Paula is a pediatric bilingual speech-language pathologist in NYC. She is the Chief Clinical Supervisor at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is passionate about increasing representation in the field of CSD and working closely with graduate students to help them develop the tools and skills needed to feel confident when providing assessments and interventions to CLD populations. Her areas of interest include culturally and linguistically responsive practices in communication disorders, and using a family-centered and trauma-informed approach to interventions and assessments.

Leslie Guzman is a bilingual (Spanish-English), pediatric speech-language pathologist and listening and spoken language specialist (LSLS). She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from New Mexico State University and LSLS certification through the Alexander Graham Bell Association. She currently works with the Cochlear Implant team and the Cleft and Craniofacial Team at the University of New Mexico Hospital. Leslie’s greatest joy comes from building connections with children and their families through empowerment and advocacy to support all modalities of communication. 

Inéz C. Esparza is a first-generation Mexican-American Speech-Language Pathologist. She is a passionate advocate for culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Her clinical interests are neonatal care, pediatric acute care, and pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. She hopes to use her experiences to contribute ideas that can help support future multilingual and multicultural professionals and students in audiology and speech-language pathology.

Cecilia Jimenez is a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in medically complex pediatric communication and feeding disorders. She is dedicated to providing culturally responsive care and advocating for Hispanic patients and their families. Fluent in Spanish, she currently works in Maryland, leading multiple therapy intensives and serving as her team’s AAC lead. With this expertise, Cecilia is committed to addressing the unique needs of diverse patient populations. She is eager to contribute to the ASHA Hispanic Caucus to advocate for Hispanic SLPs and their patients.

Yoseline is a bilingual speech pathologist with 7 years of experience. Her interests include bilingualism, language disorders, and early intervention. She currently works as a part-time SLP and shares Spanish resources to support speech and language skills at home via YouTube and Instagram, Aprendiendo con Yosie.

Ludmila “Ludy” Arin is a speech language pathologist in Gainesville, FL. She graduated from Cal State University of Northridge with my undergraduate and graduate degree in Communication Disorders. Her SLP career kicked off in Arizona where she completed her CF in a small hospital. She returned to Los Angeles in various settings all at the same time. The pandemic brought her to Florida and primarily works with Head and Neck CA patients. She is a certified medical interpreter at her hospital. She looks forward to serving on the board!

Alan is a Graduate Student at CSULA. He began his undergraduate studies at the University of Houston. His interests include bilingualism, literacy, and language disorders. Alan is currently a Spanish tutor at the ELAC Language Lab. He hopes to be able to work abroad one day and collaborate with speech therapists in other countries. Alan is committed to increasing the number of bilingual SLPs and SLPAs across the nation. Alan plans on attending grad school in southern California or Texas.

Ximena Avalos is a first-generation, bilingual Latina undergraduate student at California State University, Long Beach, pursuing a degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She currently serves as the Advocacy Chair for the NSSLHA Extension Board, where she leads the Diversity Coalition to promote inclusion, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness within the department and broader communication sciences community. Beyond NSSLHA, she has supported underrepresented students through the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Project Rebound, advocating for equitable access to higher education and dismantling stigma surrounding system-impacted peers. Ximena’s advocacy is driven by her passion for serving Hispanic/Latino and bilingual populations through equitable, linguistically appropriate care, ensuring that Spanish-speaking clients and families receive culturally and linguistically responsive services.

Salvador is a bilingual speech-language pathologist with 17 years of experience working with students in public schools. He has worked with a variety of age groups, including early childhood, elementary, and middle school. Salvador is a founding member of the BRIDGE (Bilingual Response to Implement Dual Gap Evaluations) team for his school district and is involved in assessing culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students district-wide. Coming from a CLD background himself, he is passionate about ensuring that CLD students in the public education system are being assessed fairly and that their cultural and linguistic diversity is recognized as an asset rather than a hindrance or, worse, a disability. He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology program at Rocky Mountain University.