Meet the Team

Principal Investigator

Rocío S. Norman is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. She earned her undergraduate degree from Florida International University, her Masters’ degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her training, Dr. Norman was an American Speech-Hearing Association New Century Scholar and an NIH Predoctoral Fellow. In 2018, as a new faculty member at UT Health, she received both a School of Health Professions Pilot Grant and a Texas Society for Allied Health Professions Research Grant. Her research has been published in various peer-reviewed journals such as Brain Injury, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Military Medicine, Neuropsychologia and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.Her research centers on improving the lives of individuals with concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). She primarily uses experimental methods to investigate cognitive-communication disorders after mTBI. As a recent recipient of the KL2 career development award at University of Texas Health Science Center, Dr. Norman will use innovative methods such as discourse analysis and electroencephalogram (EEG) measures to richly characterize language output and shed light on the underlying cognitive mechanisms of language performance after mTBI. Dr. Norman aims to standardize assessment for mTBI-related communication disorders and use precise measurement to develop appropriate behavioral interventions to improve life participation for the mTBI population. In the fall of 2019, Dr. Norman was awarded a Teaching Excellence Award and the George Kudolo Award for Excellence in Research at the University of Texas School of Health Professions.

Lab Assistants

Tara is currently a Ph.D. student in neurobiology at The University of Texas at San Antonio. She received her B.S. in Biology from Texas State University. Her research focuses on utilizing event related potentials (ERPS) to investigate language processing in clinical and bilingual adult populations.

Gina Baxter is a second-year M.S. student in Speech-Language Pathology at UT Health San Antonio. She earned her undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University College Station. Her research interests include cognitive communication and TBI. She enjoys practicing jujitsu and camping with her family.

Alexa is a first-year speech-language pathology student at UT Health San Antonio. She graduated with a B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Alexa hopes to learn more about speech-language pathology through research while gaining valuable experiences so that she can one day help those in need.

Ashlynn is a second-year graduate student studying speech-language pathology at UT Health San Antonio. She has a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston.  Ashlynn hopes to improve her knowledge about research and people with traumatic brain injury.

Lillian is a first-year speech-language pathology student at UT Health San Antonio. She graduated with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Oklahoma. She enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family in her free time.

Megan is a first-year graduate student studying speech-language pathology at UT Health San Antonio. She has a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Texas State University. Her research interests include stuttering and TBI. She enjoys cooking, volleyball, and spending time with her dog.

Lauren is a first-year speech-language pathology student at UT Health San Antonio. She graduated with a B.S. in Allied Health from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She enjoys traveling, spending time on the lake, and being with friends and family.

Grace is a second-year speech-language pathology student at UT Health San Antonio. She graduated with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Oklahoma. Her goal is to work in a medical setting with patients with neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders. She enjoys reading, drinking coffee, and spending time outdoors.

Monserrath is a first-year speech-language pathology student at UT Health San Antonio. She received her B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Texas at Dallas. Monserrath hopes to work in a medical setting with individuals from all age groups with traumatic brain injuries and swallowing disorders.

Skylar is a first-year student at UT Health San Antonio pursuing a M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology. She graduated from Arizona State University in 2022 with a B.S. in Speech and Hearing Science and a minor in Family and Human Development. Her research interests include TBI, neurodegenerative disorders, and the relationship between mental health and communication.