Stephanie, a native of Chicago, Illinois, earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University. She identifies with a Hispanic heritage and is a native Spanish speaker, which has fostered a lifelong appreciation for language and its cultural significance. Her interest in Philip Combiths', her mentor's, laboratory was inspired by its emphasis on language diversity and multilingual language acquisition. Stephanie is particularly drawn to research on language development within diverse communities, as it aligns with her passion for exploring how language emerges and evolves across varied cultural and linguistic contexts. This focus has strengthened her dedication to addressing disparities in communication disorders and enhancing access to care for underrepresented populations.