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 (BCBA-D) and a former special education teacher. 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 husband and two dogs 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
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.
Karli Crawford
Karli Crawford is a graduate student at UNL, from Omaha, Nebraska. She is pursuing 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!
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.
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.
SCADD Lab Alumni
Shelby Neiman (2023 - 2024)
Rylie Reipl (2023 - 2024)
Sidney Stallbaum (2023)
Abigail Adams (2024 - 2025)
Makenzie Kruse (2025 - 2026)
Abbie Summers (2023 - 2024)
Nyah Thaemert (2023)
Hannah Kitsmiller (2023-2025)
Jenna Rogers (2023 - 2026)