Kathy Drager

Kathy Drager is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Penn State's College of Health and Human Development, and currently serves as the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education. Her career spans clinical research in communication disorders, global outreach, and academic administration. Drager holds a doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota, with a focus on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems for nonverbal individuals. She transitioned from clinical aspirations to research, driven by her interest in improving communication for those with disabilities.

Her research emphasizes technology-based interventions (e.g., apps, iPads) and their adaptation to low-resource settings, such as Sri Lanka and South Africa. She has collaborated internationally, with fieldwork in South Africa, Israel, Norway, Sweden, Poland, and beyond. Drager mentors students through the research process, emphasizing problem-solving and creativity in addressing global health challenges.

In her administrative role, she oversees college-wide research initiatives and graduate education, advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration. She balances her leadership with a commitment to fostering innovation and equity in communication science and disability studies.