Laura W. Plexico

Laura W. Plexico serves as Professor and Associate Dean of Engagement and Graduate Studies in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences within Auburn University's College of Liberal Arts. Her academic leadership spans both administrative roles and active clinical research, with particular emphasis on bridging theoretical speech science with practical therapeutic applications for communication disorders.

Education:

• PhD, The University of Memphis
• MA, The University of Memphis
• BS, The University of Montevallo

Research Focus: Dr. Plexico's work centers on fluency disorders (particularly stuttering) and speech science, with expanding investigations into counseling methodologies for communication disorders. Her recent publications reveal deepening exploration of autism spectrum disorders and voice pathology, often examining psychosocial dimensions like self-acceptance and workplace discrimination impacts alongside physiological voice mechanisms. This dual focus on clinical practice and patient psychology characterizes her integrative approach.

Publication Trends: Analysis of her 2019-2025 publications shows evolving research trajectories from foundational stuttering studies toward complex intersections of hormonal influences, occupational voice demands, and psychosocial adaptation. Notably, her work increasingly incorporates interdisciplinary perspectives—merging endocrinology with voice science and workplace psychology with stuttering management—while maintaining clinical applicability through tools like the CAPE-V assessment protocol.

Scientific Awards: No specific awards were documented in the provided materials.

Advising and Funding: As Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Plexico oversees graduate program development while mentoring clinical students through advanced courses (CMDS 7700-7740). Her research is supported by significant external funding, most notably:

• National Institutes of Health R03 grant ($457,644) for "Multisystem measurements of hormonal influence on voice production" (2014)

Research Infrastructure: She directs the Stuttering and Speech Science Lab, which facilitates investigations spanning acoustic analysis of disfluencies, therapeutic alliance development, and physiological voice measurement—providing critical resources for both faculty research and student training in evidence-based practice.