Michelle Scesa

Dr. Michelle Scesa serves as Chair and Associate Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Lebanon Valley College, where she has transformed the Speech-Language Pathology program into a regional leader with consistent 100% Praxis Exam pass rates and 100% graduate job placement.

Her educational foundation includes:

• B.S. from Kutztown University
• M.S. from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
• Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University
• Clinical Competence Certification from ASHA

Dr. Scesa's research pioneers innovative clinical approaches across multiple domains. She developed groundbreaking aquatic social skills programs for children with autism spectrum disorder while advancing interprofessional education through nursing and physical therapy collaborations. Her work bridges clinical practice with athletic performance through mindfulness techniques for hockey players, and explores critical communication challenges in terminal illness scenarios. This multidisciplinary focus demonstrates her commitment to translating research into real-world therapeutic applications.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on applied interprofessional interventions, particularly in autism spectrum disorder treatment and healthcare communication. Her work consistently connects academic theory with clinical practice through partnerships across medical and educational disciplines.

As an educator, Dr. Scesa actively mentors undergraduate researchers who co-author her publications. She has cultivated cross-departmental collaborations between Speech-Language Pathology, Education, and Physical Therapy programs, creating integrated learning environments that prepare students for complex clinical practice.

She directs the aquatic social skills program for children with autism and maintains partnerships with nursing and physical therapy departments to develop interprofessional education models that serve as regional benchmarks.