Our Team

Sandy Snyder, B.S.

Lab Manager

Sandy SNyder has been a Research Associate in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences for the past 14 years. She joined the ABC lab in the summer of 2023. She schedules participants for studies being conducted within the laboratory, collects data from participants, directs and organizes the undergraduate and graduate students regarding lab tasks, and assists with data file management and analysis. Sandy studied kinesiology and agriculture economics previously at Purdue.

Emily Bauman

Speech-Language Pathologist

Emily Bauman has worked in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences in a variety of positions since 2017.  She joined the ABC lab in the fall of 2023. Primary responsibilities in the ABC lab include recruitment and testing of participants, especially people with aphasia. Emily earned her M.S. from Purdue University.  Emily is a certified Speech Language Pathologist and licensed in the state of Indiana. 

Emily Sebranek

Speech-Language Pathologist and PhD Student

Emily is a PhD student and certified speech language pathologist, practicing in the acute inpatient setting. She holds degrees from Midwestern University-Glendale and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research interests include cognition following stroke, the interaction between attention and language in post-stroke aphasia, and the relationship between cognition, speech prosody, and sentence comprehension.  

Svetlana Kuptsova

Postdoctoral Researcher

Svetlana V. Kuptsova is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University. Prior to joining Purdue University, she worked as a neuropsychologist at the Center for Speech Pathology and Neurorehabilitation, Moscow, Russia, at the same time she worked as a junior research fellow at the Center for Language and Brain at the National Research University HSE in Moscow, Russia and Laboratory of General and Clinical Neurophysiology at the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, Moscow, Russia. Also, she worked as an Assistant professor at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University and taught 3-rd year students in the Department of Clinical Psychology.
In her research, Dr. Kuptsova uses a combination of neuropsychological, neuroimaging (e.g., structural MRI, functional MRI), and behavioral methodologies to investigate language, cognitive deficits (especially in attention and memory), and neural recovery mechanisms in individuals with and without aphasia after brain damage (e.g., stroke, TBI).

Anna Huston

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Anna Huston is a junior double majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and Brain and Behavioral Sciences. Anna joined the lab in the fall of 2022. She took her first SLHS course with Dr. LaCroix and thought she would be a great mentor. Research was intriguing to Anna as she could apply what she was learning about in school. Anna is very interested in the cognitive side of speech and wanted to dive into this field as soon as possible. The ABC lab was a great fit! At Purdue, Anna is involved in National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association and a Panhellenic organization. In her free time, she likes to read, go on a walk and spend time with friends and family. Anna is grateful for the opportunity to be involved in research and is excited to be a part of the ABC lab!

Courtney Gilman

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Courtney is a senior majoring in Speech Language and Hearing Science as well as minoring in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. She joined the lab in fall of 2023 because she loves learning about the brain and what occurs after traumatic brain injury. She thought the ABC lab would be the perfect place to learn more about here interests and gain knowledge that will help her as a future SLP. At Purdue she is a member of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association and the forensic science club. She also is one of the captains of the Purdue Women’s Rugby team and has been playing rugby for 7 years. In her free time she loves to hang out with friends, workout and color.

Amanda Rickert

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Amanda is a junior studying Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Human Development and Family Science. She has been a member of the lab since Fall 2022. She joined the lab because she wanted to learn more about acquired brain disorders and language disorders, having learned about these topics from Dr. LaCroix’s SLHS 115 course. She saw the lab as a great opportunity for hands-on learning and is interested in exploring how aphasia affects people’s daily life. Outside of the lab, she is a copyeditor for The Exponent, a member of Purdue’s National Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association and a panhellenic sorority. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family and doing yoga. 

Jenna Siefert

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jenna is a junior majoring in speech, language, and hearing sciences with minors in Psychology, Linguistics, and Spanish for the Professions. She joined the lab in fall 2023. Jenna became interested in stroke effects on the brain after her first SLHS class: Intro to Communicative Disorders. Jenna figured the ABC lab would be a great fit, as it explores stroke and TBI effects on the brain with cognition and language. She is an academic tutor, and involved in the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association, World Health Purdue, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Outside of the lab, Jenna enjoys being with friends and family, reading, working out, and just being outside. She adores working with the ABC lab and its team!

Gracie Jutte

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Gracie Jutte is a Junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences and Critical Disability Studies. Gracie joined the lab in Fall of 2023. After taking the introduction SLHS course she became very interested in the acquired brain injuries and thought the ABC lab would be a good place to learn more about it! She is excited for the opportunity to learn in a more hands-on way. Outside of lab, Gracie is involved in Cooperative life and Purdues chapter NSSLHA. In her free time she enjoys being outside and spending time with family and friends. She is excited for the opportunity to be a part of the ABC lab!

