EMU Today

Leslie is an Assistant Professor at Eastern Michigan University in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her work in higher education is an extension of her career-long emphasis on autism and early childhood education. Leslie has extensive experience implementing and teaching positive approaches to supporting emotional regulation and engagement, particularly in inclusive early childhood classrooms. She has presented many times at both local and national conferences, and is lead author of a published book on this topic. Though autism is her primary area of concentration, Leslie has intentionally cultivated experiences across a variety of settings (hospitals, private clinics, and the public schools), and with a range of communication disorders, during her 25-year career as a speech-language pathologist. She enjoys bringing the depth of perspective she has gained, and practical real-world strategies, to her students. Leslie values the opportunity to mentor adult learners and connect them with the tools and resources they need to learn and to nurture their own interests as they prepare to enter the field. Leslie's research interests center on early identification of autism, fostering a sense of belonging through community-engaged autism education, strategies for supporting emotional regulation, young children & digital media, Interprofessional Education, and inclusion.