About Us
Pradeep Ramanathan, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Associate Professor, Dept. of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Cal State East Bay
Dr. Ramanathan is the director of the B.R.A.I.N. Lab at Cal State East Bay. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics at the University of California at Berkeley, and his master’s degree in Physics at San Francisco State University. He worked as an engineer in Silicon Valley for several years before going to the University of Minnesota to pursue a clinical master’s degree and subsequently a Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology. Dr. Ramanathan taught at the University of Connecticut from 2009 – 2015, and joined the academic faculty at Cal State East Bay in 2015. His research interests span multiple areas in cognitive neuroscience, studying correspondences between brain structure and cognitive function and impairment, as well as training-induced neuroplasticity of cognitive and communicative functions, particularly in individuals with stroke or traumatic brain injury. Because of his physics background and years of clinical experience in Voice Disorders at the Lions Voice Clinic, University of Minnesota Medical Center (2002 – 2008), he teaches Voice Disorders and Speech Science at Cal State East Bay.
Current Lab Members
Gursimran Bindra
Gursimran received his B. A. in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz in 2020. After graduating, he was a behavioral therapist who worked with children on the autism spectrum. As a behavioral therapist, he realized how crucial speech was in one’s life and how much he enjoyed working with children. Noticing the positive impact of his work, he decided to pursue his Master’s in Speech-Language and Pathology. Gursimran was admitted to CSU East Bay in Fall 2022 as a CCX student and joined the B.R.A.I.N Lab. In his spare time, Gursimran enjoys bicycling, road-trips, and volunteering in the community.
Jiana Brandt
Jiana joined CSUEB and the B.R.A.I.N Lab in the Fall of 2020 and is working on both the Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy project and the intensive Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy project. She has found a passion in speech-language pathology and after completing her Bachelor’s in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in Spring 2022 she started the M.S. program at CSUEB in Fall 2022. Her experience as a volunteer and caregiver to children and adults served as inspiration to study speech-language pathology. Jiana volunteered with children through a reading program called Schools of Hope, an Early Grade Reading Initiative. As a caregiver, Jiana supported clients who have a variety of communication and developmental disorders due to traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and autism. Her hands-on involvement in their lives has served as motivation to become a speech-language pathologist as a way to be of greatest service to a deserving community. Jiana’s interest in research centers on the social and mental health aspects of speech and language disorders and the treatment of aphasia. Her hobbies include hiking, outdoor activities, spending time with her dog, gardening, and cooking.
Mikhail Crosby
Mikhail has been studying speech pathology at CSU East Bay since 2019. He graduated with a B.S degree in Spring 2021, and was admitted to the CSUEB M.S. degree program in the department starting Fall 2021. Mikhail worked on developing E-Prime programs for a clinical aphasia project within the broader Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy program in the B.R.A.I.N. lab. He completed an extensive pilot study on Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy for chronic moderate-severe TBI in Fall 2022. Also, as part of his undergraduate research training, Mikhail worked on a sulcal morphology study by Dr. Eve Higby, analyzing the cognitive, and language significance of the cingulate sulcus, as well as the paracingulate sulcus. In his spare time, Mikhail likes to drum, record music, bike, play basketball, cook, and weight train.
Chloe Fleischer
Chloe Fleischer is a first-year graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology extended program at CSU East Bay. Before joining the program, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in Child Development and Ethnic Studies at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is passionate about neuroscience, neurodiversity, mental health, and how they intersect. She enjoys running, climbing, and reading.
Kylie Kelleher
Kylie joined the CSUEB SLHS department in Fall 2021 and joined the BRAIN Lab in Spring 2022 to assist with the Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy project. Prior to coming to CSUEB, she spent three years working in special education. After working closely with both district Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists, she decided to pursue a career in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She’s also passionate about technology & math, and how these interface with communication. Kylie hopes to utilize her knowledge of interdisciplinary teamwork to better assist her in the field of Audiology. When she’s not busy studying, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time relaxing with her cat & bearded dragon.
Yesenia Mendez
Yesenia received her B. A. in Child and Adolescent Development with a minor in Special Education in 2016. After graduating, she was a behavioral therapist who assisted children on the autism spectrum, and then a Pre-K teacher. During these times, Yesenia noticed how crucial communication is and is now pursuing her Master's in Speech-language Pathology at CSU East Bay. She hopes she will reach many children and adults to get the resources they need. As someone fascinated by the brain, she joined the B.R.A.I.N Lab in Spring 2022. In her spare time, Yesenia enjoys hiking, cooking, and taking care of her plants.
