Cassandra Adams, M.S.
Research Clinician

Research/Clinical Interests: Social Cognition, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychosis

Ms. Adams is a research clinician for the Social Cognition research team.  The Social Cognition team studies social cognition deficits in children and adults (ages 7-35) diagnosed with ADHD, traumatic brain injury, Asperger’s disorder/autism, and schizophrenia.  The Center for BrainHealth has collaborated with the UTD Arts and Technology department to create a virtual reality program to train social skills in a non-threatening environment.  Ms. Adams works with the Social Cognition team to develop and implement training programs to target each participant’s individualized goals. 

Ms. Adams is also part of the research team for the Child Head Injury project.  The Child Head Injury project is a longitudinal study that examines the impact of pediatric traumatic brain injury on factors such as memory, inhibition, social problem solving, academic performance, and personality.   

Ms. Adams will begin her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at U.T. Southwestern Medical Center in August 2008.

Email: Cassandra.Adams@utdallas.edu

Lori Cook, M.S., CCC/SLP
Research Coordinator
Doctoral Student

Research/ Clinical Interests: Cognitive-linguistic recovery after pediatric brain injury

Ms. Cook directs the Child Head Injury Project that follows children with traumatic brain injuries from the time of their injury to 2 years post-injury, examining factors such as memory, inhibition, social problem solving, and academic performance. She conducts research evaluations and provides information and referrals to families participating in the study. In addition, she works with the radiology team on another component of the project examining memory functioning during functional brain imaging. Clinically, she contributes to the strategic learning intervention program, working primarily with children with ADD/ADHD.

Ms. Cook has also been involved in research investigating the long-term recovery of discourse skills as well as executive function abilities (e.g., self-regulation, planning, problem-solving), contributing to the development of new assessment and intervention tools.

Email: lori.cook@utdallas.edu

Molly Keebler, M.S., CCC/SLP
Head of Community Programs

Research Interests: Healthy aging, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, community education

Molly Keebler directs the Healthy Aging project that evaluates healthy aging adults who are concerned about changes in their memory or thinking skills. She administers brain physicals, which provide a baseline that is used as a marker of cognitive function for future comparison. She also assesses the cognitive-linguistic function of people who have had strokes and provides short-term intensive intervention, strategies and recommendations to improve their ability to effectively function in the community. Ms. Keebler presents educational talks to groups around the metroplex about brain health; and she trains volunteers to run stroke support groups for people with aphasia in area churches.

Email: molly.keebler@utdallas.edu

Katy Milton, M.S., CCC/SLP
Head of Adult Research

Research/Clinical Interests: Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementias, healthy aging

Mrs. Milton performs cognitive-linguistic evaluations with adults who are concerned about changes in their cognitive abilities due to neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementias, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. In addition, she provides healthy brain check-ups for normal aging adults. She conducts evaluations for both clinical and research purposes. She provides feedback to families on ways to optimize communicative and functional abilities. Mrs. Milton is a lecturer in the graduate program for Speech-Language Pathology on dementia and discourse.

Email: katy.milton@utdallas.edu

Audette Rackley, M.S., CCC/SLP
Head of Special Programs

Research/Clinical Interests: Healthy aging, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, discourse therapy, community education.

Ms. Rackley develops and conducts programs for individuals with early and moderate stage Alzheimer's disease which focus on tapping preserved abilities to optimize function and enhance quality of life. She was selected to participate on the committee to develop and write practice guidelines for the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences. She has presented at national, state and area meetings providing education to professionals and lay people on research findings, communication strategies and programs for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. She is a lecturer in graduate level classes in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology on dementia signs and symptoms, communication changes and intervention techniques. Ms. Rackley is currently writing a book presenting a hopeful message for individuals dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Ms. Rackley is also the editor of the Center’s newsletter, Brain Matters.

Email: arackley@utdallas.edu

Jennifer Zientz, M.S., CCC/SLP
Head of Clinical Services

Research/Clinical Interests: Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementias, healthy aging, strategic learning, pediatric ADHD, functional brain imaging

Ms. Zientz conducts cognitive-linguistic evaluations of adults with Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia, and other types of dementia, supplies diagnostic information to referring physicians, and provides feedback to patients and families on ways to optimize abilities. She also administers brain physicals to healthy aging adults to establish a baseline of cognitive-linguistic function. She participates in the clinical research investigating strategic learning intervention for children with ADHD, as well as in the research studying functional brain imaging in children with traumatic brain injury. She was selected to participate on the committee to develop and write practice guidelines for the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences. She has presented at national, state, and area meetings about research findings, communication strategies, and services for individuals with Alzheimers. She has lectured to graduate and undergraduate classes in Communication Disorders on signs and symptoms of dementia, subsequent changes in communication, and diagnostic techniques.

Email: jennifer.zientz@utdallas.edu