Jennifer joined the SLHS Department in January, 2009. She received her undergraduate degree from University of California, Santa Barbara, and her graduate degree from the UA. Jennifer worked at Tucson Medical Center for 20 years, developing a variety of pediatric-based inpatient and outpatient programs. For 5 years, Jennifer was the pediatric speech-pathologist for The University of Arizona Medical Center’s Diamond Children’s PICU, NICU, and acute care settings, where she instructed and mentored graduate students in speech pathology, was a member of the interprofessional Developmental Long Term Care and Pediatric Trach steering committees, and led the interprofessional NICU Feeding Task Force.
Jennifer has a strong interest in working with children who are medically fragile and complex, as well as working with children with dysphagia, autism, developmental delays, and phonological disorders. Jennifer has presented nationally and internationally on feeding and swallowing disorders in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Jennifer currently provides instruction and mentoring to graduate students in our on-campus clinic, and mentoring to undergraduate members of NSSLHA.
Jennifer is on the faculty of ArizonaLEND Maternal and Child Health Training Program and holds a courtesy appointment in the College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. Other collaborations include the award-winning Chemistry Can be Fun, a hands-on morning of chemistry for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder developed by Jennifer and members of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Radiology.
Jennifer is very active in the community, currently serving on the Advisory Board of Arizona Public Media, the executive committee for Science City with the Tucson Festival of Books, and the Board of Hostesses of the Silver and Turquoise Ball. Jennifer is a past president of the Junior League of Tucson, Inc. and Reach Out and Read Southern Arizona, and served on the board of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona for seven years, where she developed their signature event. She is the recipient of the Dynamic Duo Award from Compass Health Care and the Ann-Eve Johnson Sustainer of the Year Award from the Junior League of Tucson, Inc.