Chelsea Miller
Chelsea joined CSU East Bay and the BRAIN Lab as a Pioneer Scholar in Fall 2021. Before coming to CSUEB, she received her BA & MA in Linguistics from UCSC, where she did research on how language is processed in real-time. She worked as a peer tutor & advisor and later as a teaching assistant & lab manager, which helped her realize how much she loves teaching & supporting others' learning. Most recently, she worked as a linguist in technology building voice assistants. While working, she's also balanced helping care & advocate for her parent with aphasia. Chelsea believes that access to communication is a human right and is excited to pursue a career where she can use her knowledge of language, love of learning, and passion for advocacy to help others. In her free time, Chelsea also loves to dance, garden, and volunteer in her community.
Ryan Morello
After trying out a few different majors Ryan found his way to the undergrad speech language and hearing department in 2022. While studying early childhood education he realized that he wanted to dive deeper into the way our brains develop and change throughout our lifespan and the SLHS department and the Brain Lab felt like a good fit for furthering the exploration of those interests. Ryan currently works with both typically developing children and children with delays. Discovering a passion for working with this population he hopes to continually learn new things about the brain so that he can support their needs. When time allows Ryan loves taking his dog Opal for hikes around the bay, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Faviola Morfin Chavez
Faviola received her B.A. in Psychology and minor in Human Development from UC Davis in 2017. After graduating she held a variety of roles within early education supporting children and families. In those roles, Faviola had the opportunity to work with many families whose children had been identified with a speech or developmental delay and came to learn about what that experience is like for families. From those experiences grew her inspiration to be a Speech-Language Pathologist. Faviola was admitted to the Fall 2021 Extended M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology program at CSUEB. She joined the B.R.A.I.N Lab at the beginning of the Fall Semester and is currently working on the CHAT study. In her free time, Faviola enjoys hiking, crafting, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
Evelin Murillo
I have always been fascinated by the capabilities of the human mind. My mother was a caregiver for many years and I would accompany her to work after school. I got to observe her and meet one of the patients she would care for who had aphasia. I noticed that he & I were able to communicate better through music. I would play his favorite songs and he loved to show me he could still play the piano and sing. It was like he never suffered from a stroke for those couple seconds of playing and singing in front of me. I knew I wanted to continue to see growth and help people of all ages communicate more efficiently because of this experience. I am excited to contribute to the CHAT & TBI study and I look forward to the day I can help people of all ages improve their language skills. I am interested in neuroplasticity, language & swallowing disorders, as well as learning more about the beauty of speech pathology. During my free time I like to go hiking, watch rerun episodes of Friends, and dance!
Jessica Myngheer
Jessica received her BA in sociology from UC Santa Barbara in 2020. After spending a year completing prerequisite coursework at San Diego State University, she is now pursuing her master’s in speech-language pathology at CSU East Bay. As an undergraduate, Jessica worked directly with marginalized populations, including the local houseless community, multicultural and multilingual clients, as well as those diagnosed with mental health disorders. Her background in social justice drives her dedication to increasing healthcare access for underserved communities, which led her to her involvement on the TBI project. Jessica will be completing her master’s thesis with Dr. Ramanathan on cognitive rehabilitation therapy for traumatic brain injury, with a focus on qualitative interviewing, and psychosocial and quality of life measures. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys cooking, gardening, and exploring new restaurants.
Jia Qiu
Jia is a passionate early intervention practitioner, who has worked as an early childhood special education teacher and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. With over 9 years of experience in early intervention and two Master's degrees (Applied Psychology and Special Education), Jia embarks on the new adventure of becoming a speech-language pathologist. She is excited to be part of SLHS department of East Bay, conducting research, learning new clinical skills and continuing to make positive impact on the lives of young children and their families.
Connie Roth
Connie completed her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Psychology in 2016 and is now pursuing her Master's in Speech-Language Pathology at CSU East Bay. Born and raised in Belize, Connie witnessed impoverished communities and marginalized populations daily. As a result, she is committed to finding ways to serve the communities in areas she inhabits and eventually expresses support through SLP. As a past certified nursing assistant, her work revealed her passion for working with older populations but volunteering with toddlers comes close in competition. Given Connie's undergraduate background, it is no surprise she has a deep interest in the brain's functions and how it affects the individual and their surroundings. In Fall 2021, Connie found herself joining the B.R.A.I.N lab and will be working on Intensive Cognitive Therapy for individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury. Other passions include weightlifting, food, art, adventures, and acquiring new knowledge.
