Our Team

Board of Directors

We are excited to meet you!
Feel free to read all about us, and reach out!

Wendy Liang, MS, CCC-SLP
Founder, President

Wendy holds a Masters of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from New York University, and completed a combined clinical research fellowship at University of Florida working under Dr. Ianessa Humbert. She is currently a speech language pathologist practicing in the acute care and outpatient medical settings at several hospitals in Austin, TX. She has several specializations/certifications involving: myofascial release/ manual therapy for the head and neck, clinical TEP procedures, tracheostomy/PMSV, LSVT Loud Program, implementation of instrumental exams (MBSS/ VFSS, FEES). She plans to continue involvement in research and looks forward to coordinating more educational programs to further promote resources and awareness for individuals with head and neck cancer.

Wendy was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She enjoys traveling, rollerblading, and yoga.

Erica Taylor, MS, CCC-SLP
Vice President

Erica is a speech-language pathologist II at Prisma Health Midlands in Columbia, SC. She was fellowship trained at the Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, NC. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Wake Forest University and a M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her clinical interests include dysphagia, diagnostics, tracheostomized and ventilator dependent patients, laryngology, head and neck cancer/total laryngectomy, and alaryngeal speech. Her professional goal is to improve clinical pathways for the treatment of head and neck cancer patients in her area.

Erica was born on a military base in Wurzburg, Germany but calls Gastonia, NC home. She enjoys reading, crafting, and traveling.

Corinne Jones, PhD, CCC-SLP
Chief Operating Officer, Secretary

In September 2019, Dr. Jones joined the faculty of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, with a joint appointment in the Department of Neurology in Dell Medical School. Her research program has the goals of 1) expanding insight into swallowing physiology through the use of objective techniques, such as pharyngeal high-resolution manometry; 2) improving understanding of how the brain controls swallowing and how this sensorimotor control changes in neurologic conditions; and 3) exploring novel therapeutic methods to slow the progression of dysphagia in neurodegenerative conditions. She graduated in 2018 with a joint PhD in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the mentorship of Michelle Ciucci, Timothy McCulloch, and Marina Emborg. She has 29 publications and has co-authored 4 textbook chapters. Dr. Jones has received awards/scholarships from ASHA, the Dysphagia Research Society, European Society of Swallowing Disorders, the Japanese Society for Dysphagia Rehabilitation, and the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Parkinson Disorder Association. She has given a TEDx talk and entered into the 2018 Dance Your PhD contest.

Rinki Varindani Desai, MS, CCC-SLP
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer

Rinki is a medical speech-language pathologist, certified brain injury specialist and certified dementia practitioner; specializing in the assessment and treatment of cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders in adults. She serves as Associate Coordinator of ASHA’s Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders Special Interest Group (SIG 13), Co-Chair of the Dysphagia Research Society's COVID-19 Task Force and Chair of the MSHA Membership Committee. She is the co-founder of the Swallowing Training and Education Portal, founder of the Medical SLP Forum and co-creator of the Dysphagia Therapy mobile app. A recipient of multiple ASHA ACE awards, Rinki was one among 30 clinicians in the world selected for ASHA’s Leadership Development Program in 2017 and ASHA’s Faculty Development Institute program in 2019. After receiving her B.S. in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology in 2009 from AYJNISHD in Mumbai, she earned her M.S. in Communication Disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2011. She has practiced for over a decade in acute, sub-acute and long-term care medical settings in the United States. Rinki is currently the adult outpatient lead SLP and a clinical instructor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head Neck Surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She has presented nationally and internationally on topics related to adult dysphagia. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and doing what she can to help advance the profession by paying it forward.

Advisory Board

Thomas Schlieve, DDS, MD, FACS

Dr. Schlieve is a Graduate Program Director and Assistant Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at
UT Southwestern Medical School and Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, TX.

Chad Whited, MD

Dr. Whited is a board-certified otolaryngologist & head and neck surgeon for Austin Ear Nose & Throat Clinic in Austin, TX.

Megan Nosol, MSEd, MS, CCC-SLP

Megan Nosol, M.S. Ed., M.S. is a former medical-based Speech-Language Pathologist who holds a master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2013). Currently, Megan is a Physician Assistant student at Quinnipiac University in North Haven, Connecticut.

Arlene Dettmann, DNP, RN, CNE, FNP-C

Arlene is an Associate Professor at Austin Community College in Round Rock, and teaches at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. Arlene is a nurse practitioner, vocal cord cancer survivor (1971), and has a permanent trach.

Research Contributors

Avery Singson

Avery is an undergraduate in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program at Boston University. Her ever expanding list of clinical interests includes dysphagia, AAC, speech sound disorders, and exploring the relationship between speech pathology and cancer. She is excited to be part of the Burgundy & White team, and is looking forward to helping create and promote resources for people affected by head and neck cancer.

Sonya Collins

Sonya is second year graduate student pursuing her Master’s of Science in Communication Disorders at Texas State University with a concentration in Neurogenic, Voice, and Swallowing disorders. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders from Murray State University. She is a U.S. Army Veteran who enjoys the great outdoors, spending time with her family, and learning more about this inspirational career field. Her goal is to pursue a career in speech language pathology that allows her to help patients on their journey and spread awareness about communication and swallowing disorders, education, and resources to support recovery.

Nisha Kassam

Nisha Kassam is a junior studying Speech Pathology at Boston University, specializing in Deaf Studies and Spanish. She plans on going to graduate school and becoming a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. Her experience focuses on understanding disabilities and healthcare, creating a passion for learning more about and improving healthcare disparities. She shares her passion for healthcare and politics as a writer and editor for the Boston Political Review. Kassam also was a research assistant at the Boston Medical Center, developing new AAC devices. She currently interns at Constant Therapy Health as a clinical content creator for a speech therapy app.

Kelly Clougher

Kelly is a freshman in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Science program at Boston University. When she is not studying, she enjoys baking, gardening, and reading. Her goal is to pursue a career in speech language pathology in a hospital or school setting and is excited to contribute to the Burgundy & White team!

Laveena Lee

Laveena is a freshman at Syracuse University majoring in policy studies with a minor in Italian. She is passionate about helping others in need and hopes to run her own nonprofit organization one day. She is thrilled to be working with Burgundy & White and believes in the mission to educate, provide resources, and raise awareness for the head and neck cancer community.