Haley Dresang, PhD, began her postdoctoral fellowship at Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute (MRRI) in August of 2020. Since then, she has worked under the guidance of her mentors Laurel Buxbaum, PsyD, and Roy Hamilton, MD, MS, to further develop her research investigating the neural networks related to semantic knowledge of actions and events in language processing, as well as to examine the neuroplasticity and reorganization of these networks in individuals with stroke and neurodegenerative conditions.

We are excited to congratulate Dr. Dresang as she prepares to begin her next position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Dresang will launch her independent research lab there and teach about the neural mechanisms of speech and language disorders.

Before beginning her postdoctoral fellowship at MRRI, Dr. Dresang received her PhD in Communication Science and Disorders with a neuroscience concentration from the University of Pittsburgh and her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, as well as Spanish Language and Hispanic Studies, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Dresang grew up in Wisconsin, and she is looking forward to returning to Madison as a faculty member at her alma mater.

The goals of Dr. Dresang’s new research lab are to advance our understanding of the brain and how treatments can facilitate language recovery and successful communication strategies in individuals with neurogenic communication disorders. MRRI is pleased to have the opportunity to train and learn from talented postdoctoral fellows like Dr. Dresang who will go on to make important contributions to the field of neurorehabilitation.