Jessie Erikson Pyarelal

Jessie Erikson Pyarelal is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Arizona, affiliated with the Department of Human Development and Family Science within the Norton School of Ecology. She holds a PhD in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (2023) from the same institution. Her research focuses on academic outcomes for children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), particularly the relationship between vocabulary knowledge and science achievement. She collaborates with Dr. Melissa Delgado, integrating approaches from psychosocial development studies of Latinx adolescents to inform interventions for individuals with DLD.

Education:

• PhD in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona (2023)

Research Interests: Dr. Erikson’s work bridges child language development, educational equity, and psychosocial factors affecting Latinx youth. She examines how language impairments like DLD intersect with academic success and well-being, aiming to develop targeted support strategies.

Professional Credentials:

• Certificate of Clinical Competence, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC-SLP)
• Licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services