Principal Investigator:
Jacquie Kurland, PhD, CCC-SLP 
Associate Professor
Department of Communication Disorders
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
University of Massachusetts Amherst
358 North Pleasant Street, Room 307A
Amherst, MA 01003-9296
Phone: (413) 545-4007
Fax: (413) 545-0803
Email: jkurland@comdis.umass.edu
Speech Language Pathologist / BRoCA Lab Manager:
Polly Stokes, M.S., CCC-SLP
Loves her job, but she’d rather be at the beach
Department of Communication Disorders
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
University of Massachusetts Amherst
358 North Pleasant Street, Room 307A
Amherst, MA 01003-9296
Phone: (413) 545-4008
Fax: (413) 545-0803
Email: pestokes@comdis.umass.edu
Research Assistants:
Julia Parker is a 2nd year graduate student in Speech Language Pathology. Her research interests include acquired neurogenic disorders and augmentative and alternative communication devices. She also enjoys playing intramural basketball, running, and going to the movies.
Kelly Johnson is a 2nd year graduate student in Speech Language Pathology.
Research Volunteers:
Kristyn Stem is a 1st year graduate student in Speech Language Pathology. Her clinical and research interests include acquired neurogenic disorders, phonological disorders, and patient quality of life.
Abby Wilkins is a 1st year graduate student in Speech Language Pathology. She enjoys dancing, the great outdoors, and her home state of Maine.
Kylie Osowski is a junior in the Dept. of Communication Disorders.
Colleen is a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who is majoring in Communication Disorders and Psychology. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, hiking, and travelling.
Lab Alumni:
Katherine Burke, M.A., CF-SLP
Katherine was a graduate student in the Communication Disorders program at UMASS Amherst. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Psychology in 2005. Her clinical and research interests include adult language disorders, dysphagia and early intervention. Katherine also enjoys reading, watching movies and spending quality time with
family and friends.
Nicole Silva, M.A., CF-SLP
Jason Blanchard, M.A.
Griffin Butler
Griffin Butler was a senior Communication Disorders major at UMass. His research interests include the
effects music has on the brain, language acquisition in primates, and neurolinguistics. He also enjoys traveling, films, and marine biology.
Marahu Falcon, M.A., CF-SLP
Marahu Falcon was a graduate student of speech-language pathology in the Communication Disorders Department of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in Dance and Spanish. Her current research interests include reading disorders in children and adults, acquired neurogenic disorders, and bilingualism. She also enjoys dancing, cooking, and traveling.
Kate Baldwin, M.A., CCC-SLP
Kate was a graduate student of speech-language pathology in the Department of Communication Disorders at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research interests include child and adult motor speech disorders, acquired neurogenic disorders, and
cultural and linguistic diversity. She also enjoys photography, painting, and bicycling.