Katsura Aoyama, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology
Research interests: Katsura Aoyama, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor on the faculty of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Texas, where she has held an academic appointment since August 2012. She has also held an appointment of Associate Professor at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center from August 2009 to July 2012, and an appointment of Assistant Professor at the same institution from August 2002 to August 2009. Dr. Aoyama holds the B.A. degree in Japanese Philology from Kansai University, the M.A. degree in Linguistics from University of Hawai'i at Manoa, and the Ph.D. degree in Linguistics from University of Hawai'i at Manoa.
Jessica Brooks, Ph.D., CRC
Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation
Research interests: Specialization areas: health promotion, psychosocial aspects of disability, and vocational rehabilitation.
Office Location & Hours
Chilton Hall
218-G
Monday 1:00-3:00 pm
Chandra Donnell Carey, Ph.D., CRC
Interim Chair & Associate Professor
Research interests: Dr. Carey has served as President of the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns and as Co-Chair of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Council for the National Council on Rehabilitation Education. She recently served as co-editor for a special issue on Psychiatric Rehabilitation for the Journal of Rehabilitation, Research, Policy, and Education and is the Co-PI for a grant funded by the Texas Higher Education Board which focuses on enhancing the racial/ethnic diversity of students in rehabilitation studies and rehabilitation counseling. Her research focuses on mental illnesses and the recovery experiences of women of color, as well as culturally responsive service provision in rehabilitation counseling practice.
Denise Catalano, Ph.D., CRC
Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator of Rehabilitation Counseling Program
Research interests: Quality of life issues among individuals with disabilities; development, factors, and processes of resilience; relationship of positive emotions to health and well-being.
Dalia Chowdhury, Ph.D., CRC, CADC, LPC (IL.)
Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation
Research interests: Gender and disability; violence and trauma; HIV/AIDS, sexual behaviors and addictions; instrumentation
Jeffrey Cokely, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Audiology
Research interests: Dr. Cokely joined the faculty in the fall of 2000 after nearly fifteen years of university teaching. He completed his undergraduate studies at Syracuse University and earned his master’s and doctorate degrees at Northwestern University. Dr. Cokely began his research career in the area of psychoacoustics, but for the past twelve years his energies have been directed toward the study of speech materials used to evaluate the hearing of Spanish-speaking listeners. His pioneering efforts in this area have resulted in publication, presentation, and several masters theses.
Kamakshi V. Gopal, Ph.D., CCC-A
Professor of Audiology
Research interests: Dr. Gopal's research goal is to gain a deeper insight into the performance of the central auditory nervous system (CANS) under normal as well as in abnormal conditions such as tinnitus and auditory processing disorders. Dr. Gopal uses both an auditory neuroscience apporach and clinical audiology techniques to conduct her research. She developed an in vitro auditory cortex network (ACN) model with Dr. Guenter Goss, a pioneer in the field of microelectrode array recording (MEA) techniques which has been used to investigate the effects of various ototoxic and neurotoxic agents that are known to cause hearing loss, tinnitus or both. The model has also been used to identify the efficacy of protective agents, such as antioxidants and potassium channel blockers, to offset the toxic effects brought about by ototoxic and neurotoxic agents. As Co-Director of the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic at the University of North Texas, Dr. Gopal conducts behavioral, electrophysiological and Imaging studies (in collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical School, Dallas) to identify diagnostic markers in tinnitus patients as well as evaluate various technological and pharmacological treatment options. Currently, she is using behavioral and objective auditory measures to assess the impact of intensive auditory training on auditory processing in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Linda Holloway, Ph.D., CRC
Interim Dean of the College of Health and Public Service
Research interests: Professionalism; undergraduate education; supported employment; psychiatric rehabilitation; emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.
Stan Ingman, Ph.D.
Professor of Health Services
Research interests: Major areas of interest are sustainable senior living, LTC care, geriatric medicine and aging programs and trends around the world.
Fang-Ling Lu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology
Research interests: Dr. Lu received her MS in SLP from the University of South Carolina and a Ph.D. from the University of Memphis. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Medical Speech Pathology from the Department of Neurology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Prior to joining UNT in 1997, Dr. Lu was an Otolaryngology faculty at the University of Miami School of Medicine for several years. Dr. Lu’s research interests include motor speech and voice changes associated with degenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis), aging, medications (e.g., antidepressants), surgeries (e.g., deep brain stimulation), and maladaptive behaviors (e.g., vocal abuse and misuse in musicians). She employs a high-tech laboratory setup (i.e., videostrobolaryngoscopy, nasendoscopy, acoustical analysis, aerodynamic measurement, nasometry) for clinical diagnostics and research projects. She teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in speech pathology of medically related topics.
Elias Mpofu, Ph.D., CRC
Professor & Doctoral Program Coordinator
Ernest J. Moore, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Research interests: The goals of our research are to utilize answers obtained from auditory electrophysiology protocols to help prevent or treat sensory neural hearing loss, and better understand underlying pathophysiology. To accomplish these goals, we are exploring possible novel drug targets, and the application to these targets of already FDA-approved drugs for “repurposing” to prevent or alleviate hearing loss and tinnitus. We are participating in a Phase 1 clinical trial with a neurosurgeon from Florida Hospital for Children in which there is infusion of stem cells in hard-of-hearing children for the restoration of hearing in these children presenting with various degrees of sensory neural hearing loss.
Office Location & Hours
Speech & Hearing Complex
261
Wednesday 9 – 12:00 - or by appt.
Gloria Olness, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology
Research interests: Dr. Olness’ research examines the discourse production abilities of adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders, such as stroke-induced aphasia. Normal pre-morbid discourse variation is incorporated into her approach (ethnic discourse styles of African Americans and Euro-Americans, formality, spontaneity, age/cohort effects, etc.). Her interests focus on the relationship between linguistic and paralinguistic forms and their communicative function-- for example, language forms used to express emotion, opinion, and attitude--and their neurological underpinnings. These combined areas of inquiry are applied to the design of clinical discourse assessment and assessment of functional communication. In addition, her research with disordered populations sheds light on the cognitive-linguistic and neurological substrates of “normal” discourse production in non-brain-injured populations.
Office Location & Hours
Speech & Hearing Complex
Erin Schafer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Audiology
Research interests: Dr. Schafer received her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Texas Woman's University and her M.S. in Audiology from The University of Texas at Dallas. In 2005, she received her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences from The University of Texas at Dallas. Prior to her position at UNT, Dr. Schafer worked as an educational audiologist and consultant in public school districts. Her research interests are in the areas of speech perception, cochlear implants, hearing aids, and assistive devices.
Office Location & Hours
Speech & Hearing Complex
266
James Swan, Ph.D.
Professor of Gerontology and Health Services
Research interests: Dr. Swan's past major research area was long-term care finance and policy but has in recent years developed research on physical activity & aging and on senior centers.
Office Location & Hours
Chilton Hall
218H
Wednesday 12:00 to 1:00 PM; 4:00 to 5:00 PM
Wei-Mo Tu, Ph.D., NCC
Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation
Research interests: Motivation, vocational rehabilitation, school-to-work transition, positive psychology, psychosocial adjustment, and applications of the International Classification of Functioning, Health, and Disability (ICF) in rehabilitation.
Justin Watts, Ph.D., NCC
Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation
Research interests: Interpersonal trauma, bio-psycho-social-emotional impact of child-maltreatment, collegiate recovery, recovery support, the counseling working alliance, and mental health