Kelly Bridges

Kelly Bridges, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Distance Education in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University’s Steinhardt School. She specializes in integrating clinical practice and research into teaching, focusing on neuroanatomy, adult neurogenic communication disorders, and dysphagia. Her research explores pragmatic communication in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including studies on formulaic language in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and treatment-resistant depression using deep brain stimulation.

Dr. Bridges chairs the Department’s Global Committee and serves on Steinhardt’s Dean’s Global Advisory Committee, emphasizing international engagement in speech-language pathology education. She mentors early career professionals in majority-world countries and contributes to the International Association for Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP) Education Committee. She teaches courses like The Talking Brain: Typical and Disordered Communication, introducing students to neurology’s role in communication disorders and rehabilitation.

Her publications span neurolinguistics, clinical case studies, and bilingual child development. Notable work includes investigating formulaic language in neurological conditions and sibling influences on language acquisition in multilingual households. She collaborates with the Brain and Behavior Laboratory, advancing understanding of speech and language mechanisms in health and disease.