Sofia Stanwood
Sofi joined CSUEB and the B.R.A.I.N Lab Fall of 2022. Growing up watching her mother work in mental health and social work for underserved communities, she knew she also wanted to have a hand in serving others. Her current work for a non-profit and volunteer work with children and their families continues to inspire her to work within the community . After stumbling across Speech Pathology she found a passion for this field and is excited to pursue a career where she can continue to support others. Her interest are in cognitive disorders and rehabilitation. She hopes to contribute to the work of the Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy (CHAT) project and the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI )project. She enjoys tending to her plants, eating sushi and, playing with her pup Belle.
Lab Alumni
Siana Belfiore
Siana received her Bachelor's in Psychology with a Minor in Italian from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester MA. After graduation, she worked as a teacher at a residential and school facility for children and young adults with moderate to severe autism. There she first encountered speech language pathology and a fascination with communication began. After several years working with young adults on the autism spectrum, she started her master's program in speech and language pathology at Cal State East Bay. She hopes to explore all the possibilities that come with doing a master in speech and language pathology. She joined the B.R.A.I.N lab in 2019 and has assisted with the Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy (CHAT) project. She is particularly interested in aphasia, cognitive communication disorder, bilingualism, and AAC. When she is not studying, she enjoys camping, hiking, and fostering kittens through the local humane society.
Sybrey (Sunny) Callwood
Sunny is originally from the US Virgin Islands and joined the B.R.A.I.N. Lab during the 2017-2018 school year while working on baseline and post-concussion evaluation procedures for the creation of Cal State East Bay’s Concussion Management Program. A culmination of cognition courses taught by Dr. Ramanathan and working at the campus clinic during his clinical rotation in the areas of attention, working memory, memory, and executive function was by far his highlight experience of the program and solidified his curiosity of the human brain and its power to control the entire human experience. He is currently interested in sleep science research and how it can be leveraged for successful therapeutic outcomes, and is currently modifying and restructuring his own sleep quality for increased cognitive performance and health benefits. His other interests include the stock market, travel and cinema.
Michael Ferguson
Michael is a recent graduate of California State University East Bay (Spring 2020) with a B.S. in Speech and Hearing Sciences with honors. He had been volunteering at his local Speech Pathology clinic since 2017 which is where he began his journey to become a Speech and Language Pathologist. Joining the B.R.A.I.N. lab in September of 2019, he assisted with the Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy (CHAT) project. In his spare time, Michael enjoys to play guitar, attend sporting events, listen to music, and eat sushi.”
Kendall Finch
Kendall's interests in communication and biology led him down a number of paths, including interning at a wildlife clinic and volunteering as a social media coordinator for a child advocacy group, before finding his vocation in communication sciences and disorders. Kendall joined the B.R.A.I.N. Lab in 2017. In his time at Cal State East Bay, he has participated in the Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Treatment study, in the creation of a dataset for use in improving language outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children, in producing educational materials on TBI for intramural athletics, and in documenting life participation outcomes for our campus Aphasia Treatment Program. He is particularly interested in the expression of identity through voice for transgender individuals, the ways speech and language are affected by diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, and how our profession can serve cultural and linguistic minority groups. In addition to studying to become a Speech-Language Pathologist, Kendall enjoys cooking, hiking, learning American Sign Language, and volunteering at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont.
Soujanya Konatalapalli
Soujanya returned to school after being a fulltime stay-at-home mom for almost two decades. She transferred to CSUEB from Diablo Valley College in 2018. She completed her B.A. in Liberal Studies from CSUEB in Spring 2020 and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Soujanya is currently enrolled in the extended Masters program in Speech Language Pathology. She joined B.R.A.I.N Lab in Summer 2021 and is involved in the Traumatic Brain Injury project. She got interested in Speech Pathology, when she got a chance to observe a Speech Pathologist work with children at an elementary school, while volunteering for a project. She believes that a willingness to learn and being patient will help her in this journey. Besides academics, her family and dog keep her busy. She is an amateur painter and has gifted several of her artwork to her friends and family. She also loves to garden and travel.
