Lab Personnel
Our Team
Lab Director
Our lab is led by the esteemed Dr. M. Adelaida (Laida) Restrepo, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, who serves as the Chair of the College of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Restrepo is renowned for her expertise in oral language, emergent literacy development, and the prevention of academic challenges in bilingual children. As a bilingual speech-language pathologist, she dedicates her research to understanding and enhancing the language and literacy skills of bilingual children. Proud of her Colombian heritage, Dr. Restrepo brings a rich cultural perspective to her work, enriching our lab's mission and impact.
Lab Coordinators
Michelle Rodriguez, B.A., serves as our Lab Coordinator. She began her academic journey in psychology at the University of Puerto Rico, later shifting to speech-language pathology, inspired by her work with non-verbal and autistic children as a cosmetologist in Tampa. Starting as a volunteer while studying at USF, Michelle quickly advanced to the role of Lab Coordinator due to her exceptional insight in recruiting and her diligent work ethic. She now oversees activities at the Bilingual Language and Literacy Laboratory, playing a crucial role in advancing research on bilingual children. Michelle is currently applying to graduate school, with aspirations to further her impact in the field of speech-language pathology
Doctorate
Lucy Agbo, M.A., holds a B.A. in French Language and Literature and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics. As a proud Nigerian and passionate language enthusiast, she brings a valuable linguistic perspective to the lab. Her research focuses on bilingualism, language development, academic language acquisition, and literacy. Lucy is fluent in English, Idoma, and French, and is currently learning Spanish.
Anna K Almeida Soares, M.S., holds a B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and an M.S. in Neuroengineering. With extensive experience in language development and the neurobiology of communication disorders in children, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the lab. Proudly Brazilian, Anna enhances the lab's focus on bilingualism and emergent literacy, offering valuable insights into language acquisition and development across diverse populations. She is fluent in English and Portuguese and is currently learning Spanish.
Volunteer Today:
Interested in bilingualism and literacy research? Curious minds are always welcome!
馃摟 Email: bilanglitlab@usf.edu
馃搷 Drop鈥慽n anytime: PCD 3007, 3rd floor (open鈥慸oor policy)