Director
Dr. Crystle Alonzo is a clinical practice researcher and a certified speech language pathologist (SLP) specializing in child language and literacy disorders. She is an assistant professor in the School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University and the director of the CORAL Lab. Crystle worked for several years as an SLP in a variety of settings with diverse clinical populations. These experiences continue to influence her research aims. Specifically, Dr. Alonzo’s research is focused on advancing the understanding of comprehension models of language and reading to improve assessment and intervention practices for young children with developmental language disorder and dyslexia. This is done with an emphasis on accessibility, feasibility, and sustainability for practicing clinicians while supporting students and their families.
Favorite children’s book: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by: Bill Martin, Jr.
Favorite San Diego eats: Pop Pie Co.
Graduate Research Assistants
Erica Gutmann Yadgaran (she/her)
Erica is a first year PhD student in the SDSU-UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders. As a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist, she has specialized in working with school-age children with language-based learning disorders in educational, clinic, and research settings. Erica’s research interests in language and literacy development and disorders are at the intersection of clinical practice and education. Through incorporating Implementation Science frameworks, she aims for her research in Dyslexia and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) to improve educational and socioemotional outcomes for children with language and reading challenges. In Erica’s free time, she loves traveling, hiking in beautiful places, and trying new restaurants and coffee shops. She is new to San Diego and can’t wait to find a favorite place to eat.
Favorite children’s book: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Grace Nguyen (she/her)
Grace is a first year graduate student. She has previous experience working with school-aged children and is interested in the lab’s work involving bridging the gap between research and practice. In her freetime, she enjoys crocheting and swimming at the beach.
Favorite children’s book: I Love You Blue Kangaroo by Emma Chichester Clark
Favorite San Diego eats: K. Cuisine
Preston Pope (he/him)
Preston is a first year Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences graduate student. Upon graduation, he intends on working as a speech-language pathologist in an elementary school setting. He is interested in literacy development in emergent readers. He enjoys baseball, biking, catching up on his watchlist of films.
Favorite children’s book: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Favorite San Diego eats: EE Nami
Layla Saatchi (she/her)
Layla is a first year Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences graduate student. She enjoys playing soccer, reading, watching Real Housewives, and spending time with family and friends.
Favorite children’s book: Geronimo Stilton series by Elisabetta Dami
Favorite San Diego eats: Leila in North Park
Madelaine Torgerson (she/her)
Madelaine recently graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and a minor in Personality and Social Psychology. During her post-baccalaureate year, she is focused on gaining meaningful research experience as an aspiring speech-language pathologist, with a particular interest in exploring the intersection of music and language. Beyond these pursuits, Madelaine finds joy and peace in baking, visiting the beach, and spending quality time with her cats! Favorite San Diego eats: Azuki Sushi in Bankers Hill
Favorite children’s book: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Grace Boardman (she/her)
Grace is a second year BA student majoring in speech, language, and hearing sciences. She is interested in working with children as a clinical speech pathologist within the elementary schools. Grace enjoys running, spending time with her friends, and traveling to new places.
Favorite children’s book: The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Favorite San Diego eats: Filippi’s Pizza Grotto in Little Italy
Lexi Camejo (she/her)
Lexi is a third year BA student majoring in speech, language, and hearing sciences. She is interested in pursuing a career as a speech-language pathologist in the elementary school setting. Lexi enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going on hikes, visiting disneyland, and trying new food. Tribute Pizza
Favorite children’s book: No, David! by David Shannon
Favorite San Diego eats: Tribute Pizza
Noa DeBasc (she/her)
Noa is a third year undergraduate Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences major hailing from Los Angeles. She is interested in being a speech language pathologist in a school setting, and then graduating to her own private practice. She spent a semester abroad in Paris, living with her family, and loves to travel and go back to France as often as she can to work on her French and enjoy the food. In San Diego, she loves frequenting the beach and trying new restaurants and coffee shops. She doesn’t have a favorite food place in San Diego yet, but she loves Breakfast Republic
Favorite children’s book: Pinkalicious
Allyx Faretta (she/her)
Allyx is a 3rd year B.A. student majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science. She is interested in working with children and community outreach. She enjoys wakeboarding, hiking, yoga, and trying new restaurants/coffee shops.
