Lab Personnel

Our Team

Lab Director

Our lab is founded and run by Dr. M. Adelaida (Laida) Restrepo, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. Dr. Restrepo, Chair of the College of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She specializes in oral language, emergent literacy development, and prevention of academic difficulties in bilingual children. She is a bilingual speech-language pathologist and conducts research on the language and literacy characteristics of bilingual children. Her cultural background is Colombian.

Lab Coordinators

Myriam Vazquez, B.A. is one of our lab's coordinators. She has been working in research for 5 years with past experience with USF's Byrd Alzheimer's Institute. She specializes in administering and scoring neuropsychologic testing, assessment of bilingual children, and project management. She came to our lab because of her interest in serving bilingual children. Her cultural background is Puerto Rican.

Michelle Rodriguez B.A. is our lab's interim coordinator. Michelle began her academic journey in psychology at the University of Puerto Rico and later pivoted to speech-language pathology, inspired by her experiences with non-verbal and autistic children as a cosmetologist in Tampa. She now serves as the interim coordinator at the Bilingual Language and Literacy Laboratory, contributing to research on bilingual children. In addition to her academic pursuits, Michelle teaches Zumba at USF, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere for her students. She is currently applying to graduate school, aiming to expand her influence in the field of speech-language pathology.

Graduate Research Assistants

Jennifer Lopez, B.A. is our lab's Graduate Research Assistant. She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology at USF. She is passionate about working with underserved communities like those she was raised in. Her passions in the field include work with literacy, phonological awareness, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Her cultural background is Cuban.

Magdalena (Maggie) Alvarez B.S. is our lab's 1st year Graduate Research Assistant. Maggie received her B.A. is Communication Sciences and Disorders with a concentration is Language Hearing and Speech from the University of South Florida. She is continuing her education here at USF as a 1st year Master's student in Speech Language Pathology. She joined this lab to be a part of exciting bilingual research and expand the resources and raise awareness of bilingualism services in the Tampa Bay area. Her current interests and experiences include bilingual and dual language learner assessment and intervention in school age children. Her cultural background is Mexican.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Ashley is a junior at studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with a concentration in Language, Hearing and Speech Sciences and a minor in Aging Sciences at the University of South Florida. She hopes to continue to the masters program at USF to become a SLP. She joined the lab to learn about the research process and learn multiple skills to help her as a developing professional in the CSD field. Her interests include working in research, or working with older adults in a private practice environment. 

Volunteers

Alexandra Rodriguez is a recent college graduate with a B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a concentration in Language, Hearing, and Speech Sciences from the University of South Florida. She is currently eager to continue her education in graduate school and is working on that transition. In her last year as an undergraduate at USF, Alexandra joined this lab to help contribute to the research on bilingual assessments and interventions. Having moved from Puerto Rico in 2015, Alexandra learned about the different struggles her community faces in the United States. As a result, she has then focused her studies in ways to help her community. She wishes to help the hispanic community to have more accesible and efficient language and speech services.

Liset, a recent graduate with a B.A. in Communication Science Disorders (emphasis in speech, language, and hearing) from the University of South Florida, brings a unique perspective to our lab. Having moved from Cuba at age five, her personal journey fuels a passion for language acquisition and a desire to make a difference as a future Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). Currently transitioning to graduate school, Liset is eager to apply her skills and knowledge to positively impact individuals' lives through enhanced communication.