Lab Director
Ciara Ousley, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Email: cousley2@unl.edu
Dr. Ciara Ousley is the director of The SCADD Lab and an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral (BCBA-D) and a former special educator in the states of Ohio and Nebraska. Her research and publications have focused on supporting the social communication skills of young children with autism and other developmental disabilities through speech and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). In her free time, Dr. Ousley enjoys spending time with her beloved pets (one cat and two dogs) and husband. When she is not in the lab, she can be spotted on the running trails around Lincoln and cheering on the Huskers.
Graduate Assistant
Tess Szydlik
Tess Szydlik is a graduate student at UNL in the Special Education program. They are originally from Midland Park, New Jersey. Tess completed their bachelor’s degree at Vanderbilt University majoring in Special Education and minoring in neuroscience. At Vanderbilt University, Tess was involved in Dr. Alexandra Da Fonte's research on AAC usage with students with complex communication needs. They worked as an adapted curriculum mathematics high school teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia for 3 years. Tess is passionate about AAC access in classrooms and communities, and hopes to research how AAC can positively impact academic, behavioral, and social outcomes. In particular, they seek to understand how AAC can improve mathematics skills. In their free time, Tess loves to cook, read, and hike!
Graduate Researchers
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams is an graduate student at UNL in speech-language pathology. She received her Bachelor's degree from UNL, majoring in communication sciences and disorders, minoring in education. Abigail enjoys working with children who use AAC and hopes to work as a Speech Pathologist in a school setting in the future. She also works part-time at the Munroe-Meyer Institute in Omaha, working with individuals with developmental disabilities. In her free time, Abigail enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.
Mallory Bellamy
Mallory Bellamy is an graduate student at UNL in speech-language pathology from Kearney, Nebraska. She received her Bachelor's degree from UNL, majoring in communication sciences and disorders with a minor in education. Mallory is very passionate about volunteering. She also enjoys working as a certified nursing assistant, as well as being a mentor for an individual with autism. She hopes to be a medical or pediatric speech-language pathologist. In her free time, she loves to read, bake, travel, and spend time with her friends and family.
Jenna Rogers
Jenna Rogers is a graduate SLP student at UNL from Rutherford, New Jersey. Jenna will be exhausting her eligibility on the track and field team while pursuing her masters. Her goal is to open her own private practice specializing in Autism and open her own coffee shop. Jenna’s passions include volunteering with various organizations, high jumping, and eating good food!!
Undergraduate Researchers
Hayley Corbridge
Hayley Corbridge is an undergraduate student at UNL majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with minors in Education and Child, Youth, and Family Studies. She plans to pursue her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology after graduation. Hayley hopes to work in a clinic or hospital setting in the future, where she can support individuals with a variety of communication needs. She currently nannies a young boy with developmental disabilities, provides ABA therapy for a young adult with autism, and is a caregiver for a survivor of traumatic brain injury. In her free time, Hayley enjoys spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, and exploring new coffee shops.
Karli Crawford
Karli Crawford is an undergraduate student at UNL, from Omaha, Nebraska. She is majoring in communication sciences and disorder with a minor in education and plans to pursue her master’s degree in speech-language pathology. She enjoys working at the Munroe-Meyer Institute as a recreational therapy technician and hopes to have a career as a speech pathologist there in the future. She also loves volunteering and making connections within the Lincoln community. In her free time, she loves to spend time with family and friends, bake, and read!
Bryn Kniep
Bryn Kniep is an undergraduate student at UNL majoring in communication sciences and disorders with a minor in education. She is originally from Deshler, Nebraska, and plans to pursue her master's degree in speech-language pathology. Bryn is passionate about helping individuals of all ages discover and express their voice, and she aspires to work in a medical setting in the future. She also values building relationships with students, clients, and their families through her work at Link To Communication and the Barkley Center Resource Room. In her free time, Bryn likes to go to the lake and golf with family and friends.
Makenzie Kruse
Makenzie Kruse is an undergraduate student at UNL, from Lincoln, Nebraska. She is majoring in communication sciences and disorders with a minor in education studies and plans to pursue her master’s degree in speech-language pathology. She enjoys working with children and has gained experience through her job at a local daycare, as well as her volunteer work with the Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders. She hopes to become a medical speech-language pathologist, as she is especially interested in feeding, swallowing, cognition and genetic disorders. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, working out, and being involved in her sorority.
SCADD Lab Alumni
Shelby Neiman (2023 - 2024)
Rylie Reipl (2023 - 2024)
Sidney Stallbaum (2023)
Abbie Summers (2023 - 2024)
Nyah Thaemert (2023)
Hannah Kitsmiller (2023-2025)