Favorite children’s book: Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
Favorite San Diego eats: Himalayan Cuisine in La Mesa
Lillian Hall (she/her)
Lillian is a third year B.A. student student majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and minoring in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. In the future, she plans on becoming a medical speech-language pathologist. She is currently serving as treasurer on the National Student Speech, Language, Hearing Association (NSSLHA) executive board and works as a SDSU Ambassador. In her free time, Lillian enjoys going to the beach, reading, and playing water polo.
Favorite children’s book: Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann, Elizabeth Kann
Favorite San Diego eats: El Tianguis in North Park
Alissa Kashat (she/her)
A Child and Family Development undergraduate senior at San Diego State University. She also works as a Registered Behavior Technician, where she supports children and families through applied behavior analysis. Alissa plans to pursue graduate study and become a Speech-Language Pathologist, combining her passion for child development, language, and communication.
Favorite children’s book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Favorite San Diego eats: Sushi Nekosan in La Jolla
Kamryn Rowland (she/her)
Kamryn is a first year, with junior status, majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She is interested in being a future Speech Language Pathologist, or an Occupational Therapist. She enjoys working with kids in a fun environment, and is passionate about the special needs community. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends, listening to music, and going to the beach.
Favorite children’s book: Wonder by R.J Palacio
Favorite San Diego eats: Communal Coffee
Lauren Turner (she/her)
Lauren is a third year undergraduate student at SDSU majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and minoring in Personality and Social Psychology. In the future, she plans on pursuing a career as an SLP working in a school setting. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking, hanging at the beach with friends, and being crafty!
Favorite children’s book: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Favorite San Diego eats: Miguel’s Cocina
Paige Wellman (she/her)
Paige Wellman is a third year undergraduate student at SDSU majoring in Speech Langauge and Hearing and minoring in Child Family Development. She hopes to get her Masters and be able to work with children and young adults. Paige is also involved on campus as Philanthory Chairwoman for her sorority and aslo is an SDSU Ambassador. She is originally from the Bay Area and in her free time she loves to rewatch tv shows and play pickle ball.
Favorite children’s book: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
Favorite San Diego eats: Cloak and Petal in little Italy
Alumni
Austin Carrol – M.A. 2022
Carlos Cazares – B.A. 2023
Jenna Chaney – B.A. 2025
Maddie Cheffer – B.A. 2024
Emillie Cuevas – B.A. 2024
Hayden Chung – M.A. 2024
Amy Ezaki – M.A. 2022
Maliyah Flemmings – B.A., 2022
Yarden Gandelman – B.A. 2023
Aylin Garcia – B.A. 2022
Alyssa Gomez – B.A. 2023
Anissa Govind – M.A. 2022
Alexis Hartman – B.A. 2025
Christyn Jackson – M.A. 2023
Kaleigh Kim – B.A. 2022
Praise Kittipol
Selena Llanes – B.A. 2022
Angelina Lopez – B.A. 2021
Edriana Madrid – B.A. 2025
Priscilla Magana – M.A. 2025
Gia Martinez – M.A. 2025
Abby Mcguire – M.A. 2024
Autumn Nesbitt – B.A. 2024
Lilian Ngo – B.A, 2022
Rinka Oba – B.A. 2024
Elizabeth Orboñez
Sky Perlman – M.A. 2023
Juliana Salazar – M.A. 2024
Yissel Salas – B.A. 2023
Stephanie Sandoval – M.A. 2025
Makenna Sine – B.A. 2022
Lexia Sorenson – M.A. 2024
Jordan Tedesco – B.A. 2024
Maddie Waasdorp – B.A. 2024
Kate Webber – B.A. 2024
Stefani Woll – B.A. 2023
Artah Yamin – M.A. 2024
Kayla Zaldivar – M.A. 2024
Ashley Zaragoza – M.A. 2025
Ubaldo (Aldo) Ruiz Casimiro – B.A. 2024