Sara Kover, Ph.D.
Sara Kover joined the Speech and Hearing Sciences faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2014. She completed her postdoctoral training in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received her doctorate in Educational Psychology there in 2012.
Dr. Kover’s research focus is on the development of language abilities in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders. Her research has included individuals with fragile X syndrome, which is the leading inherited cause of intellectual disability, as well as individuals with autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome. The overarching goal of this research is to understand how specific cognitive processes and learning mechanisms interact with the learning opportunities afforded by the environment over the course of development. Ultimately, this work will inform what is known about the linguistic phenotypes associated with these disorders and will help guide intervention.
Dr. Kover serves as co-director of the CASE (Collaborating Across Special Education) Scholars Program funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, along with Dr. Carly Roberts and Dr. Selma Powell of the College of Education. This interdisciplinary training program serves master's students who are interested in working in the public schools to meet the needs of students with high intensity needs.