Jesse Leben-Wolf
Jesse has been a student at Cal State East Bay since 2017, graduating in 2019 with her Bachelor of Science and continuing her pursuit of a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Prior to this, she spent many years in the high tech industry in Silicon Valley. Her involvement with the B.R.A.I.N. lab began with creating a flyer about concussions and has developed into a supportive role in the lab, sparking her interest in research. In addition to studying to become an SLP, Jesse enjoys baking, dancing, and taking advantage of the wonderful bay area weather.
Chloris Li
Chloris received her BS in Psychology and BA in Theatre from UC San Diego in 2019. She spent one summer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the Laboratory for Language, Learning, and the Brain, investigating brainstem encodings of native and non-native tones across ages in infants. This began her journey with communication sciences. Chloris joined the B.R.A.I.N. Lab at CSUEB in Spring of 2021, and is working on a Traumatic Brain Injury study. As an aspiring Speech Language Pathologist, Chloris hopes to practice interdisciplinary treatment, serve marginalized communities, and utilize art in therapy. Beyond the lab, she is a freelance performer and designer, enjoys making music, trying new coffee recipes, watching movies, and playing with her dog Reese.
Medha Lohani
Medha is an international student from Nepal. She joined the B.R.A.I.N Lab in the fall of 2020 and is working on the Traumatic Brain Injury Project. She currently attends Smith College and plans to double major in speech pathology and psychology. After a severe earthquake in her country, she volunteered with children on the autism spectrum and down syndrome which piqued her interest to pursue a career in cognitive and communication sciences. Other than psychology and communication sciences, she enjoys playing her violin, cooking, hiking, gardening; and reading is where she finds her solace.
Amy Marshall
After twenty-five years as a support services manager in healthcare and seven years as the primary caregiver and advocate for her mother, Amy earned an Associate of Arts in Social Science and Phi Theta Kappa membership from Laney College in Oakland, California. Amy desires to return to healthcare as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She is a Distinguished Scholar for the CSUEB Center for Student Research and an Umoja Sankofar Scholar. Since Fall 2020, Amy has participated as a student researcher in the BRAIN Lab on the Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy (CHAT) project. Her hobbies are interior design and landscape gardening. Amy has a keen affection for the elderly, dogs, and community advocacy. Her homemade banana pudding will bring you to tears.
Sarah Millar
Sarah received her bachelor’s degrees in Linguistics and French from the University of Washington. She taught English as a Foreign Language in rural France and worked in university administration before starting the master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology at Cal State East Bay. Sarah joined the B.R.A.I.N. Lab in March 2018, working on the Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy (CHAT) project. Sarah’s research interests include aphasia, cognitive-communication disorders, cleft lip and palate, dysphagia, and bilingualism. In her free time, Sarah likes to ride 1970s-era French road bikes, take photos, go camping, and bake bread.
Regina Monteiro
Regina excelled at separate yet related careers to language and communication before joining the Speech-Language Pathology field. She worked for 17 years as a Localization Professional, globalizing Silicon Valley products to local markets. Regina received her MS in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences from CSUEB in 8/2019. She is passionate about the geriatric population with neurogenic, neurocognitive, voice and swallowing disorders. Regina enjoys a diverse, inter-professional team while serving the multilingual community. Her devotion led her to take on TA positions, and join the B.R.A.I.N. Lab as a Research Assistant [3/2018-5/2019 - Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy (CHAT) project.] Regina also holds a BA in Modern Languages (Portuguese, English) and Education from UNESA, and Credential in ESL Teaching from CCAA, Brazil. Regina is fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and studies French. She enjoys spending time with the animals, singing, baking, dancing, meditating and visiting family, friends, and beaches.
Theresa Jingyun Yao
Theresa received her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from California State University East Bay in 2018. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and a master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Hong Kong. Before moving to the United States, Theresa was a research coordinator at the voice and swallowing laboratory at the University of Hong Kong for several years. Her research interests include aphasia, voice disorders, and dysphagia. Theresa joined the B.R.A.I.N. Lab in 2016 and presented her research at several state-wide and national conferences. She helped develop the Constrained Hemisphere Aphasia Therapy (CHAT) protocol and completed her master’s thesis as part of this pilot study. Theresa loves spicy food, playing basketball, singing, hiking, and travelling around the world.
Monika Ifah (pic/bio may be added later). Monika worked on a concussion epidemiology study
Miranda McDonnell (pic/bio may be added later). Miranda worked on a Speech Science project.
Madeleine Mountain (pic/bio may be added later). Madeleine worked on the CHAT project