Ohio’s Scholarship Programs

Mariah is a Speech-Language Pathologist with a heart for empowering individuals to express themselves confidently. Originally from Kentucky, Mariah pursued her Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences at WKU before furthering her education with a Master’s in SLP from Southern University and A&M College. Her career choice stems from a desire to facilitate growth and confidence in communication, believing everyone deserves to articulate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Mariah’s professional interests span autism, language development, phonological and articulation disorders, as well as executive functioning. She holds a certification in Meaningful Speech NLA, further enhancing her expertise in the field. Outside of work, Mariah finds joy in spending time with her husband and bull terrier, indulging in her love for reading in her hammock, exploring the vibrant city of Cincinnati, and attending concerts to unwind and recharge.

Melissa is the Office Administrator and Billing Specialist for TherapyWorks Cincinnati. With approximately 15 years of administrative and medical office experience, Melissa joined TherapyWorks Cincinnati in 2016 and takes immense pride in being part of such an exceptional team. Her primary role involves assisting clients by explaining and discussing insurance benefits and meticulously processing claims. Melissa lives in Loveland with her husband, Bill, their two daughters, Allison and Audrey, and their beloved Goldendoodle, Margo. Melissa finds joy in a variety of activities, including reading, traveling, cooking, hosting bonfires, and enjoying leisurely walks with Margo.

Prior to joining the TherapyWorks team, Nicole worked as a kindergarten teacher in South Korea and as a middle school teacher in California and Ohio. Now, as the Operations and Program Manager, Nicole puts her skills to work ensuring efficiency for clinicians and families. She is looking forward to developing new programs to help TherapyWorks meet the needs of children in the community. Outside of work, Nicole spends her time with her five-year-old daughter, Nora, and their two giant doodles, Rory and Margot. She used to have hobbies, but now she is a mom and always needs a nap.

Melissa is a dedicated Counselor and Academic Instructor based in Milford, Ohio. Melissa obtained her education at Xavier University and holds a license in Ohio. With a genuine passion for assisting students and families, Melissa is committed to guiding them towards achieving their goals, ensuring they live life to their fullest potential. Her professional interests lie in post high school ambitions, life skills development, fostering positive peer interactions, and monitoring academic progress. Melissa and her husband, Brad, are proud parents to two daughters: Ellie, who is pursuing a career as an Occupational Therapist, and Laura Jane, currently a junior at Pepperdine University, studying marketing.

Alexandra, the Director of Creative Arts at Ken Anderson Alliance, provides music therapy to clients at TherapyWorks. Alexandra earned her Bachelor’s degree at Ohio University, and she holds an MT-BC credential from the Certification Board of Music Therapists. Alexandra harnesses the power of music to facilitate communication, emotional regulation, and social connection, all while prioritizing fun as a means to drive personal growth. Her areas of interest span music technology, community music therapy with asset-based approaches, and trauma-informed techniques, showcasing her commitment to innovative and holistic practices. Her research, “Music Therapy Students’ Preparedness and Training to Work with LGBT Clients”, won a national award and was published in the academic journal Music Therapy Perspectives. Outside of work, Alexandra enjoys the company of her three cats and loves baking.

Sheri is an Intervention Specialist with degrees from Miami University and the University of Dayton. Licensed in Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland, and Colorado, Sheri’s areas of interest encompass Special Education and Administration. She is certified in General Education (1-8), Special Education (K-12), and Administration (5-12). Beyond her career, Sheri finds immense joy in her role as a mother to five children and a proud Nana to ten grandchildren. In her leisure time, she indulges in a variety of interests including reading, gardening, camping, and traveling.

Meghan is an Ohio Licensed K-12 Reading Specialist with 22 years of teaching experience. She received her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education (1999) and her Masters degree in Reading (2000) from Bowling Green State University. Certified in Orton Gillingham and Wilson Fundations, her passion is working with all types of children on their strengths and solidifying their specific skill gaps through a multi-sensory, encouraging, and supportive approach. Meghan absolutely loves teaching children, setting them up for success, watching them learn and grow, and contributing to her community. She also enjoys traveling (especially to the mountains), listening to music, hiking with her family, cooking, and taking photographs.

