People

Mara Kapsner-Smith is a Ph.D. candidate in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She received her M.S. in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from UW in 2009, where she conducted research in auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice quality. She has worked clinically as a laryngology-specialized SLP, as a research scientist at the National Center for Voice and Speech, and as a lecturer in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at UW. Her current research focuses on the pathophysiology of voice disorders.

Maddie Knutson is a master’s student in the Medical Speech-Language Pathology program at UW. She earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts from Santa Clara University in 2016 and her B.S. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from UW in 2021. She is pursuing her master’s thesis in the Vocal Function Lab and is interested in studying how auditory feedback informs motor changes during phonation. In her free time, she enjoys singing, reading, hiking, and experimenting with coffee-making techniques.

Emily Simmons is a master's student in the Medical Speech-Language Pathology program at UW and a research assistant in the Vocal Function Lab. She received a M.M. in Voice from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and a B.M. in Voice with a cross-college double major in German Studies from the University of Cincinnati. Her clinical and research interests include voice disorders, motor speech disorders, and gender-affirming care. In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring local coffee brews in Seattle.

Ryn Tweedie is a master’s student in the Medical Speech-Language Pathology program at UW and a research assistant in the Vocal Function Lab. She graduated from University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2019 with a B.S. in Communication Disorders, a B.S. in Psychology, and a letter of specialization in Developmental Disabilities & Human Services. She is especially interested in acute care settings, voice disorders, and AAC technologies. In her free time, Ryn loves to run in the rain (perfect in the PNW), play board games, and obsess over Survivor.

Will Vestal is a master's student in the Medical Speech-Language Pathology program at UW and a research assistant in the Vocal Function Lab. He received a M.M. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College and a postbaccalaureate B.S. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from UW. His clinical and research interests include neurologic voice disorders, motor speech disorders, gender-affirming voice and communication, and professional voice care.