Faculty and Staff

Faculty

Kenneth M. Cox, Au.D., M.P.H., CCC-A -Dean of Waldron College

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Office Location
345 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
540-832-7600

Email
kcox3@radford.edu

Dr. Kenneth Cox is a Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders and an Audiologist. He currently serves as Dean of Waldron College of Health and Human Services.

Diane C. Millar, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Chair

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Office Location
109 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
540-831-7635

Email
dcmillar@radford.edu

Dr. Diane Millar (she/her/hers) is a Full Professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University. She received her Master’s and Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University. Her clinical research areas include Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Most recently, she has been researching the effectiveness of nonverbal communication behaviors and intervention strategies that may improve the communicative competence of adolescents and adults. Her interests also include diversity, equity, and culturally responsive methods of teaching and clinical service delivery.

Dr. Millar teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in speech sound development and disorders, augmentative and alternative communication, and autism spectrum disorder in the department and UNIV 100 for the university. In addition, she serves as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator and Chair of the department.

Vrushali Angadi, Ph.D., CCC-SLP -Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Vrushali-Angadi

Office Location
112 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
540-831-6828

Email
vangadi@radford.edu

Dr. Vrushali Angadi (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University. She earned her Master’s degree in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Mumbai, and her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Kentucky.

Her research focus centers on evidence-based post-treatment voice rehabilitation within the head and neck cancer population, coupled with a commitment to developing technology that enhances accessibility to voice therapy services.

She previously served as the Clinical Education Coordinator at the University of Kentucky Voice and Swallow Clinic, and currently holds an honorary faculty position at the Tata Memorial Cancer Center in Mumbai, India.

Within the department, Dr. Angadi teaches graduate and undergraduate courses, specializing in voice and swallowing disorders. Furthermore, she is certified in LSVT-LOUD and the McNeil Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP).

Corey H. Cassidy, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders

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Office Location
120 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
540-831-7273

Email
cherd@radford.edu

Dr. Corey H. Cassidy (she/her/hers) is a Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University, with a secondary appointment as Professor in the Department of Health Systems and Implementation Science at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Dr. Cassidy has provided services to young children and their families for more than 26 years as a licensed speech-language pathologist in multiple states and as a faculty member in higher education for the past two decades. Throughout her career, she has also served in multiple leadership positions, including Associate Dean of the Waldron College of Health and Human Services, Founding Director of the Center for Interprofessional Education and Practice, and Executive Director of the Academic Success Center.

She teaches, supervises, and conducts scholarship in the areas of early intervention, the relationship between music therapy and speech-language pathology with young children and their families, and interprofessional education, collaboration, and leadership across the education, healthcare, human services, and higher education arenas. She has had the honor and been invited regularly to present workshops at state, national, and international conferences. Dr. Cassidy is the author of the 2023 textbook, Early Intervention and the Speech-Language Pathologist: Best Practices in Assessment and Intervention for Infants and Toddlers (Plural Publishing), as well as the chapters addressing service delivery in early intervention in the three most recent editions of Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Rebecca D. Epperly, M.S., CCC-SLP -Senior Instructor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Clinical Director

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Office Location
122 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
540-831-7640

Email
rdepperly@radford.edu

Ms. Rebecca Epperly (she/her/hers) is a Senior Instructor and the Clinical Director in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.  She received her master's degree from East Tennessee State University and her baccalaureate degree from Radford University. She has over 20 years of experience working in a variety of clinical settings such as the public schools, early intervention, outpatient programs, and both pediatric and adult acute rehabilitation hospitals. 

In addition to being the Clinical Director of the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic (RUSLHC), she is one of the founding co-directors of the Radford University Brain Injury (RUBI) Center and a coordinator of fieldwork placements for the department.  She supervises in the RUSLHC and teaches first- and second-year graduate students in the Advanced Practicum: Speech, Language, Hearing course.  She is also the co-leader of the New River Valley Brain Injury Support Group.  Her areas of focus are in neurogenic rehabilitation, quality of life for brain injury survivors, and clinical education and supervision of students. 

Lauren S. Flora, Ph.D., Au.D., CCC-A -Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Graduate Program Coordinator

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Office Location
121 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
540-831-7639

Email
lflora2@radford.edu

Dr. Lauren Flora (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University. Additionally, she serves as the Graduate Program Director for the department. She is a licensed audiologist and provides hearing-related services in the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic located in Waldron Hall. Her research interests include vestibular-occular reflex assessment in athletes, auditory processing deficits, and use of smart technology in pediatric hearing assessment.

