Victoria Petersen

Victoria Petersen is a **Part-Time Lecturer** in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine, affiliated with the College of Science, Technology, and Health. She has over a decade of clinical experience in speech-language pathology, working across pediatric and geriatric populations in schools, rehabilitation centers, and acute care settings. Her research focuses on written discourse coherence/cohesion in children with language learning disabilities and pediatric dysphagia.

Education:

• MS in Speech Language Pathology, Seton Hall University (2013)

Research Interests: Victoria’s work bridges clinical practice and academic inquiry. She specializes in medically complex populations, particularly those with dysphagia and language learning disabilities. Her studies on written discourse aim to improve diagnostic and intervention strategies for children. She has collaborated with Dr. Anthony Koutsoftas and Dr. Nina Capone, contributing to advancements in pediatric communication disorders.

Awards & Recognition:

• Research Award (2013)
• Alpha Eta Honor Society for Allied Health (2013)

Advising & Grants: She has supervised clinical fellows and Speech Language Pathology Assistants, though formal grants are not mentioned. Victoria aims to expand her clinical research in communication disorders and remains committed to community engagement.

Labs & Teams: She previously worked in the Reading, Oral Language and Writing Lab at Seton Hall University, focusing on cohesion/coherence in writing and pediatric dysphagia research.