Board of Directors

NCSHLA Board of Directors

The association is led by a group of committed audiology and speech-language professionals from across North Carolina elected by the membership. The board meets the second Thursday of each month throughout the year and at the association's Annual Convention. If you would like to attend one of the Board meetings, let us know by contacting [email protected].


PRESIDENT 
Kellyn Hall, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Durham

Kellyn Dailey Hall, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a teacher, clinician, researcher, and author with over 30 years’ experience working in a variety of academic and medical settings. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at NC Central University, where she teaches the research courses and directs student capstone projects in addition to teaching courses in dysphagia, voice, and fluency. Her clinical and research interests are in healthy aging, culture considerations in dysphagia, and telepractice. She is also the ASHA State Advocate for Medicare Policy for North Carolina.

  

PAST PRESIDENT

Erica Altamirano, MS, CCC-SLP
Charlotte

Erica Altamirano is originally from Marion, NC and completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Appalachian State University. She has worked in the North Carolina public school system and clinical settings since 2014. She previously served NCSHLA as VP of Public Relations and University Affairs. She has provided services to all age ranges with special interests in complex communication needs, AAC, and neurodiversity-affirming therapy and she is a two-time ASHA Award for Continuing Education recipient. Erica currently works for Cabarrus County Schools. She currently resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband and two dogs.

 

PRESIDENT ELECT

Rachel Meinel, MA, CCC-SLP
Rachel received her Master’s Degree at UNC-Greensboro where she worked as a research assistant in a lab studying attention in Autistic Children. This sparked an interest in becoming a neurodivergent-affirming clinician. Additional areas of interest include articulation/phonology and building communication skills with young students and their community members. Rachel currently works for Durham Public Schools and enjoys working with her diverse caseload. When she isn’t working, she enjoys reading, running, snuggling with her dog, and traveling. Rachel has participated in the Finance Committee for 4 years and is looking forward to serving the association and learning how to help fill the needs of the professional community.

VP OF AUDIOLOGY
Amy M. Myers, Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA

Dr. Amy Myers graduated from Radford University with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorder, from James Madison University with a M.Ed in Audiology and from A.T. Still University with a clinical doctorate in Audiology. Dr. Myers specializes in diagnostic audiology, hearing aid fitting, dispensing and consultation as well as cochlear and middle ear implants. She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as the American Academy of Audiology. Her previous research and work was with the FDA clinical trial for a totally implantable hearing device known as the Envoy Esteem which received FDA approval in 2010.

VP OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Sarah Furlong, MA, CCC-SLP
Raleigh
Sarah (Walker) Furlong received her undergraduate degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University in Organizational Communication and Ministry Leadership. She then completed a post-baccalaureate in Communication Disorders and received her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Central Michigan University. Sarah has worked as a school-based speech-language pathologist for the past 7 years working for Kinetic Physical Therapy & Wellness in Edgecombe County Public Schools and Johnston County Public Schools. Sarah currently serves as the ASHA State Education Advocacy Leader (SEAL) for North Carolina, Assistant Team Lead for the Johnston County Public Schools Kinetic Team, and is a two-time ASHA ACE Award recipient. Her interest areas include special education policy, clinical supervision, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Sarah currently resides in Raleigh, NC and has been a member of NCSHLA since 2016.
VP OF FINANCE
Rebecca Eaton M.S. CCC-SLP
Rebecca Eaton received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and graduate degree in Communication Disorders both from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She has worked as a Private Practice SLP for 14 years at the Cheshire Center where she has served children in a variety of settings and is currently serving as the Clinical Director.  Her special interests include clinical supervision and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She resides in Greensboro with her husband and two children.

leigh

VP OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
Leigh Odom, CCC-SLP

I am currently an Associate Professor in CSD teaching classes related to all things "neuro." Although I enjoy opportunities for clinical practice in aphasia and dementia, I'm most passionate about health and wellness of our clients and families living with an acquired communication disorder for the long term. Understanding how families cope and adjust to their new lives is one aspect of my research, but this extends to speech-language pathologists who are facing challenges of burnout. I believe strongly that quality of life is important for all of us, and I hope through my teaching, research, and service to others, we can experience the quality of life we deserve.

 
Leslie
VP OF MEMBERSHIP
Leslie Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
I have been working in the Speech Language Pathology field for greater than a decade and have spent the majority of that time working with people with neurogenic difficulties related to communication and swallow disorders. I completed my doctoral work concentrating in Traumatic Brain Injury. I very much enjoy working at UNC Hospitals and have spent much of my clinical career here. When I'm not keeping up with three young boys or working in my garden. I have the pleasure of teaching masters students studying to become SLPs at several area universities and also serve on the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina's Board of Directors. 
(under construction)
VP OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
Emily Maher