Nikki Hoopes
Communication Sciences & Disorders (COSD) emphasis
There are many children who are impacted by adversity and relational poverty; there is limited research in the field of communication disorders on how this can impact communication skills and what interventions they may need. I would like to help fill that gap.”
Hoopes received both her Bachelor and Master degrees in communication disorders at Truman State University and has worked as a school and home-based speech-language pathologist (SLP) in the Phoenix area for the past five years. She is interested in learning the impacts of early childhood trauma on language and social skill development, and appropriate intervention strategies. She was drawn to TCU because of its interdisciplinary nature, allowing her to look at all angles of her areas of interest.
- Mentor(s): Emily Lund, Ph.D., and Danielle Brimo, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: Tacos
- Favorite book: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
- Best advice you’ve received: “Contribute more than you criticize.” – Brene Brown
Angela Boyan
Communication Sciences & Disorders emphasis
There is very little research in the COSD field on spoken language in teenagers and I would like to bring attention to this demographic and demystify the process of working with teens with language impairments for speech language pathologists.”
Boyan received both her Bachelor in speech language pathology and audiology and childhood development as well as her Master's in communication sciences and disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas. She worked as an SLP at a non-profit speech therapy clinic focused on patients with Parkinson's disease before transitioning to work with children in the public-school setting (pre-K through 6th grade, then 7-8th grade). She is interested in how language impairment in adolescence impacts success outcomes in adulthood. She was drawn to TCU's program because it provides excellent preparation for the transition into academia. She and her husband also love the Fort Worth area and believe it offers the perfect environment to support her goals.
- Mentor(s): Danielle Brimo, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: Love a good pizza!
- Favorite book: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- Best advice you've received: "Completing a Ph.D. is not about being the smartest, it’s about being the most resilient."
Karla Garcia
Communication Sciences & Disorders emphasis
I want to help address the lack of research in the areas of bilingualism and explore ways to better support this community. I also want to represent Latinas in academia to help increase the number of clinicians in our field from marginalized groups.”
Garcia received her Bachelor degree from the University of North Texas and her Master degree from Abilene Christian University. She has been a practicing SLP for three years working in the school setting, private practice, and in early childhood intervention. She is interested in bilingual assessment and intervention in the public-school setting. She chose TCU to be a part of a supportive environment with enriching opportunities to help her continue to grow as a speech-pathologist.
- Mentor(s): Jean Rivera-Pérez, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: Steak nachos
- Favorite book? Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
- Best advice you've received: “Si fuera fácil todos lo hicieran.” / “If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
Debra (Dee Dee) L. Flores
Social Work emphasis
I was pleased with the education I received in my undergraduate and graduate programs. I am loyal to TCU.”
Flores earned both her Bachelor degree in English and Master of Social Work at TCU. She has worked in various areas from legal services to law enforcement and military administration, to mental health clinical practice and domestic relations. She is interested in studying coercive control and how it impacts state and local entities and families.
- Mentor(s): Mary Twis, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: Don't have one
- Favorite book: The Harry Potter series
- Best advice you've received: "Do your best and you will have no regrets."
Gouresh Powar
Kinesiology emphasis
I want to further and my knowledge and open a school in India.”
Powar earned his Bachelor degree in applied physics from Shivaji University in India, a Master degree in kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University and a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Midwestern State University (MSU). He was a sport science intern with Michael Johnson Performance and was a graduate assistant coach for the women’s cross country and track and field teams at MSU. He is interested in studying biomechanics. He was attracted to TCU by its infrastructure, lab space and faculty.
- Mentor(s): Peter Weyand, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: Chicken and rice
- Favorite book: Not a book person but loves the Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Best advice you've received: “You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True power is sitting back and observing everything with logic. If words control you that means everyone else can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass.” – Anonymous
Camille Matthews
Social Work emphasis
As a mental health clinician with expertise in trauma-informed care and perinatal mental health, I am eager to expand my impact by engaging at the macro level. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to policy changes, enhance practices and advance the knowledge base through advanced research.”
