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Dr. Alaina Davis
Faculty
Faculty

Alaina S. Davis

Associate Professor & Departmemt Chair

alaina.davis@Howard.edu
https://linktr.ee/overallneuro

Department/Office

  • Communication Sciences & Disorders

School/College

  • School of Communications
  • Graduate School

Biography

Dr. Alaina Davis is an Associate (tenured) Professor and the Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Howard University where she also received her Ph.D. She is a licensed Medical Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer with the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists. Her research interest and expertise are in neurologically based communication disorders with adolescents and adults and primarily focus on traumatic brain injury/sport-related concussion. 

Dr. Davis directs the Cognitive-Communicative Skills Clinic and Research Lab (CCC Skills) in which the team examines cognitive-communicative deficits associated with sport-related concussion and return-to-learn/play/activity for student-athletes following concussion. Student-athletes are supported through her role as the Lead SLP on the HU Concussion Management Team. Dr. Davis is passionate about increasing the understanding of the cognitive and communication styles of adolescents and adults from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds and identifies culturally responsive methods for cognitive-communicative assessment and treatment.

In addition, Dr. Davis has served as the Director of Graduate Assessment. She has an interest in program assessment and analyzes the effect of cognitive learning styles on significant learning in academic and clinical activities related to speech-language pathology. Dr. Davis is published in professional journals and has co-authored chapters on TBI. She is the inaugural Chair of the Committee on Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences. Lastly, Dr. Davis conducts webinars and trainings on brain injury and hosts the podcast, "Life, Language, & Lyrics."

Education & Expertise

Education

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Ph.D.
Howard University
2014

Speech-Language Pathology

M.S.
Southern University and A&M College
2009

Communication Disorders

B.A.
University of Houston
2005

Expertise

Speech-Language Pathology

Sport-related Concussion

Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion

Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice

Health Disparities/Healthcare Disparities

Cognitive-Communication Disorders

Executive Functions and Working Memory

Right Hemisphere Disorder

Aphasia

Academics

Academics

COSD 263: Anatomy & Physiology

COSD 543: Anatomy & Physiology

COSD 467: Tests & Measurements

COSD 557: Tests & Measurments

COSD 561: Neurogenic Language Disorders

COSD 567: Neurogenic Speech Disorders

COSD 569: Medical SLP

COSD 570: Dysphagia

COSD 607: Communication Disorders in Aging

COSD 612: Communication Disorders in Traumatic Brain Injury

COSD 769: Neuro and Cognitive Foundations (Doctoral)

COSD 771: Seminar in Aging (Doctoral)

COSD 774: Seminar in Traumatic Brain Injury (Doctoral)

Research

Research

Specialty

Cognitive-Communication Disorders Associated with Sport-related Concussion/Traumatic Brain Injury

Funding

Integrating culturally adaptated principles in cognitive communication rehabilitation. ASHA Grant Program for Projects on Multicultural Activities. 2024. (co-PI)

Group Information

Center for Cognitive-Communicative Skills Clinic and Research Lab (CCC Skills).

-Managing brain and sports-related injuries.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments

2021 Provost's Distinguished Service Award

(2019) Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists - Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer

2019 HU Summer Research Fellowship

Verbal Reasoning, Working Memory, and Learning Strategies in Student-Athletes With and Without Concussion

2018 Junior Faculty Writing and Creative Works Summer Academy

2018 HU Summer Research Fellowship

The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Role in Increasing Knowledge and Attitudes of Athletes on Cognitive-Communication Symptoms Associated with Concussion

2017 HU Summer Research Retreat

Related Articles

(2024). Traumatic brain injury. Book chapter in "Cultural sensitivity and responsiveness in neurorehabilitation: A personalized approach for speech-language pathologists."

Coelho, C., Davis, A. S., Key-DeLyria, S., Lindey, A., Maruca, A., Myers, J. R. & Solomon, N. (2024). Traumatic brain injury. In G. Wallace (Ed.). Cultural sensitivity and responsiveness in neurorehabilitation: A personalized approach for speech-language pathologists. Plural Publishing.

(2022). Mapping meta-therapy onto the treatment of cognitive communication and language disorders in adults.

Bolowsky, V., Davis, A. S., & Zipse, L. (2022). Mapping meta-therapy onto the treatment of cognitive communication and language disorders in adults. Perspective of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_PERSP-22-00072.

(2020) Shifting the mindset of racism through cognitive learning styles in communication sciences & disorders

Davis, A. S. & Stanford, S. (2020) Shifting the mindset of racism through cognitive learning styles in communication sciences & sisorders. Journal of the National Black Association for Speech, Language, and Hearing, 15(3), 87-97.

(2020) Still sitting at the back of the bus: Black communication sciences & disorders academicians surviving in a system of bias and prejudice

Stanford, S. & Davis, A. S. (2020) Still sitting at the back of the bus: Black communication sciences & disorders academicians surviving in a system of bias and prejudice. Journal of the National Black Association for Speech, Language, and Hearing, 15(3), 95-97.

(2016) Significance of concussions in Hawaii: From land to sea.

Cifu, D. X., Uchima, O. K., Davis, A. S., Lower, A. E., Jin, J. L., & Lew, H. L. (2016). Significance of concussions in Hawaii: From land to sea. Hawaii Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 75(9), 262-265.

(2016) Cultural familiarity of figurative expressions from three music genres in African American adults

Davis, A. S., Wright-Harp, W., Lucker, J., Payne, J. C., & Campbell, A. (2016). Cultural familiarity of figurative expressions from three music genres in African American adults. Contemporary Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders, 43, 238- 254.    

(2014) Traumatic brain injury. Book chapter in "Adult neurogenic language disorders: Assessment and treatment - An ethnobiological approach, 2nd Ed."

Payne, J. C., Wright-Harp, W., & Davis, A. S. (2014). Traumatic brain injury. In J. C. Payne, Adult Neurogenic Language Disorders: Assessment and Treatment–An Ethnobiological Approach. 2nd ​Edition (pp. 175-264). San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing.