MSHA Board of Directors
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MSHA is guided by a Board of Directors who are professionals, elected by MSHA membership.
PRESIDENT
Karen Miranda, M.S., CCC-SLP
(Term of Office - May 31, 2023 - December 31, 2024)
Karen Miranda, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a Spanish-bilingual speech-language pathologist in Prince George's County Public Schools. She is an integral member of the Bilingual Assessment Team. Ms. Miranda is also an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) where she teaches a course on language and phonological disorders. Additionally, she coordinates UMD’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Bilingual Speech-Language for Practitioners (BSLP) program.
Ms. Miranda has been a member of the Maryland Speech and Hearing Board since January 2021 as the Continuing Education Director and since 2019 as part of the Multicultural Affairs Committee.
DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY
Megan Miskowski, M.S., CCC-SLP
(Term of Office - June 9, 2023 - December 31, 2024)
Megan Mis
kowski, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist in Baltimore City Public Schools. She is a member of the C-IEP Team, serves as an expert witness in speech-language pathology, creates and delivers professional development, and provides therapy to adolescent students. Megan is the speech-language pathology Union Learning Representative for the Baltimore Teachers Union, a Board Member of the Baltimore Urban Debate League, and a Past President of the Association of Baltimore Community Speech Language Pathologists. She is the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department Chair at Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary in Baltimore, MD. Megan obtained her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Florida State University and is a Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology candidate at MGH Institute of Health Professions.
Megan has been a member of MSHA since 2012 and began serving as the Director of Public Policy in 2023.
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS Leah Brush, M.S., CCC-SLP (Term of Office - October 30, 2023 - December 31, 2024)
While at PGCPS, Leah has supported elementary and middle school aged students with a variety of primary disabilities, speech disorders, and language disorders in both general education and specialty program settings. She has served as an AAC mentor supporting SLPs throughout the county in building their capacity to provide services to, dynamically assess, and create Individualized Educational Plans for students with complex communication needs who require AAC to access the academic curriculum. Leah has initiated and facilitated the AAC Community of Practice (AAC CoP) for the past two years and continues to do so. In her role as AAC CoP facilitator, Leah has coordinated guest presenters, presented on focus topics to build capacity, created a website to disseminate resources and evidence based practices, and held open collaboration sessions to support clinical problem solving and colleague collaboration. She has co-presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention on literacy instruction for students with complex communication needs. |
Leah is a licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologist in Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS). Leah received a B.A. in Linguistics and a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Vermont in 2017. She received her master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The Pennsylvania State University in 2020 as a recipient of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Collaboration grant. As a part of the AAC Collaboration grant, Leah participated in additional coursework and speciality training to support students with complex communication needs who require augmentative and alternative communication in a school setting.DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS Norah AlJunaidi, M.A., CCC-SLP (Term of Office - January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2024)
Ms. AlJunaidi has been a Member of MSHA since November 2021 and is now MSHA Multicultural Affairs Chair as of November 2022. DIRECTOR OF RECORDING AND FINANCE Ivelysse Claudio, M.S., CCC-SLP(Term of Office - February 29, 2024 - December 31, 2026)
DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS AND CLINICAL EDUCATION Bethany Schwing-Chapman, M.A., CCC-SLP (Term of Office - July 26, 2023 - December 31, 2024)
Bethany Schwing-Chapman, M.A., CCC-SLP, currently works for Baltimore City Public Schools as an SLP for Pre-K-2nd grade students, while also providing extensive prevention and intervention services for early learners. Bethany is also an adjunct professor at Loyola University Maryland teaching Observation Methods and Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Bethany attended Bloomsburg University, in Pennsylvania, for her undergraduate work and the University of Pittsburgh for graduate school. She then moved to Baltimore, where she worked for Sheppard Pratt Schools for 4.5 years before switching to Baltimore City Public Schools for the past 6.5 years. |
Norah AlJunaidi, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Speech Language Pathologist at the University of Maryland College Park. She works as an SLP in the Social Interaction Group Network for All. In her current position, Ms. AlJunaidi works with college-age neurodivergent students to improve their executive function, theory of mind and self-advocacy skills. In addition, she operates a private practice, Sunbird Speech LLC where she works with adult neurodivergent and transgender individuals on executive function and voice therapy. As a member of MSHA she is involved with the Multicultural Affairs committee and has participated in the MSHA Spring Symposium discussing her CFY experience. She is currently a part of the mentorship sub-committee, which is create a mentorship program for SLPs and Audiologists in Maryland. 
Ivelysse Claudio, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a Spanish-bilingual speech-language pathologist in Baltimore City Public Schools. She is part of the Bilingual Assessment Team, provides services to Pre-K through 8th grade children, is a Peer Coach Facilitator in the area of ESOL/ESL, has helped in developing bilingual assessment guidelines for English Learners and is a committee member of the No Place for Hate Program at her school. Her work experience includes different settings such as private practice, early intervention, rehabilitation center, Head Start and schools (grades Pre-K through high school). In her different roles, Ivelysse has supervised SLPAs and speech pathology interns, as well as mentored new SLPs. Previously, Ivelysse provided speech services for two years in Prince Georges County Public Schools.
Sarah Sparks, Au.D., CCC-A, CH-TM
(Term of Office - August 23, 2023 - December 31, 2024)
Sarah Sparks, Au.D., CCC-A, CH-TM, is a deaf pediatric audiologist and bilateral cochlear implant user, fluent in both ASL and English. She holds an Au.D. from Gallaudet University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences. Dr. Sparks also holds four master's degrees, including one in early childhood education. She is employed full time as an educational audiologist within Baltimore City Public Schools. Additionally, she has a small online business where she provides aural (re)habilitation services, as well as consultations and professional presentations, about audiology-related topics. Dr. Sparks is an adjunct instructor within Gallaudet University's Department of Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences and the deaf education master's programs at Boston University and Minot State University. She is an off-campus clinical preceptor for student clinicians in Gallaudet University's Au.D. program. Every summer, Dr. Sparks provides audiology services on a sign language-focused medical mission to the Middle East. She has held various volunteer roles within AAA, DCSHA, and EAA, and is a member of ASHA, in addition to those organizations. She has additional volunteer experience within LGBTQ community groups and her local Catholic parish. Dr. Sparks lives in Washington, DC with her partner and their chocolate Labrador and Siamese cat.
C'Rai Weeden Shannon, M.A., CCC-SLP
(Term of Office - January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023)
C'Rai Weeden Shannon, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at Towson University. She received her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Akron, in Akron, Ohio. C’Rai’s clinical areas of interest include, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), multicultural issues in speech-language pathology, literacy, as well as language development and disorders. C’Rai has been a member of the MSHA Executive Board since 2016, and is currently serving as the Past President of MSHA. C’Rai’s goal is to empower and support Maryland communication sciences and disorders professionals and those we serve, through advocacy and community engagement. She will continue to promote diversity, inclusion, equity and cultural humility through MSHA and our profession.
ASHA REPRESENTATIVES
State Advocates for Medicare Policy (StAMPs) - Vacant
State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) - Rachael Caruso
State Education Advocacy Leaders (SEALs) - Lindsay Knobelauch
MSHA STAFF
Suzie Callan, IOM
Suzie Callan, IOM, has been serving as the MSHA Executive Director since 2022. She has more than twenty years' experience in association management, serving as the Executive Director for multiple components of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She has led associations through change and transition and has executed many conferences and events. Suzie received a Certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Institute of Organization Management, in 2018.
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