Current CSD PhD Students

Michele Dacy, PhD Candidate

Dysphagia Research Lab, Principal Investigator: Dr. Kimberly Smith

Education: 

B.A., Communication Sciences & Disorders, 2015, University of Northern Iowa
M.A., Speech-Language Pathology, 2017, University of Northern Iowa

Research Description:

Michele is interested in studying speech and swallowing function in persons with neurological conditions, particularly in persons with Parkinson’s disease. She also has a special interest in studying the nutritional impact of dysphagia. Michele completed a pre-dissertation project focusing on the risk for dysphagia and malnutrition in persons with Parkinson’s disease. Her dissertation will expand on this project by also including a control group of healthy older adults and considering additional factors, such as dental status and saliva production. 

Dissertation Title: 

Comparing Persons with Parkinson Disease to Healthy Older Adults on Clinical Measures of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Malnutrition Risk

Awards:

University of South Alabama Graduate Student Activities Enhancement Award (Awarded 8/13/25). 

Publications: 

Dacy, M., & Smith, K. G. (in press). Effects of cross-curricular instruction on clinical education outcomes for speech-language pathology graduate students. Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence.  

Presentations: 

Dacy, M., Broadfoot, C. K., Holden, S. L., & Smith, K. G. (2025, November 22). Clinical signs of dysphagia and malnutrition risk in Parkinson’s disease [Accepted for poster presentation]. American Speech-Language Hearing Association: Washington DC.

Dacy, M. (2024, February 9). Assessment and treatment of dysphagia in Parkinson’s disease [Oral presentation]. Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama Convention: Birmingham, AL.

Dacy, M., & Smith, K. G. (2023, November 17). Considering the whole patient: Interdisciplinary instruction and clinical education outcomes for SLP graduate students [Poster presentation]. American Speech-Language Hearing Association: Boston, MA

Dacy, M., Kouame, G., & Henbest, V. (2023, November 9). The linguistic awareness skills of
elementary-age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A scoping review [Virtual poster presentation]. American Speech-Language Hearing Association: Boston, MA

Dacy, M., & Smith, K. G. (2023, March 15). Considering the whole patient: Effects of
interdisciplinary instruction on clinical education outcomes for speech-language pathology graduate students [Poster presentation]. Annual University of South Alabama Graduate Research Forum, Mobile, AL, United States.

Frances Lillie Ange, PhD Student

Vestibular and Balance Lab

Primary Advisor: Dr. Ashley G. Flagge

Education:

B.S., 2022, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL

Research Description 

Lillie’s area of research focuses on pediatric vestibular function and assessment in children with reading disorders. More broadly, her work explores the importance of early identification and intervention, the use of reading assessments, and the role of interprofessional collaboration in the identification, treatment, and management of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. 

Awards

Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama Outstanding Graduate Student Award (2025)

Graduate Student Activities Enhancement Award, University of South Alabama (2023)

Presentations

Ange, F., Salchert, D., Perkins, A., Rudolph, S. (2023). The Importance of Audiology in Free Clinics: A Student-Run Free Clinic Hearing Screening Experience. Podium presentation. Society of Student-Run Free Clinics Conference 2022. Minneapolis, MN. 

Doran, C., Ange, F., Snavely, K., Rishiq, D. (2023). Patient Provider Communication in Audiology Care. Poster presentation. American Academy of Audiology Convention 2023. Seattle, WA. 

Ange, F., Snavely, K., Roberts, W., Rishiq, D. (2023). The Relationship between Audiologist-Patient Communication and Patient’s Satisfaction with Service Provision in Cochlear Implant Recipients: A Pilot Study. Poster presentation. American Cochlear Implant Alliance Convention 2023. Dallas, TX. 

Snavely, K., Roberts, W., Ange, F., Nichols, A., Rishiq, D. (2023). Comparing Speech Recognition Performance of Cochlear Implant Users with Two Different Speech Tests: Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) Word Test and AZBio Sentence Test. Poster presentation. American Cochlear Implant Alliance Convention 2023. Dallas, TX.