Clinical staff are available for therapy year round pending openings. Clinical faculty see clients during the academic year while supporting the education and clinical development of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences graduate students.

Clinical Staff

Tracey L. Miller, M.A. CCC-SLP is a certified Speech Language Pathologist who completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees in communication disorders at the University of Connecticut.  She has practiced primarily in skilled nursing and outpatient clinics treating patients with a variety of cognitive communication, motor speech, receptive and expressive language, swallowing, voice and tracheostomy needs.  Tracey has served as rehabilitation director in buildings in Connecticut and Massachusetts which has fostered a focus on interdisciplinary treatment in her clinical education and practice.  Since 2020, Tracey has been supervising graduate students as part of their clinical practicum at Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation (MCNR).  Currently, Tracey splits her time between the UCSHC working with pediatric and adult populations and as a service provider and educator at MCNR.  She is a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).

Clinical Faculty

Samantha Formica, M.A., CCC-SLP earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and Psychology and her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Connecticut. Samantha specializes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and various associated speech, language, and social communication challenges secondary to ASD within the pediatric population. She values the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, working extensively with occupational therapy, physical therapy, and board-certified behavior analysts within a multidisciplinary private practice environment. Additionally, Samantha earned her Sensory Certificate to strategically identify sensory needs and incorporate appropriate therapy tools and tactics into assessment and treatment to best engage the clients she works with to optimize their participation and positive engagement within sessions. Samantha also emphasizes the importance of caregiver education in her practice to maximize treatment gains for best possible outcomes for each of her clients.

Samantha is an Assistant Clinical Professor for The University of Connecticut Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences department. She holds her Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA). She is also a member of the Connecticut Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (CSHA).

Clinical Faculty

Nicole W. Gallagher, M.S., CCC-SLP obtained her Masters Degree from Boston University in 2003. She has practiced in many settings, which include pediatric and adult inpatient and outpatient hospital clinics, elementary education, B-3, and skilled nursing facilities before joining UConn in October 2015. Nicole’s pediatric clinical areas of focus include: infant feeding-swallowing (emphasis in breastfeeding dyads), craniofacial syndromes, cochlear implant auditory rehab, augmentative and alternative communication, speech sound production and receptive-expressive language, including literacy skills.

Clinical Faculty

Jean McCarthy received both her BA and MS from the University of Rhode Island. She has provided prevention, assessment and intervention services across the lifespan and in varied settings including schools and hospitals. Prior to coming to UCONN Jean was the Director of Rehabilitation at a skilled nursing facility. Jean has practiced as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland and Connecticut. She is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) at UCONN. In addition to specializing in clinical education and supervision her position as Clinical Professor includes service opportunities. She holds leadership positions for both the UConn Committee on Interprofessional Excellence in Healthcare (CIPEH)and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). She is also a trustee for the Connecticut Speech and Hearing Association (CSHA)Foundation and a past executive board member of CSHA. Jean specializes in Neurocognitive Communication Disorders including aphasia and dementia. The disorders of swallowing, voice and fluency are also specialties. She is a certified provider of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVTLOUD) which is an effective speech treatment for people with Parkinson’s Disease. Jean’s practice is split between the UCONN Speech and Hearing Clinic (UCSHC) and Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation (MCNR). SLHS graduate students join her at both settings where she functions as clinical educator and service provider. Communication and voice services for transgender individuals are provided by Jean at the UCSHC. Jean lives with her husband Brian in Mansfield. Having raised their three children, Jean enjoys the outdoors, travel and community volunteering. 

Clinical Faculty

Lucinda Soares Gonzales received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders and Master's of Science in Speech Pathology at Southern Connecticut State University. Her clinical interests include adult neurogenic communication disorders, dysphagia assessment and management, voice modification, voice disorders, patient and family education, and clinical education/supervision. Ms. Soares Gonzales holds a duel employment at UConn Health and is trained in instrumental swallow assessments, including Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBSs) and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). She has completed the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment certification and is a recent recipient of the Parkinson’s Voice Project Grant. She will be initiating the SPEAK OUT! Program and Loud Crowd at the UConn Speech and the Hearing Clinic. Ms. Soares Gonzales has received two Awards of Continuing Education from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Additionally, she is a member of the Connecticut Speech Language Hearing Association Medical Committee. 

Clinical Faculty

Kacie Wittke is a certified speech-language pathologist who specializes in pediatric communication and swallowing disorders. Her primary area of specialty is autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with a focus on evaluating and treating the complex communication challenges associated with ASD. She is also highly experienced with assessment and treatment of a broad range of pediatric disorders, including language impairment, speech sound disorders, motor speech disorders (including dysarthria and childhood apraxia of speech), fluency disorders, and dysphagia. She works collaboratively with caregivers, as well as outside providers in order to provide high-quality, multidisciplinary care with a family-centered focus.     

Ms. Wittke is also an Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree with a research focus on specific language impairment/developmental language disorder (SLI/DLD). She holds certification with the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA), and is also a member of the Connecticut Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (CSHA).