The Speakers
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Dr. Areej Alasseri is a consultant speech-language pathologist, who holds a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from McGill University. She is a certified ASHA member, and was named ASHA Fellow in 2020, as the first Saudi/Arab to receive this honor. Dr. Areej is also the recipient of the 2018 McGill Medicine Alumni Award for the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her achievements include spearheading the establishment of the first Masters Program in Speech-Language Pathology in the Arabian Gulf region, co-establishing the Graduate Clinical Diploma in Speech-Language Pathology under the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), and supervising over 60 student research projects that were presented at international conferences. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Dar Al-Hekma University and Alfaisal University, and her area of expertise is in Aphasia and other neurogenic communication disorders in Arabic speakers.
Dr. Areej serves on several Academic Advisory Boards/Committees for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, including programs at King Saud University, King AbdulAziz University, and Dar Al-Hekma University. She previously served on numerous national and international boards for communication disorders. These include ASHA International Issues Board, Communication & Swallowing Disorders Committee under SCFHS, Saudi Society for Speech Pathology and Audiology, and Neurorehabilitation Committee of the Saudi Stroke Society. She previously held academic leadership positions including Provost of Dar Al-Hekma University.
LinkedIn pofile : linkedin.com/in/areej-alasseri-90911a25
Dr. Areej Alasseri
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Dr. Martine Elie. Ph.D.,CCC-SLP is the Manager of Research and Evaluation at the Qatar Foundation. She is a certified bilingual pediatric (English/Haitian Creole) Speech-Language Pathologist with over for 25 years’ experience working in a variety of settings including higher education, private practice, public schools, early intervention, and non-governmental agencies.
Dr. Elie currently serves on the ASHA International Issues Board and is serving as the ASHA Global Issues and Practice Conference committee Topic Committee Chair for the 5th year. She has also been a member of the SIG 17 Professional Development Committee. Dr. Elie is the President and Founder of the Haitian Caucus of ASHA. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Dar Al Hemka University, Howard University, and the University of the District of Columbia. She has presented her research locally, nationally, and internationally. She has organized and led service-learning trips for students, faculty, and staff Haiti and the Dominican Republic as well as organized Teacher training workshops abroad.
Dr. Elie received her Bachelor’s in Speech Language Pathology from St. Johns University, master’s from the University of the District of Columbia, and Ph.D. from Howard University. Dr. Elie has been recognized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for her contributions to multicultural affairs and international achievements. Her research interests include assessment and treatment of Culturally and linguistically diverse populations, bilingualism/dual language development, clinical education, interprofessional education and practice, mentorship, international capacity building, and service learning.
linkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/martine-elie-ph-d-ccc-slp-787a8040
Dr. Martine Elie
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Gonçalo Leal is a Speech and Language Therapist, Co-Founder, and Clinical Director at Speechcare /iStutter Center, with locations in Portugal, Spain, and the UAE. He is also the International Coordinator and Professor in the “Specialization on Fluency Disorders” program at the Faculty of Medicine of Concepciَn’s University in Chile.
A founding member of the Portuguese Society of Speech Therapy, Gonçalo has served as a Clinical Educator in stuttering, conducting academic collaborations and courses in over 20 countries across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. He has co-authored several books, chapters, and research papers on stuttering and servesas an advisor to universities, pharmaceutical companies, and technology firms on projects related to fluency disorders.
LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/gonçalo-leal-499b0751
Dr.Goncalo Leal
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Dr Fadi AlSwaiti is an assistant professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at AlAhliyya Amman University. He received his bachelor's and master’s degrees from the University of Jordan, and his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Dr Fadi AlSwaiti worked as a speech pathologist for ten years with much of that time spent in the medical sector. After graduating from his PhD program in 2019, he assumed a tenure track position as an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin River Falls teaching both undergraduate and graduate students. Currently, he serves as the speech and hearing disorders department at AlAhliyya Amman University as well as the director of the speech and hearing clinics located on campus. His current research focus is on creating a normative database and determinants of lexical retrieval in Jordanian Arabic speakers. Additional scholarly work is focusing on validation research in the development of the Jordanian Arabic aphasia test.
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Dr. Fadi AlSwaiti
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Sulare Rose is a researcher and professor of speech-language pathology with a specialization in sociolinguistics and bilingualism. Sulare's work centers on exploring practical and innovative approaches for multilingual individuals that leverage their cultural and language backgrounds as cognitive and intellectual assets. Currently, Sulare is the professional development manager for ASHA’s SIG-17 Global Issues in Communication Disorders & Related Disciplines and is an assistant professor of speech-language pathology at the University of the District of Columbia. In 2023, she was named “ASHA Innovator” for her innovative work in communication sciences and disorders. She has been featured on the Emmy award-winning PBS docuseries “Talking Black in America.
LinkedIn profile:linkedin.com/in/sulare-rose
Dr. Sulare Rose
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Dr. Maha Aldera is an accomplished Assistant Professor and Consultant Speech Pathologist with over 21 years of dedicated experience. Her expertise lies in the field of speech language pathology sepcifically acquired language disorders, where she has made significant contributions to both academia and clinical practice.