Lisa is an Intervention Specialist and Reading Specialist with over 20 years of teaching experience. She has taught students with a range of developmental disabilities in Kindergarten through 12th grade, both in the classroom and private tutoring settings. She integrates techniques from her studies to address areas such as phonics, decoding, fluency and reading comprehension, while creatively tailoring lesson plans to fit each student’s unique needs. She continually adapts her instruction by monitoring her students’ progress and adjusting accordingly. Her teaching success is driven by proactive and continuous professional development and a consistent commitment to her students.

Ms. Forschner graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education in 1999. As part of her coursework at Miami University, she completed the Orton Gillingham Literacy Training Phonics Program. She has used Orton Gillingham techniques and methodologies with the majority of her students throughout her career. She earned a Master of Special Education Degree at Temple University in 2003 and has since completed 30 additional hours of coursework from various other universities. In 2010, she participated in the Annual Summer Institute of Teaching Reading at Columbia University in New York, which included workshops conducted by the program’s founder, Lucy Calkins, as well as other reading education gurus such as Tim Rasinski. She also earned a Reading Endorsement from the University of Toledo in 2010.

Tracy is an Intervention Specialist licensed in Ohio. Tracy attended the University of Cincinnati for her undergraduate degree, Antioch University Midwest for her Master’s, and Mount St. Joseph University for her Reading Endorsement. Teaching is more than just a career choice for Tracy; it’s a personal calling, a testament to her unwavering dedication to making a difference in students’ lives. Her areas of interest within her career are diverse, ranging from her Orton Gillingham certification to co-teaching 10th Grade English and tutoring across various academic subjects. Tracy’s commitment to education hasn’t gone unnoticed; she was recently recognized by a senior athlete as ‘a person of impact’ at her high school. Beyond the classroom, Tracy and her husband share four wonderful children, along with their expanding family, including two sons-in-law and a grandson on the way. Living by a river, Tracy and her family enjoy watching kayakers while playing with their four rotten but lovable dogs.

Katie DeNeve, a Developmental Interventionist based in Northern Kentucky, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Louisville and a Master’s in Special Education from Xavier University. Driven by a deep-seated passion for witnessing children’s growth, Katie finds immense joy in those “lightbulb” moments when children grasp new concepts. Her specific interests lie in speech therapy and Autism, areas she continually seeks to expand her knowledge in. With a Master’s degree under her belt, Sarah is equipped with the expertise to cater to the diverse needs of her students. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband Paul, their fur baby “Louie”, and their one-year-old son Chase, named after her favorite Bengals player, Jamar “Chase”.

Jenny earned her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from St. Louis University and has worked in a variety of settings, including rehabilitation facilities, home health, acute care, group homes, assisted living, and long-term care. She chose to become an occupational therapist after working in camps for children with special needs. Her areas of interest include sensory processing and reflex integration; she is earning a certification in primitive reflex integration currently. When Jenny’s husband and two sons aren’t keeping her busy with baseball and soccer, she loves to hike and enjoy nature.

Chantelle is a highly qualified and dedicated professional in the field of pediatric physical therapy. She holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University and has over 12 years of clinical experience. Her specialization includes comprehensive training in pelvic health, encompassing the treatment of bowel and bladder disorders, as well as congenital muscular torticollis, gross motor delay, and neuromotor disorders such as cerebral palsy and Down Syndrome. Chantelle is also well-versed in the use of durable medical equipment, including standers, gait trainers, wheelchairs, bath and seating equipment, and custom orthotics.

Chantelle is not only a skilled practitioner but also a dedicated researcher who has contributed to the expansion of Cincinnati’s network for treating pediatric pelvic floor disorders. She believes in a collaborative approach, working closely with parents to incorporate their goals into their child’s daily life. Chantelle’s passion and drive are evident in her tireless efforts to help patients and families achieve their objectives while treating the child as a whole person.