Matthews earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of North Texas and her Master of Social Work from Texas A&M University in Commerce. She has been a licensed social worker for 14 years and is a board-approved supervisor. She has worked in behavioral health, foster care and adoption, acute care and nursing homes, private practice, schools and higher education. She is also a current adjunct faculty member in the Social Work Department at TCU. She is interested in the intersection of maternal mental health and intimate partner violence in Black women. Working alongside faculty who are leaders and researchers shaping the social work profession, she is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with other disciplines within health sciences and to be mentored and supported by both the social work faculty and other experienced experts as she pursues her Ph.D.
- Mentor(s): Nada Elias-Lambert, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: I love Mexican food, pizza and ice cream.
- Favorite book: Her favorite book right now is The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
- Best advice you've received: “Treat people the way you want to be treated."
Daniel Ibarra
Communication Sciences & Disorders emphasis
There is a big gap in speech-language assessment among culturally and linguistically diverse individuals which causes several individuals to be misdiagnosed within our field. I would like to close the gap in knowledge and spread awareness among bilingual language development.”
Ibarra earned a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. He then came to TCU where he earned his Master of Science Speech-Language Pathology with an emphasis in bilingual speech-language pathology. He has been a school-based SLP for eight years where he advocated for bilingual and culturally and linguistically diverse issues. He’s also the chair for the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Committee of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association. He is interested in researching the development and abilities of morphology and syntax among Spanish-English bilingual individuals, and how such they relate to assessment in this population of individuals. He appreciated the nurturing and supportive environment he experienced as he was earning his master’s degree, making connections and receiving mentorship that inspired him to continue to work in research and get a Ph.D.
- Mentor(s): Emily Lund, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: A good slice of NY style pizza
- Favorite book: the Harry Potter and the Hunger Games series
- Best advice you've received: “Things happen for a reason,” and “Going where the wind takes you.”
Rebekah Gay
Kinesiology emphasis
I have a goal to become a faculty member at a university in the field of kinesiology.”
Gay earned her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with a minor in psychology as well as a Master of Science in kinesiology with a concentration in sport psychology from TCU. She is interested in the promotion of physical activity using mindfulness and technology. She continues to choose TCU because of its amazing people, supportive culture, and the mentors and friends who have stood by her throughout the entire journey. TCU has also allowed her to put down strong roots, making Fort Worth home.
- Mentor: Robyn Trocchio, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: a potato cooked in any form!
- Favorite book: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- Best advice you’ve received: “Never dull yourself for the sake of others. If they can't handle your sparkle, then they aren't someone worth concerning yourself with.”
Alice A. Regalado-Lee
Communication Sciences & Disorders emphasis
I am passionate about my research interests and excited to use this opportunity to contribute valuable insights to clinical training and practice, enhancing how we serve our communities. Also – I just love school.”
Regalado-Lee earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Science degree from TCU. She worked as a speech-language pathologist and Spanish-English bilingual evaluator for a school district, solidifying her current research interests. She aims to enhance clinical training for SLPs, particularly in the context of working with culturally and linguistically diverse school-age children with language difficulties or disorders. Specifically, she hopes to develop tools to support SLPs in the assessment and treatment of bilingual morphosyntax development. Additionally, she would like to explore the perspectives of minority caregivers with students in special education and how these insights can inform better clinical practices. She benefited greatly from the support and expertise of her mentors and professors while at TCU and is eager to continue working with and learning from them as shes pursue her Ph.D.
- Mentor(s): Jean Rivera-Pérez, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: I love seafood, Korean BBQ, pizza and Tacu Tacu
- Favorite book: Tough choice, but I recently finished Malas by Marcela Fuentes, and I highly recommend it!
- Best advice you've received: Remember what I can and cannot control.
Courtney Chovanetz
Nursing
“I want to equip myself with the tools and knowledge to make a difference in nursing simulation and bridge the academic practice gap.”
Chovanetz earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Arkansas State University and her Master of Science in Nursing Education degree from Post University. She was a registered nurse in labor and delivery for 14 years and and perinatal lead faculty member and simulation coordinator at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. She is interested in simulation research, psychological safety and cognitive overload. Her entire whole family, including her husband's side, are TCU fans. She grew up a TCU fan and states she is now honored to have be given the opportunity to earn her terminal degree here.
- Mentor: Ashley Franklin, Ph.D.
- Favorite food: Mexican
- Favorite book: Any book my daughter wants me to read with her currently.
- Best advice you've received: If something is hard, it is usually worth it.