Current Research Team
Current Research Team
Lab Director:
Dr. Lesley Sylvan,
EdD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Lesley Sylvan is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Montclair State University. She is also program director of the master's degree in speech-language pathology. Dr. Sylvan is a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) with extensive clinical experience working with school-aged children both in public school and private clinical settings.
She completed a Master's degree in educational policy and management as well as a Doctorate degree in human development and education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Broadly, Dr. Sylvan's scholarly interests center on the intersection between the field of education and the field of speech-language pathology. Within the intersection of education and speech-language pathology, she pursues research related to both the K-12 educational sector as well as issues related to higher education. She has authored numerous academic papers in these areas and is a regular speaker at academic conferences.
When not working, Dr. Sylvan enjoys spending time with her family and going for long walks.
Feel free to contact her at: sylvanl@montclair.edu
Graduate Research Assistant
Jillian is a first-year graduate student studying speech-language pathology at Montclair State University. She graduated from Tulane University in 2024 with a B.A. in Linguistics.
Graduate Research Assistant
Alexandra is a second-year graduate student in the speech-language pathology master's program in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Montclair State University. She graduated from The University of Delaware with a B.A. in Psychology in 2024.
Research Team Alumni
Graduate Research Assistant (2023-2025)
Madelyn is a third-year graduate student in the speech-language pathology master's program at Montclair. She is currently completing her second externship experience and is excited to graduate in December 2025. She graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Linguistics in 2022.
Graduate Research Assistant (2022-2024)
Madeleine is a third-year graduate student at MSU's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is currently completing her second externship experience and is excited to graduate in May 2025. She graduated from Bucknell University with a B.A. in Linguistics and Spanish in 2019.
Graduate Research Assistant (2021-2023)
Harmony graduated from MSU in January of 2024 with her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. Since graduating, she has enjoyed working in both private practice and school settings, and she has developed a special interest in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
Graduate Research Assistant (2021-2023)
Grace graduated from MSU's Speech-Language Pathology Master's program in 2024. She works as a public school-based speech therapist with students from kindergarten through high school, where she is able to apply what she learned as Dr. Sylvan's graduate assistant every day.
Graduate Research Assistant (2019-2021)
Erica is currently a school-based and early intervention speech-language pathologist in Jersey City, NJ. Her previous work as an SLP includes a private practice and an outpatient rehabilitation center for adults.
Graduate Research Assistant (2018-2020)
Megan Nickey (formerly Crandall) graduated from Montclair's Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate program in 2021. Currently, she specializes in treatment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech and is passionate about the intertwined nature of speech, language, literacy, and social skills.
Graduate Research Assistant (2017-2019)
Carly Truglio has been working as an SLP for 5 years. She currently works at the 1st Cerebral Palsy of NJ school helping individuals with multiple disabilities. She specializes in feeding/oral motor therapy as well as AAC. Carly also works at a private practice part time, West Essex Speech, where she helps school-aged children work on their speech, language, and feeding skills.
Graduate Research Assistant (2017-2019)
Andrea graduated in 2020 from the Speech-Language Pathology Master’s program at MSU. She currently works as an SLP at Mountainside Medical Center here in Montclair.
Graduate Research Assistant (2017-2018)
Jessica is a speech-language pathologist at The Hornblower Early Childhood Center in Belleville Public Schools. She graduated from the Montclair State University master's program in 2021.