People
Courtney E. Venker, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Lingo Lab Director
Courtney is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and an Assistant Professor in Michigan State University's Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders. She is interested in understanding how children with autism spectrum disorder learn language, with an emphasis on how these children integrate auditory and visual information to learn the meanings of words. Courtney is also interested in determining what types of simplified speech best support language development in young children with language delays.
Courtney is the recipient of an Early Career Research Award from the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders at the National Institutes of Health. This 3-year project examines the influence of visual perceptual salience on word processing and word learning in toddlers and preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder.
When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Greg, and their two children, Elliott and Miriam.
Jenny Johnson, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Jenny is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. She joined the Lingo Lab in September 2020 with the goal of contributing to the important research that informs intervention techniques for children with communication disorders. Before joining the Lingo Lab, Jenny worked as a school-based SLP in Madison, Wisconsin for 11 years. Her previous experience also includes work in research labs at University of Wisconsin - Madison and University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. She enjoys using play-based assessment and intervention to support young children and families in their communication needs.
Jenny also enjoys a few fun hobbies including painting, playing piano, camping, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Zac Hesse, BA, Psychology
Research Coordinator
Zac graduated from Michigan State University in the summer of 2020, obtaining his BA in psychology with a minor in law, justice, and public policy. Amid the pandemic, Zac undertook as a role as a research assistant in the phase 3 double blind placebo controlled clinical trial known as the Ensemble Study. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine. After two years of working on that study, Zac has now become a member of the Lingo Lab as it’s full-time research coordinator. As such, Zac is realigned with some of his main passions which include working with children and contributing to research in the autism spectrum disorder community.
In his spare time Zac loves to attend concerts, go hiking, watch anime, care for his tarantulas, do yoga, and spend time with friends and family.
Emily Lorang, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Emily is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist with clinical expertise in early intervention and augmentative and alternative communication. As a researcher, she is interested in how we can better support language development and communication across environments in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and fragile X syndrome). Specifically, her research focuses on 1) the role of caregiver input on language learning and 2) how different social contexts and underlying mental health challenges (e.g., anxiety) impact communication abilities.
In her free time, Emily enjoys gardening, being outside in nearly any capacity, and spending time with family.
Kendra Peffers, Graduate Student
Research Assistant
Kendra graduated from Central Michigan University (CMU) in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders and is now pursuing a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. She joined the Lingo Lab in 2018 while an undergrad at CMU. Kendra aims to work with individuals across the age and ability spectrum as a speech-language pathologist, and she hopes to contribute to the field through further research and practice in a medical setting.
In her free-time, Kendra also enjoys going on hikes, listening to music, and playing with her dogs.
Loren Aguilar, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Loren is an undergrad student in the class of 2023 at Michigan State University. She is pursuing a major in Communicative Sciences and Disorders and Psychology, with a minor in Cognitive Science. She hopes to become a Speech-Language Pathologist who works with children in school settings.
Some of her hobbies include listening to music and podcasts, journaling, reading and driving at night to observe city sceneries.
Kezen Sanchez, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Kezen is an undergraduate student in the class of 2024 at Michigan State University. He is pursuing a double major in Human Biology and Psychology, with a minor in Cognitive Science. He hopes to become a physician that focuses on mental, neurological, or children’s health. Kezen is excited to better understand and help those with autism spectrum disorder in the Lingo Lab and use newly applied skills learned from this research in his future endeavors.
In his free-time Kezen enjoys painting, volunteering, and thrifting!
Savannah Morisot, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Savannah is an undergrad student in the class of 2024 at Michigan State University. She is pursuing a major in Communicative Sciences and Disorders, with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She hopes to become a speech and language pathologist who works with children in a private practice.
Some of her hobbies include reading, walking, watching the sunset, and spending time with her friends and family!
Emma Erlenbeck, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Emma is an undergrad student in the class of 2024 at Michigan State University. Her major is Communicative Sciences and Disorders and she is pursuing her minors in Cognitive Science and Education Studies. Emma hopes to become a Speech Language Pathologist that works with children.
Outside of school Emma's hobbies include playing piano and baking!
Lexi Brower, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Lexi is an undergraduate student in the class of 2024. She is pursuing her major in Communicative Science and Disorders. Lexi hopes to become a Speech and Language Pathologist working with individuals on the autism spectrum in a school or therapy setting.
Some of Lexi's hobbies include working at an ABA therapy center for children with autism, being with friends and family, reading, yoga and traveling.
Emma Walker, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Emma is an undergraduate student in the class of 2024. She is pursuing her major in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. She is hoping to become a Speech-Language Pathologist who works with children in school settings.
Her hobbies outside of school include reading, crafting, and watching movies.
Katherine Zarifah, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Katherine is an undergraduate student in the class of 2025. She is majoring in Communicative Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Cognitive Science. She hopes to become a Speech-Langauge Pathologist who works with children.
Her hobbies include playing and watching sports, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
Swathi Kambhatla, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Swathi is an undergraduate student in the class of 2025. She is majoring in Biosystems Engineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering. She hopes to become a physician in the future after graduating from MSU.
Outside of school her hobbies include baking, playing softball, and listening to music.
Gowrani Chadalavada, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Gowrani is an undergraduate student in the class of 2025. She is pursuing her major in Physiology with a minor in Cognitive Science. After graduating, she hopes to medical school and become a physician.
Some of her hobbies include reading, baking, and spending time with her friends and family.
Kate Lossing, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Kate is an undergraduate student in the class of 2026. She is pursuing a major in Communicative Science and Disorders and a minor in Cognitive Science. Kate hopes to work as a Speech Language Pathologist in a school or medical setting.
Some of her hobbies include spending time with friends and family, traveling, and golfing.
Allison Murphy, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Allison is an undergraduate student in the class of 2026. She is pursuing a major in Communicative Science and Disorders and a minor in Human Behavior and Social Science. Allison plans to get her masters degree to become a Speech-Langauge Pathologist in a school setting after graduating.
Some of Allison's hobbies include playing tennis, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Duaa Kazmi, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Duaa is an undergraduate student in the class of 2026. She is pursuing a major in Psychology. Duaa plans to become a psychiatrist after graduating from Michigan State University.
Some of Duaa's hobbies include swimming, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Abhinav Anand, Undergraduate Student
Research Assistant
Abhinav is an undergraduate student in the class of 2026. He is majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and is pursuing a minor in Bioethics and South Indian and Asian studies. Abhianv hopes to go into the medical field and hopes to work with children after graduating from MSU.
Some of Abhinav's hobbies include South Indian Classical Dance, music, acting, watching Netflix, and going for a Starbucks run.