Cynthia Cress

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Cynthia Cress Associate Professor

Ph.D., Communication Disorders: Augmentative Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1993
M.A., Communication Disorders: Language Development & Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1990
B.A., Psychology and Speech & Hearing Science, University of Michigan, 1982

Cynthia Cress, an associate professor in communication disorders, specializes in language development and disorders, early intervention, and augmentative communication. She teaches classes on preschool language disorders, linguistic diversity in bilingual and bicultural, communication assessment and intervention for children birth-to-three, and communication assessment intervention for persons with severe disabilities and autism. She also teaches an infant communication analysis seminar.

Cynthia was the principal investigator on a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant under the Clinical Investigator Development Award (CIDA). This five-year research grant targeted early communication and symbolic development in children at risk for becoming non speaking as a result of physical impairments. The research involved longitudinal samples of language and other developmental behaviors from children who were 1-3 years of age.

Other past research activities include developing and testing technology to support infant vocal development, and early communication risk among infants.

Cynthia received the Distinguished Service Award from the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America in 1998. She has served on grant review panels for the NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. In addition, Cynthia served as the associate editor for the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology from 2013-16 before transitioning to her current editor position.

Areas of Expertise:

    Language Development
    Language Disorders: Infants and Preschool Children
    Augmentative Communication
    Significant Disabilities
    Autism: Early Communication & Intervention

Professional Highlights

Honors and Recognition

2015-18, Alan T. Seagren Associate Professorship in Education 2015, 2001 & 1999, Award for Continuing Education, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 & 2007, Parents' Recognition Award, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Parents Association2012, Best Research Article Award, Augmentative and Alternative Communication Journal2007, Distinguished Teaching Award, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln1998, Distinguished Service Award, RESNA1998 & 1997, Top Ten Grant Recipients, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Teacher's College

Experience

2005-15, 2019-present, Associate Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln2016-present, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Department of Biomechanics2015-18, Alan T. Seagren Associate Professor in Education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln1998-2005, Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln1995-98, Research Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln1995, Lecturer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln1994-95, Speech-Language Pathologist, Meyer Rehabilitation Institute, Omaha, Nebraska1994, Assistant Professor (Adjunct), University of Nebraska at Kearney1992-94, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Meyer Rehabilitation Institute, Omaha, Nebraska1991-92, Speech-Language Pathologist, Communication Aids and systems Clinic and Communication Development Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison1984-92, Project Director, Trace Research and Development Center, Madison, Wisconsin1991, Lecturer, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison1984, Seminar Instructor, Psychology Department, Manchester, England1982-83, Research Aide, Communicative Disorders, Madison, Wisconsin1980-82, Research Assistant, Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Memberships

International Society for Infant CongressInternational/United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative CommunicationAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationNebraska Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationCouncil for Exceptional ChildrenAmerican Association on Intellectual and Developmental DisabilitiesThe Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America