audiology Program in Fall 2017 and established SPARRLab. I can be reached by email at
abarikro@kent.edu.