Abbie Olszewski

Abbie Olszewski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, serves as Associate Professor in Literacy Studies within the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno. With over 25 years of clinical experience as a certified speech-language pathologist, she trains future educators—including speech-language pathologists, special educators, and early childhood specialists—in evidence-based practices for improving children's language and literacy skills, with specialized focus on dyslexia evaluation and intervention.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Disability Disciplines in Special Education and Rehabilitation (specializing in Speech-Language Pathology and Language and Literacy), Utah State University, 2011
• M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology, Northern Illinois University, 1998
• B.S. in Communicative Disorders, Northern Illinois University, 1996

Research Focus: Dr. Olszewski's work centers on three interconnected domains: (1) Developing AI-driven screeners for early identification of dyslexia/dysgraphia through children's writing analysis, funded by NSF/IES through the National AI Institute for Exceptional Education; (2) Pioneering clinical interventions including her seminal book How to Teach Voice and Communication Skills to Transgender Women; (3) Advancing scholarship of teaching and learning to optimize educator preparation. Her research bridges clinical practice, technology innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate accelerating integration of artificial intelligence in speech-language pathology, particularly for dyslexia screening and culturally responsive interventions. Concurrent threads examine interdisciplinary training models and transgender communication services, reflecting her commitment to technology-enhanced, inclusive educational practices that address systemic service gaps.

Scientific Awards: No scientific awards reported in available documentation.

Grants and Leadership: Principal investigator on multiple federal grants including NSF/IES funding for AI-driven exceptional education solutions and OSEP funding for interdisciplinary training of early childhood special educators and speech-language pathology students. Her work emphasizes team science to develop scalable interventions addressing speech-language pathologist shortages.

Collaborative Frameworks: Actively engaged with the National Artificial Intelligence Institute for Exceptional Education, leading cross-disciplinary collaborations between speech-language pathologists, educators, computer scientists, and AI researchers to transform service delivery models for children with communication disorders.