Class of 2023 Spotlights: Speech Language Pathology
Maquela Lashley, Speech Language Pathology, B.A.
Maquela Lashley says putting herself through school while working at the same time, taking a full, heavy course load and completing her research and internships, was a major challenge she had to overcome to get to graduation. To strengthen her experience within the Speech-Language Pathology field, she also volunteered weekly, adding to the number of balls she had to juggle throughout her schooling.
“It was all very overwhelming, but relying on support from peers and faculty is what helped me to endure and make it through,” says Maquela.
Maquela says she chose Speech-Language pathology because “it is a nice balance between the medical field and child development/education." She adds, “I wanted a career with a taste of both, and I am very grateful to have not only found the field, but to also have fallen in love with it. Having conducted research for a very niche population, I am now interested in serving under-researched populations. By doing this, I hope to provide access and resources to individuals who are often overlooked and underserved.”
Maquela cites Dr. Margaret Vento-Wilson as being a major source of inspiration. “I was in two of her classes, and her passion for the field [of Speech-Language Pathology] was so inspiring. She then became my faculty advisor for my undergraduate thesis under the University Honors Program. She has not only pushed me as a student researcher, but also as an individual, and I am very grateful for her guidance and the impact she made on my undergraduate education.” Congratulations, Maquela!
Amy Takamoto, Speech Language Pathology, M.A.
During her time at CSULB, Amy Takamoto was very active helping at the on-campus Speech-Language Clinic. She completed a school-based internship working with preschool and elementary school children and will complete a medical based internship at Providence Mission Hospital this summer.
“During my time at CSULB, I’ve learned the importance of advocacy and collaboration with professors, supervisors, peers, other allied professionals, and clients; as well as a commitment to providing effective and efficient services to improve individuals' overall quality of life,” Amy says. “My experiences at CSULB have also taught me to never underestimate a client’s capacity to improve. All of the clients that I worked with have experienced hardships that have significantly impacted their lives, such as traumatic brain injuries or strokes; however, their motivation and tenacious desire to improve only reinforced my commitment to providing personalized and effective care.”
Being able to contribute to enhancing their quality of life in any aspect is what fuels Amy’s passion for working with individuals with communicative disorders. From creating a generative, no-tech, tactile AAC device to helping a patient participate in conversations with his family, helping a patient write his name on a Christmas card, or applying for a job, Amy realized that adopting a person-centered approach to intervention led to the most significant and meaningful progress.
“This new mentality has reinforced my commitment to compassion, collaboration, advocacy, integrity, and respect to deliver meaningful, effective, and evidence-based services in the field of Speech-Language Pathology.”
Congratulations, Amy!
