people
members of the lab
Hope Sparks Lancaster is the Director of the Etiologies of Language and Literacy Laboratory in the Center for Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Dr. Lancaster studies language and literacy development and disorders and is particularly interested in behavioral and genetic overlaps between speech disorders, developmental language disorder, and dyslexia. She also studies language and literacy development in individuals with other conditions, such as cleft palate.
Favorite book(s): Green Rider Series
Alicia Buttner is the Manager of the Etiologies of Language and Literacy Lab. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology, with a specialization in Neuroscience and Behavior, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Before joining Boys Town in 2023, her research and professional work centered on canine behavior and human–animal interactions. In her current role, she oversees daily lab operations, coordinates project development and execution, organizes research activities, and contributes to the development of manuscripts and grant proposals aimed at advancing understanding of language and literacy across the lifespan.
Favorite book: And Then There Were None
Chloe Strait is a Research Assistant in the Etiologies of Language and Literacy Lab. Chloe has a B.S. in Communication Disorders and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Her professional goal is to become a speech-language pathologist and support individuals with communication challenges in developing effective communication skills. In the lab, Chloe contributes to the collection, phonetic transcription, and analysis of data, while assisting with a variety of additional research tasks.
Presley Jobe is a Research Assistant in the Etiologies of Language and Literacy Lab. Presley is a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is working on getting her bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders. Her goal is to become a speech-language pathologist and work with pediatrics! Presley assists with research activities, including data analysis.
Favorite Book: Let Them Theory