Dr. Aldera holds a PhD degree from Seton Hall University and wroked as former Dean of a College of Health and Rehabilitation Scineces, and current Program Director of Speech and Swllaoiwng Pathology Program at Princes Nourah University, Riyadh, KSA.
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Dr. Maha Aldera
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Laura Xiaoqian Guo 郭笑千 is a PhD candidate in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Program at the University of Washington (UW). Her research focuses on language development and disorders in children from birth to five, bilingual language acquisition, and caregiver coaching. As a certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP) in the United States, Laura works closely with children with communication disorders and supports families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds. With a strong dedication to promoting healthy language development and learning outcomes in CLD populations, Laura’s clinical and research work emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the unique needs of these communities.
Laura has been actively engaged in international endeavors in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is a supporting staff member in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA’s) International Programs. Additionally, she has played a key role leading a Chinese SLP team, in developing the STEPS-ASD program, which aims to train clinicians working with young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in China. Laura has also shared her expertise and findings through numerous international presentations, showcasing her commitment to advancing the field of speech-language pathology on a global scale.
Ms. Laura Guo
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Chisomo Selemani, M.A., CCC-SLP, is an associate professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Baldwin Wallace University. Her clinical and research interests include literacy enrichment in multicultural and multilingual environments, the utilization of international education as a training mechanism in cultivating culturally responsive practitioners, and international telepractice. She is the Coordinator of the award-winning Baldwin Wallace University in Zambia initiative. Having lived in the United States as a member of the Zambian diaspora for the majority of her life, Selemani endeavors to reflect the Zambian spirit of diversity and peace in her work demonstrated by the words, though we are different, "tiyende pamodzi ndim'utima umo" - "let us walk together with one heart".
LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/chisomo-selemani-866ab312
Chisomo Selemani
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Reem Khamis (a.k.a Reem Khamis-Dakwar), Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a Professor and Academic Director of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program, Long Island University, Brooklyn. She is the director of the Culture, Language, and Society in SLP (CLaS in SLP) Lab. She is a professor of Emirates at Adelphi University. Her area of expertise focuses on language development, processing, and clinical services within the sociolinguistic situation of diglossia and individuals from diverse populations. She is the 2020 recipient of the CAPCSD Excellence in Diversity Award. She is a member of the Speech, Language, Hearing Scientists Equity Action Collective and the Journal of Critical Study of Communication and Disability.
LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/reem-khamis-6b629a17
Dr. Reem Khamis
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Reeman is an Assistant Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at California State University, Fullerton. She completed her PhD in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto in 2023, focusing on evaluating novel treatments for patients with a history of stroke and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). During her PhD, she received numerous scholarships and research awards, including the competitive Ontario Graduate Scholarship and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute's Research Excellence Award. Following her doctoral studies, Reeman continued her research as a postdoctoral fellow at Sunnybrook Research Institute, investigating novel metrics for detecting clinical outcomes in patients with post-stroke OSA.
Her postdoctoral research was funded by a postdoctoral fellowship grant from the StrokeCog platform. Prior to her research journey, Reeman earned her clinical master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Jordan in 2015. She gained extensive clinical SLP experience working with individuals with neurogenic disorders in schools, private clinics, and hospital/ university clinics in Jordan and Canada. Her clinical work and research have consistently highlighted her interest in exploring the interconnections between neurological disorders and communication and swallowing disorders. Reeman has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and conference proceedings in high-impact journals and has delivered over 20 presentations at international conferences.
LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/reeman-speech-pathologist
Dr. Reeman Marzougah
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Dr. Bea Staley works for the Northern Territory Department of Education as Assistant Director Allied Health Project in Central Australia. Bea is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Charles Darwin University in the Faculty of Arts and Society. Bea has experience working in multicultural and multilingual communities in Kenya, the United States, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands and Australia. Bea is interested in global issues of SLP practice emphasising culturally and contextually responsive service provision.
Dr. Bea Staley
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Dr. Wael A. Al-Dakroury, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an International Consultant and Speaker and a highly experienced bilingual pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist. Currently, Dr. Al-Dakroury is the International Speech-Language Pathology Ambassador for the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and a Member of the ASHA SIG 17 Coordinating Committee. Dr. Al-Dakroury is Co-Founder and Director of the Communication Disorders Department at Psych Care Clinics and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh. Dr. Wael is recognized for his outstanding international contributions, he has received a certificate of recognition award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2023). Dr. Wael took part in various symposia, forums, and conferences as director, coordinator; Head, and member of the scientific committees (i.e., Member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention Scientific Committee). Over 30 years, he worked as a Consultant Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Supervisor, and Professional Trainer for different medical, rehabilitation, and educational institutions. Dr. Al-Dakroury's research and publication interests focus on the pragmatic disorders in children with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as language disorders in pediatrics. Finally, Dr. Wael is an Editorial Board Member and Reviewer for several leading peer-reviewed journals in the field (i.e., Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, JSLHR).
LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/waelslp
