People

Adam Buchwald

Lab PI

Dr. Buchwald is a Professor of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. He holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from Johns Hopkins University. He is an affiliated faculty member in the Departments of Linguistics and Psychology.

Jessica Ortins

Clinical Research Coordinator

Jess is a Speech-Language Pathologist who joined the lab in 2023. She received a Master’s of Health Science from the University of Toronto and has worked as an acute care SLP for 4 years. Her work in the PLAN lab will focus on tDCS and speech motor recovery with patients with aphasia and apraxia of speech. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and exploring the diverse NYC food scene.

Andrea Leone-Thide

PhD student

Andrea is a doctoral student in CSD who joined the lab in 2021. Her research interests include speech motor control and the use of neuromodulation in the rehabilitation of acquired communication disorders.  She received her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Chiara Repetti-Ludlow

PhD student

Chiara is a doctoral student in Linguistics studying phonetic and phonological processing. Her work in the PLAN Lab consists of studying how neuromodulation can be used to treat aphasia and apraxia of speech.

Maria Cuervo Cano

Lab manager

Maria is the lab manager in the PLAN lab. She has an M.A in Psychology from NYU. She is interested in the cognitive processes of speech and language. 

Hannah Hornsey

Master’s student

Hannah is a Master’s student in CSD. She is most interested in the medical side of speech therapy and is hoping to work in a rehabilitation setting with people who are experiencing language, motor speech, and swallowing disorders. She received her Bachelor’s in English Literature/Creative Writing with a Minor in French Language from Rhodes College. She also received her MFA in Creative Writing from NYU. In her spare time she enjoys reading and writing poetry!

Jess Reeg

Master’s student

Jess is a master’s student in CSD. She hopes to becomes a speech-language pathologist in a medical setting working with individuals who have aphasia, motor speech disorders, and dysphagia. She received a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Notre Dame.

Alyssa Gabrielle Urrutia

Master’s student

Alyssa is a Master’s student in CSD. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Arizona State University. She hopes to work with individuals with aphasia in the rehabilitation setting, as well as with those with neurogenic voice disorders. She is also a wife, a mother to three busy, young daughters, and enjoys playing piano.

Melissa McSweeney

Master’s student

Melissa is a master’s student in CSD. She is interested in the intersections of speech-language rehabilitation, neuroimaging, and machine learning. Previously, she received an M.Sc. in neuroscience from McGill University and a B.A. in cognitive science from Northwestern University (with a minor in theatre set design). In her free time, she loves hiking and solving crossword puzzles.

Frances Wenrich

Master’s student

Frances is a Master’s Student in the CSD Program. She previously received an M.Ed in TESOL from Boston University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from Millersville University. She hopes to work in a medical setting with patients who have aphasia or other neurological conditions. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and trying new restaurants.

Betty Zhang

Undergraduate student

Betty is an undergraduate student studying communicative sciences and disorders at NYU. She hopes to become a bilingual speech language pathologist in the future. In free time she enjoys playing video games and badminton.

Ave Leone

Undergraduate student

Ave is currently an undergraduate student at NYU, studying computer science. She is planning on attending grad school in the future, and is interested in software development and artificial intelligence. Outside of academics, she enjoys drawing, painting, and spending time with loved ones.

Xena Maldonado

Carolyn Falconer, PhD., CCC-SLP 

Mara Steinberg Lowe, PhD., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor at Queens College

Stacey Rimikis, PhD., CCC-SLP

Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU

Hung-Shao Cheng, PhD

Post doctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin- Madison

Juhi Kidwai, PhD

Poppy Fane De Salis

Khamiya Nisbett

Anna Smith

Ashley Kim

Megan Burns

LeighAnn Davis

Allie Gusmano

Priscila Miori

Rebecca Wellner

Amanda Gluzberg

Nicolette Khosa

Izabela Gryzebyk

Chloë Thorburn

Alexandra Gordon

Kevin Tjokro

Tova Sklar

Krystal Canellas

Alison Vinokur

Emma Newquist

Josh Wittstein