Lab Personnel

Our Team

Lab Director

Our lab is led by the esteemed Dr. M. Adelaida (Laida) Restrepo, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, who serves as the Chair of the College of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Restrepo is renowned for her expertise in oral language, emergent literacy development, and the prevention of academic challenges in bilingual children. As a bilingual speech-language pathologist, she dedicates her research to understanding and enhancing the language and literacy skills of bilingual children. Proud of her Colombian heritage, Dr. Restrepo brings a rich cultural perspective to her work, enriching our lab's mission and impact.

 

Lab Coordinators

Myriam Vazquez, B.A., is our Project Manager. With over five years of research experience, including her work with USF's Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, Myriam excels in administering and scoring neuropsychological tests, assessing bilingual children, and managing various projects. Driven by her passion for serving bilingual children, she brings invaluable expertise and commitment to our lab. Proudly rooted in her Puerto Rican heritage, Myriam's cultural background enriches her contributions and aligns seamlessly with our mission.

 

Michelle Rodriguez, B.A., serves as our Lab Coordinator. She began her academic journey in psychology at the University of Puerto Rico, later shifting to speech-language pathology, inspired by her work with non-verbal and autistic children as a cosmetologist in Tampa. Starting as a volunteer while studying at USF, Michelle quickly advanced to the role of Lab Coordinator due to her exceptional insight in recruiting and her diligent work ethic. She now oversees activities at the Bilingual Language and Literacy Laboratory, playing a crucial role in advancing research on bilingual children. Michelle is currently applying to graduate school, with aspirations to further her impact in the field of speech-language pathology
 
 

Doctorate

Lucy Agbo, M.A., holds a B.A. in French Language and Literature and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics. As a proud Nigerian and passionate language enthusiast, she brings a valuable linguistic perspective to the lab. Her research focuses on bilingualism, language development, and literacy. Lucy is fluent in English, Idioma and French and is currently learning Spanish.

 

Anna K Almeida Soares, M.S., holds a B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and an M.S. in Neuroengineering. With extensive experience in language development and the neurobiology of communication disorders in children, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the lab. Proudly Brazilian, Anna enhances the lab's focus on bilingualism and emergent literacy, offering valuable insights into language acquisition and development across diverse populations. She is fluent in English and Portuguese and is currently learning Spanish.

 

Anthony Lister B.S., holds a B.S. in Language, Speech, and Hearing and is currently a first-year Ph.D. student, having transitioned directly from his undergraduate studies in Communication Sciences and Disorders at USF. A U.S. native, he is working under the mentorship of Dr. Restrepo, our Director, and Dr. Supraja Anand. His primary research interests lie in applied and sociolinguistics, and he is a native English speaker.

 

Research Assistants

Magdalena (Maggie) Alvarez, B.S., is our lab's 2nd-year Graduate Research Assistant. Maggie earned her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a concentration in Language, Hearing, and Speech from the University of South Florida. She is continuing her education at USF as a 2nd-year Master's student in Speech-Language Pathology. Maggie joined our lab to contribute to groundbreaking bilingual research and to expand resources and raise awareness of bilingualism services in the Tampa Bay area. Her current interests and experiences include the assessment and intervention of bilingual and dual-language learners in school-age children. Proud of her Mexican heritage, Maggie brings a rich cultural perspective to our team

Ashley Safransky is a senior undergrad at the University of South Florida, studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with a concentration in Language, Hearing, and Speech Sciences, and a minor in Aging Sciences. She aspires to continue into the master's program at USF to become a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). Ashley joined the lab to immerse herself in the research process and acquire diverse skills to aid her professional development in the CSD field. Her interests include working in research or with older adults in a private practice environment.

 

Volunteers

Coming Soon!