Audrey’s research interests include Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and literacy instruction in schools. She is interested in parent-teacher-SLP coaching, how AAC users advocate for themselves, and alternative access methods such as eye gaze.

Audrey has furthered her education by obtaining a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology and a North Carolina Speech-Language Pathology License.

I’m a registered diagnostic medical sonographer with experience in abdominal, OB/GYN, pediatric, and vascular imaging. Before moving into teaching, I spent years working in clinical settings and now I get to combine that real-world experience with my passion for helping students succeed.

In our program, I focus on making learning practical, hands-on, and connected to what you’ll see in the field. You’ll find I’m big on real patient cases, tips you can actually use in clinic, and creating an environment where questions are always welcome. My goal is to help you leave here confident, prepared, and excited about your career in sonography.

I’m a public school product, advocate and supporter – and have enjoyed training future physical therapists at UNC for many years. Neurologic PT practice has been my focus since a rehab rotation as a student, I’m especially interested in cognitive processes and how they interact with motor function. This is an area that I’ve researched in older adults and in individuals with brain injury, with recent efforts emphasizing mTBI in the military population.

Dana McCarty is a pediatric physical therapist and clinical researcher dedicated to improving outcomes for high-risk infants and their families through developing and testing innovative physical therapy interventions in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Her research began with a focus on cranial molding deformities, particularly dolichocephaly in preterm infants, where she led the first study to track its development and risk factors during hospitalization. She later demonstrated the effectiveness of a Midliner Positioning System in improving cranial outcomes. Building on her clinical insights, Danadeveloped and tested a therapist-led, parent-centered intervention to support both infant development and maternal mental health while pursuing a PhD in Maternal and Child Health. Her dissertation used mixed methods to identify barriers to maternal presence in the NICU, resulting in actionable, community-informed recommendations for institutions to increase maternal access to their infants in the NICU.

Dana’s work has also contributed to the broader field through her involvement in a multidisciplinary research consortium, where she helped identify key components of effective NICU-to-home interventions. Her current research, funded by the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, explores an Immersive Therapy Model (ITM) designed to increase therapy dosage and parent-therapist interaction in the NICU. This model addresses disparities in care access, particularly for families with low socioeconomic status, by enabling more flexible and frequent engagement. Her research trajectory reflects a strong commitment to family-centered, evidence-based care that bridges clinical practice and public health.

As a Student Service Specialist in the Department of Health Sciences, I oversee the full scope of student admissions, registration, records management, and student aid for multiple programs, including Audiology, MS Speech-Language Pathology, Minor in Speech and Hearing Sciences, and Certificate program in Radiologic Science. I serve as one of the Work Study Managers for the student services suite and assist in administering general policies and procedures related to student services across the department. In my role as Course Evaluation Manager, I use the Carolina Course Evaluation System (“Blue by Explorance”), which requires coding skills to design, configure, and manage course evaluation questions. This work provides valuable insights into the student experience, helping faculty enhance both teaching and learning.

In addition, I coordinate event planning for the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, managing in-person and virtual events such as information sessions, interviews, orientations, and graduations via Zoom and Webex. I also collect and analyze enrollment, admissions, and graduation data to support program improvement and research within the Health Sciences. Through these responsibilities, I ensure seamless operations, a positive student experience, and data-informed decision-making that strengthens our academic programs.

Dara Chan, Sc.D., CRC, is leading research on multiple grants focused on improving community participation for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). As a NIDILRR Switzer Research Fellow, she used Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping to understand meaningful participation and service use of autistic adults and is now building on these methods in a multi-PI NIMH R21 examining community participation, social connections, and suicide risk in older autistic and non-autistic adults. Chan is also co-leading the UNC Higher Education, Employment, and Living Success (HEELS) 2 Transition program, an interdisciplinary collaborative funded by Oak Foundation which provides year-round, on-campus programming for individuals with IDD focused on developing critical skills for the transition to adulthood. In partnership with FPG, Chan is Co-PI on a related NIDILRR development project, “HEELS 2 Participation,” converting existing in-person HEELS programming into e-learning modules to increase accessibility and dissemination.

As a student service specialist within the Department of Health Science at UNC, I play a pivotal role in supporting both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science, Master of Clinical Laboratory Science, Human Movement Science, and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. My responsibilities include guiding students through the complexities of admissions, ensuring a smooth registration process, and facilitating their graduation pathways. I assist with each student’s unique needs, addressing inquiries and concerns while actively working to enhance their academic experience.

I am the student services representative for the Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, handling admissions, registration, and graduation approvals. Additionally, I handle financial aid for all eight divisions in the Department Of Health Sciences.