President: Jodi N. Kumar, MS, CCC/SLP
Jodi received her Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics in 2001 at the State University of New York at Albany. Her Linguistics degree gave her a foundation in the structure of language. Wanting to use this knowledge in a functional and meaningful way with people, she continued her studies in Communication Sciences and Disorders and received a Master’s Degree from the College of Saint Rose in 2004. The mentorship she received at Saint Rose was formative in shaping the basic tenets by which she still serves her clients today: collaborative, person-centered, evidence-based, functional, and meaningful. Since 2004, She has worked across the lifespan in hospitals (Outpatient, Inpatient, and Acute care), University Speech Clinics, and home and community settings. While she has served many populations and disorders, her areas of expertise/interest include speech sound disorders, motor speech disorders, and myofunctional disorders. She has extensive training and clinical expertise in evaluating and treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Since 2011, she has served as a Associate Clinical Faculty at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. There she supports graduate-level clinicians in their pursuit to become certified Speech-Language Pathologists. While at GWU, she developed The Childhood Apraxia and Motor Planning Camp (CHAMP). CHAMP garnered both local and international attention as it supported children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and their families from 30 different states, Canada, and even as far as Qatar in the Middle East. In late 2022, she founded Sound Speech, LLC where she provides private speech and language services to those in her local community. In addition to clinical teaching, she also educates future SLP’s in the classroom. She has taught Phonetics, Speech Sound Disorders, Language Development, Speech and Hearing Science, and Advanced Pediatrics (Complex Communication Disorders) at several universities. She has presented nationally and internationally on a variety of topics: Intensive Therapy for CAS, brain injury support groups, project-oriented interventions, and using movement to enhance speech therapy.
President-Elect: Marissa Simpson, MM, M.S., CCC/SLP
Marissa Simpson, MM, MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in the treatment of voice disorders, including professional voice users and singing voice rehabilitation. Her clinical experience has spanned multidisciplinary voice centers in Georgia, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Areas of clinical expertise include voice disorders, swallowing disorders, and head and neck cancer, including alaryngeal speech restoration. Marissa is also a classically trained soprano, and holds a Master of Music in vocal performance.
Recording Secretary: Amanda Granoff, CCC/SLP
Amanda is the founder and owner of DC Speech Language & Literacy Center. She received her B.A. in Hearing & Speech Sciences with Honors from the University of Maryland College Park and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Vanderbilt University. Before transitioning to private practice, Amanda worked in both public and private school settings, serving students in elementary, middle, and high school. At the Lab School of Washington, Amanda implemented daily 1-1 reading intervention, led professional development for literacy instructors, and served as the reading coordinator for the summer program. In private practice, Amanda has further developed her expertise in working with clients with learning differences while also gaining experience evaluating and treating speech-sound disorders. Amanda prides herself in providing individualized, evidence-based intervention to her clients. She is also passionate about empowering parents and other caregivers with the knowledge and tools they need to best support their children. Amanda speaks nationally on the topics of language, literacy, and executive functioning.
Corresponding Secretary:
Madison Brumbaugh, M.S., CCC/SLP
Madison Brumbaugh, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and clinical professor at The George Washington University (GW). Madison specializes in serving pediatric and adult clients with complex communication needs, and she has worked in a variety of settings across the District of Columbia, including in private practice, home healthcare, and public school settings. Treasurer: Devon Dee-Mbappe, Ph.D, CCC/SLP
Dr. Devon Dee-Mbappe completed her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S.) in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at Howard University. Additionally, she earned a Certificate of Advanced Professional Development in Assistive Technology Applications from the Tseng College at California State University, North Ridge. Also, Dr. Dee-Mbappe received a Master of Arts Degree in Communicative Disorders & Sciences as well as two Bachelor of Arts Degrees, which were Speech & Hearing Science and Health & Human Services: Early Childhood Education from the State University of New York, University at Buffalo. Dr. Dee-Mbappe has over 15 years of clinical experience with infants, toddlers, school-age, adolescents, young adults, adults, and medically fragile populations and has extensive experience advocating for individuals with complex communication needs that warrant assistive technology – augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). At this time, Dr. Dee-Mbappe serves in professional roles, where she is responsible for the shared coordination and implementation of accommodations and services for students with disabilities in a number of charter schools and secondary institutions. Presently, Dr. Dee-Mbappe is an adjunct professor who teaches courses related to assistive technology (AT) – augmentative & alternative communication (AAC) and acquired neurogenic communication disorders. In the past, she has served as Clinical Faculty at Howard University and University of the District of Columbia (UDC), where she taught courses related to professional issues in speech-language pathology, AAC, articulation and phonology, evidenced-based practice, as well as provided clinical supervision to students enrolled in practicum courses within the program. Dr. Dee-Mbappe’s research and clinical interests include the following: culturally and linguistically diverse populations, school-based issues, evidence-based practice, administration and supervision, language and literacy, as well as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Throughout her career, she has presented at conventions sponsored by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH), and the District of Columbia Speech and Hearing Association (DCSHA). Locally, regionally, and nationally, Dr. Dee-Mbappe serves as an active leader on numerous boards related to speech, language, hearing, assistive technology – augmentative and alternative communication, and educational organizations.