Dr. Flora teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses related to audiological evaluation and rehabilitation, research methods, language science, and speech science. She also supervises first-year graduate student clinicians in an audiology clinic rotation each semester.

Michelle H. Lenhart, Ph.D., CCC-SLP -Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders

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Office Location
111 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
540-831-7807

Email
mlenhart@radford.edu

Dr. Michelle Lenhart (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University. She received her Ph.D. in Communication Disorders and Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from James Madison University and her bachelor’s degree from University of Virginia in both Speech Communication Disorders and French. Her research interests include school-age and adolescent language and literacy, school-based issues, and syntax and morphology.

Dr. Lenhart teaches courses related to child language development and disorders, assessment and intervention methods, and stuttering. In addition, she supervises graduate clinicians in the on-campus clinic.

Peter A. Meulenbroek, Ph.D., CCC-SLP -Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Peter-Meulenbroek

Office Location
119 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
(540) 831-7195

Email
pmeulenbroek@radford.edu

Dr. Peter Meulenbroek (he/him/his) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University. He earned his bachelor's degree from Emerson College, a master's degree in speech-language pathology from Northwestern University, his Ph.D. from The University of Wisconsin - Madison, and a second master's in clinical investigation from Northwestern University. He worked as a speech-language pathologist with adults in a Chicagoland skilled nursing facility, in the inpatient and outpatient settings at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and in acute care at The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics for 10 years before transitioning to an academic career.

Areas of clinical and research interest include cognitive-communication deficits due to brain injury, social communication disorders, and the speech-language pathologist's role in vocational rehabilitation. Dr. Meulenbroek supervises graduate students in the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and teaches undergraduate and graduate coursework in neurogenic communication disorders within the department.

Terri B. Shelor, M.S., CCC-SLP -Senior Instructor of Communication Sciences and Disorders

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Office Location
123 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
540- 831-7196

Email
tshelor@radford.edu

Ms. Terri Shelor (she/her/hers) is a Senior Instructor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University.  She received both her baccalaureate and  master's degrees from Radford University.  She was a full time practicing SLP for 14 years working in inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, outpatient, and home health settings. Once joining the faculty at Radford University, she continued working PRN at Lewis Gale Montgomery Hospital, covering acute care and outpatient through 2020. Ms. Shelor is the co-leader of the New River Valley Brain Injury Support Group and founding co-director of the Radford University Brain Injury (RUBI) Center.  Her research interests include aphasia treatment, voice therapy, and examining the quality of life in individuals after brain injury. 

She supervises in the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and is a fieldwork coordinator for the department. 

Diane M. Shepard, M.S., CCC-SLP -Senior Instructor of Communication Sciences and Disorders

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Office Location
114 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
540-831-7734

Email
dshepard2@radford.edu

Ms. Diane Shepard (she/her/hers) is a Senior Instructor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University. She earned her bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in psychology  and her master's degree in speech-language pathology from Radford University. She worked as a speech-language pathologist with adults and the geriatric population in retirement communities within skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, outpatient, and long-term care for 7 years before becoming an Instructor at Radford University.

She is VitalStim® Plus certified, LSVT-LOUD® certified and PROMPT trained. Areas of clinical interest include cognitive communication deficits due to brain injury or progressive disease, hypokinetic dysarthria due to Parkinson’s disease, aphasia, and dysphagia. Ms. Shepard’s main role in the department is supervising graduate students in the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and as a fieldwork coordinator.

Staff

Holly Neal Whorley -Sr. Fiscal Tech/Office Manager

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Office Location
127 Waldron Hall

Office Phone
(540) 831-7723

Email
hneal5@radford.edu

Mrs. Holly Neal Whorley is a Senior Fiscal Tech and Office Manager for the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. She has a degree in Business Management and has been working in higher education for more than 4 years.

Emeritus Faculty

Dr. James E. Nicely -Professor Emeritus of Communication Sciences and Disorders

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Dr. James “Jim” Nicely passed away on May 26, 2023. Dr. Nicely served  Radford University from 1979-2002. The James E. Nicely Scholarship for Graduate Study in Communication Sciences and Disorders was established in his honor in 2014 by his colleagues and family.