Stephanie K. Daniels

Stephanie K. Daniels is a Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Her research focuses on neurogenic dysphagia, particularly stroke-related swallowing disorders, and she has developed clinical screening tools and telepractice models for swallowing assessment. She previously served as a research speech-language pathologist at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston and New Orleans, and as a hospital-based speech-language pathologist for 15 years.

• Ph.D., Communication Sciences and Disorders, Louisiana State University
• M.S., Communication Disorders, University of Texas at Dallas
• B.S., Speech and Hearing Therapy, Texas A&M-Commerce

Dr. Daniels’ research, funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, investigates the neural mechanisms of swallowing, stroke-related dysphagia, and telepractice adaptation for clinical swallowing exams. Her work bridges clinical practice and neuroscience, emphasizing diagnostic innovation and rehabilitation strategies.

The 15 most recent articles reflect her expertise in stroke dysphagia, lesion localization, and telepractice. Topics include scoping reviews on behavioral interventions, reliability of screening tools, neural plasticity in rehabilitation, and interdisciplinary implementation strategies.

• Fellow, American Speech-Language Hearing Association

She has led NIH review panels and served as President of the Dysphagia Research Society (2015-2016). Current projects, in collaboration with Dr. Jane Anderson at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, aim to establish a robust telepractice model for clinical swallowing evaluation.