OUR TEAM

BRITTANY LEE, PHD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Lee is an assistant professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Chapman University and director of the Communication and Language Acquisition Lab. She uses cognitive science to better understand how children develop language and literacy skills and is committed to improving speech-language pathology services that support deaf and hard-of-hearing children in achieving their communication goals. Dr. Lee received her PhD in Language and Communicative Disorders from University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, where she used event-related potentials and eye tracking to investigate how deaf adults process words and signs. Dr. Lee previously worked as an English teacher and is a licensed speech-language pathologist with a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

NATALIE GRAY

Natalie is a second-year master’s student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders department at Chapman University. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from California State University, San Marcos, where she developed a passion for supporting individuals with communication disorders and their families. As a mother of two boys, Natalie is deeply connected to the world of hearing and language development. Her oldest son is hard of hearing, an experience that has fueled her fierce advocacy for children and families. Natalie is committed to expanding her knowledge of Deaf culture and continuing to advocate for equitable access to resources. Through her studies and personal experiences, she aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, working towards greater representation, support, and communication opportunities. 

GRACE HILTBRUNNER-JOHNSON

Grace is a second-year master’s student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders department at Chapman University. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Personality and Social Psychology from San Diego State University. Grace’s previous research experience includes working with stroke survivors to determine the effects of stroke-induced brain damage on word retrieval. She has a passion for ensuring that every unique individual has the necessary skills needed to communicate throughout every stage of life.

NICOLE WANG

Nicole is a second-year master’s student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Chapman University. She earned her B.S. in Cognitive Science with a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Nicole has research experience with infants and toddlers, focusing on how child-centered curriculum can be used to facilitate development across various developmental domains. Her clinical interests include early intervention and pediatric feeding/swallowing, and she is eager to expand her knowledge in supporting communication throughout the lifespan.

ALEENA HELMS

Aleena Helms is a junior at Chapman University, where she is earning her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Human Physiology. She is a scholar-athlete in softball for Chapman. Being involved in sports from an early age has allowed her to gain a strong desire to pursue a career in orthopedic medicine, particularly in surgery. Last summer, she shadowed orthopedic surgeries to gain practical experience. She holds a Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish from the State of California and is eager to use her skills to help those in need. Additionally, she is excited to pursue her interest in language development while working as a research assistant for the CoALA lab. 

NARDIN KOOPAI

Nardin Koopai is a sophomore at Chapman University, where she is pursuing a major in Health Science. Currently, she is a research assistant at the CoALA Lab and the Brain Institute. She has a keen interest in medicine and health sciences and is eager to explore opportunities in the medical field. Nardin has dedicated significant time volunteering at hospitals, where she has gained first-hand experience in patient care. As she progresses through her academic journey, Nardin is eager to utilize her research and volunteer experiences to improve patient outcomes and advance the field of health science.

SARINA ZOMORRODIAN

Sarina Zomorrodian is a sophomore Psychology student at Chapman University. With a background in interning at a Clinical Psychology private practice, she is currently a research assistant at both the CoALA Lab and the Brain Institute. She has a great passion for clinical psychology and working with people and is eager to gaining more experience in research during her time at Chapman University. She looks forward to connecting the knowledge from her textbooks and applying it to help improve real-world mental health obstacles while gaining experience to help prepare her for a graduate studies in Psychology.