Carrie, founder of TherapyWorks, holds an American Speech-Language Hearing Association’s National Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP). She is licensed to practice as an SLP in Ohio and Kentucky. Carrie also holds an Ohio Department of Education school license. She graduated from Miami University in 2001 with a Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology. Carrie has decades of experience with children in the school, early intervention and private practice settings. As an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati, Carrie is helping future clinicians hone their clinical skills. Through Kentucky’s First Steps Early Intervention program, she provides primary level evaluations used to determine eligibility for services. She enjoys working with children with feeding based disorders, motor speech disorders as well as neurodiverse children.

Carrie has been awarded the ASHA ACE award for her dedication to continuing to advance her skills and knowledge base. Some specialized training that Carrie has completed include: The Play Project, PECS, PROMPT, SCERTS, SOS Approach to Feeding, Kaufman, Myofunctional Therapy and Executive Functioning. Carrie strives to continue to learn and be a well-rounded therapist and employer. Hiring like minded educators and therapists is essential to her.

Anna is a Speech-Language Pathologist with a Bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of Kentucky and a Masters in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati. Anna lives in Northern Kentucky with her husband Matthew, daughter Thea, son Coen, and their furry friend Lou, a boxer husky mix. Holding licenses in both Ohio and Kentucky, Anna’s areas of interest within her career include speech disorders, particularly articulation and fluency, language disorders focusing on receptive language difficulties, social disorders, and autism. Outside of her professional pursuits, Anna finds joy in spending quality time with her family and friends, exploring new experiences, and indulging her passion for sports by watching and attending sporting events. A lifelong tap dancer, Anna has been taking tap classes since the age of five and continues to pursue her love for dance into adulthood.

Sheila is a speech-language pathologist new to the Cincy area (but a lifelong Reds fan). She received her degrees from Indiana State and the University of Virginia. Although Sheila has over 30 years experience with all ages and different settings, her favorite ages are preschool and school age, including middle school. Sheila has been married to her husband, Vince, for 40 years; together they have three sons and three cats. Sheila recently began providing teletherapy and her areas of interest include apraxia, hearing impairment, language development, social communication, and articulation. In her free time, Sheila loves to travel, garden, and attend “old people” concerts.

Kate grew up just outside of Louisville, KY and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Master’s of Science in Speech Language Pathology in 2021. After completing her own speech therapy journey throughout school and college, Kate decided she wanted to help others who stutter like she does. In her schooling and work experience, she has found several new areas of interest outside of stuttering, such as early language intervention, articulation and phonology, and Natural Language Acquisition. Outside of work, Kate enjoys reading, hiking, hanging out at coffee shops, photography, and trying new hobbies. Recently, she has been learning origami!

Sarah is a passionate Speech-Language Pathologist whose journey began at Eastern Kentucky University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science, Masters of Arts in Communication Disorders, and Rank I. Originally from Pikeville, Kentucky, Sarah now resides in Brooksville, Kentucky, and has been an integral part of the Bracken County School System since 2006, expanding her reach to KEIS in 2020. Sarah’s career path was ignited during her senior year of high school through a School to Work program at an outpatient clinic, sparking her love for the field. Alongside her professional achievements, Sarah is a mother to Noah (15) and Sophie (13), and their home is shared with two beloved dogs, Resee and Oreo. In her leisure time, Sarah enjoys kayaking, reading, and listening to music.

Katy has been a Speech Language Pathologist since 2010. She was born and raised in Cincinnati and has recently returned to her hometown after residing in Ft. Myers, FL for the last 15 years. She is definitely a Florida AND Ohio girl! She attended the “old” Lakota High School and upon graduation, she headed to Morehead State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in Developmental Psychology. After several years in the workforce gaining experience in the hotel/hospitality industry, case management, and travel/tourism, Katy decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pursue the field of Speech Pathology. In 2008, she returned to school and earned a Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders from Miami University at Oxford. Much of Katy’s clinical focus has been within the areas of Autism, Apraxia of Speech, Language and Articulation delays/disorders, and Auditory Processing Disorders in the early intervention and school age populations. Her goal is to eventually pursue Hippotherapy as well as to bring her knowledge to the university classroom as an adjunct professor. Outside of her day (and sometimes night) job, she enjoys reading, crafting, movies, live entertainment of all kinds, spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, and generally exploring new adventures and hobbies. Katy is grateful to be able to make a difference in the lives of children and families, whatever their unique needs may be!