Abigail Foley

Research Assistant

Abby is a fifth-year student double majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and Developmental and Family Science with a minor in Psychology. Abby joined the ABC Lab in the Summer of 2024. Abby has a deep passion for the importance of self-expression. She believes that everybody should have the ability to feel seen, heard, and understood.  This belief led her to develop an interest in how brain injuries and aphasia impact individual’s ability to communicate, among other things.  She saw the ABC Lab’s areas of research and knew it was a perfect fit for her and her interests. In her free time, Abby enjoys playing cello in the Purdue Philharmonic Orchestra. She also enjoys listening to music and learning about the artists who create it.

Lauren Boone

Undergrauate Research Assistant

Lauren is a sophomore majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a double minor in Human Development & Family Studies and Psychology. She joined the lab in Fall 2024. Lauren has been interested in psychology and the structures of the brain since high school. Since taking her first SLHS class at Purdue, she has wanted to learn more about how they relate to speech and language as well. Lauren is also involved in the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association, Purdue Girl Gains, Greek Life, and the HHS Success Mentors Program. Outside of the lab, Lauren enjoys visiting family, working out, and going on walks with friends. She is thrilled to be a part of the ABC lab!

Kylie Norman

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kylie is a junior double majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and Spanish. She joined the lab in Fall 2024. Kylie took Dr. LaCroix’s class her first semester at Purdue and specifically became interested in traumatic brain injuries and aphasia from the units in class. She would like to work as an SLP in a hospital setting and believes understanding brain processes can help build a better foundation with clients as an SLP. Kylie is also involved in the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association, Higher Ground Dance Company, and is a Greater Lafayette WyldLife and Student Staff leader. Outside of the lab, Kylie loves reading, dancing, and running. She is very grateful to be in the lab and have the opportunity to do research at Purdue.

Rose Ramirez

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Rose is a junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in psychology, she was drawn to the complexities of acquired brain and language disorders after taking Dr. LaCroix’s Intro to Communicative Disorders course. This course sparked a deep curiosity within Rose, leading to her decision to join the ABC Lab in Fall 2023. Being part of this lab has allowed Rose to explore the intricate connections between brain injury and language impairment. She is eager to continue delving into research that contributes to a better understanding of these challenges. Outside the lab, Rose likes to engage in a variety of hobbies such as running, cooking, gardening, and reading, to name a few.
She looks forward to further developing her research skills and making meaningful contributions to the work being done at the ABC lab.

Isabella Maradkel

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Isabella is a senior studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor of Human Development and Family Studies. She joined the ABC lab in Fall 2024. Isabella is interested in learning more about traumatic brain injury and its impact on speech and language. She is eager to learn more about the role of an SLP in a research setting. At Purdue, Isabella is involved in the National Student Speech and Language Association, Best Buddies, and Purdue CHAARG. Outside of the lab, Isabella likes to workout and spend time with her friends and family. Isabella is thrilled to be starting in the ABC lab this fall and is looking forward to gaining hands-on research experience!

Carlie Morris

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Carlie Morris is a sophomore majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Linguistics. Carlie joined the Lab in the spring 2023 semester. She became interested in aphasia and the effects of traumatic brain injuries after she learned about them in her first semester at Purdue. Carlie felt that this lab would help her expand her knowledge of said topics and much more. In her free time, she enjoys reading a good book, working out, and playing with her dogs.

Abby DePaul

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Abby DePaul is a graduating junior majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences with minors in Spanish and Dance. Abby joined the ABC Lab because she wanted to get involved in research at Purdue and learn more about aphasia as well as the relationship between parts of speech and how they are processed in the brain. At Purdue, Abby is a part of the John Martinson Honors College and serves as a member of the Honors Mentor Council. She is also a member of both the Purdue and National chapters of NSSLHA (National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association), the Purdue Contemporary Dance Company, and the XSeries Dance Club. In her free time, she loves to read, dance, run, spend time with friends, and go on walks with her dog! Abby is looking forward to everything she will learn from being a part of the ABC Lab!

Ava Singh

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ava Singh is a junior majoring in Biomedical Health Sciences on a Pre-med track. She joined the lab in Fall 2024 looking to get experience in a research lab. She is very interested in learning about acquired brain injuries and ways to improve the lives of people with these injuries. At Purdue, Ava is a part of Brain Exercise Initiative, Health and Human Sciences Student Council, and the cheerleading team. Ava is very excited for this opportunity as part of the ABC Lab!