Dr. Brenda Beverly
Co-Director of APLL Lab

Brenda L. Beverly is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist and instructor in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Department at the University of South Alabama where she teaches the undergraduate introductory courses on language and speech disorders as well as the graduate-level pediatric language and linguistics courses. Dr. Beverly also serves as an Editor-in-Chief with Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. Dr. Beverly holds a Bachelor of Science in Education in Communication Disorders, a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, and a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science. 

Email: bbeverly@southalabama.edu

Dr. Victoria Henbest
Co-Director of APLL Lab

Victoria S. Henbest is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistant Professor in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Department at the University of South Alabama where she teaches the undergraduate introductory courses on language and speech disorders as well as the graduate-level school-age language and literacy and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) courses. Dr. Henbest earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Missouri State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. Prior to earning her doctoral degree, Dr. Henbest worked for 5 years as a full-time clinician in a public-school early childhood setting with pre-school age children with speech, language, and literacy deficits including children on the autism spectrum, those with intellectual disabilities, and medically complex children. Since coming to the University of South Alabama in 2019, Dr. Henbest’s primary clinical service provision has been through clinical education in the University Speech and Hearing Center where she has supported graduate student clinicians with evaluation and intervention for school-age children with spoken and written language needs. Dr. Henbest’s primary research interests include word-level reading and spelling and the relation between linguistic awareness skills, particularly morphological awareness, and literacy development.

Email: vhenbest@southalabama.edu 

Sean Stalley
Ph.D. Student

Sean Stalley is a Ph.D. student pursuing a doctorate of philosophy degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Alabama. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Alabama and a Master of Arts in English Linguistics from Eastern Michigan University. Sean is currently performing research in the lab on child language acquisition.

Breanna Byrd
Graduate Student and APLL Lab Manager

Breanna Byrd is a second-year graduate student pursuing a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of South Alabama. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Psychology from the University of South Alabama. Breanna serves as a graduate assistant and lab manager within the APLL Lab.

Gina Mejia
Graduate Student

Gina Mejia is a second-year graduate student pursuing a doctoral degree in Audiology at the University of South Alabama. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies with a minor in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of South Alabama. Gina serves as a graduate assistant within the APLL Lab.

Lauryn Gunn
Graduate Student 

Lauryn Gunn is a second-year graduate student pursuing a doctoral degree in Audiology at the University of South Alabama. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences. Lauryn serves as a graduate assistant within the APLL Lab. 

Rachel Vigelis
Graduate Student 

Rachel Vigelis is a second-year graduate student pursuing a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of South Alabama. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and minors in Neuroscience and Psychology at Samford University. Rachel serves as a graduate assistant within the APLL Lab. 

Jaime Swenbeck
Undergraduate Student 

Jaime Swenbeck is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of South Alabama, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Psychology at the University of South Alabama. She volunteers in the APLL Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Brenda Beverly and Dr. Victoria Henbest and is conducting research with Breanna Byrd on The Reading House study (APLL TREE). Jaime is also developing a prospectus for her departmental honors thesis. Outside of the lab, she works at a preschool, where she enjoys supporting the learning and development of young children.

Ally Taranto
Undergraduate Student 

Ally Taranto is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Psychology at the University of South Alabama. She serves as a lab volunteer and is currently performing research with Dr. Beverly and Dr. Henbest under APLL PEEL.  

Nafia  Sarhadi
Undergraduate Student

Nafia Sarhadi is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Composite Science at the University of South Alabama. Nafia is currently performing research with Dr. Brenda Beverly under APLL PEEL to develop her Honors Research Thesis.