Dr. Michael Karnell is an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa. He joined the university in 1993 and has been actively involved in clinical, teaching, and research responsibilities. Dr. Karnell’s research focuses on understanding normal and abnormal velopharyngeal function for speech, particularly in individuals with craniofacial anomalies. He has contributed to the development of innovative approaches to documenting velopharyngeal closure patterns. Dr. Karnell also teaches a graduate course in Cleft Palate Speech and is involved in the cleft clinic at the university.