Meet the BiRDI Team
Our lab is fortunate to have a number of excellent undergraduate and graduate students who keep our research going every day. This group of individuals works on projects focused on improving educational assessment to better inform intervention to support Spanish-English speaking children's language and literacy development. We work in partnership with Dr. Marc Goodrich's BiRDI Team at Texas A&M University and often conduct research studies across universities.
As of August 2021, the BiRDI Team is funded by an National Institutes of Health grant (PIs Fitton & Goodrich). You can learn more about the project here. During 2020, this work was supported by a New Investigators Grant from the ASHFoundation.
As of August 2021, the BiRDI Team is funded by an National Institutes of Health grant (PIs Fitton & Goodrich). You can learn more about the project here. During 2020, this work was supported by a New Investigators Grant from the ASHFoundation.
Leadership Team
University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
Gina Crosby-Quinatoa
Co-InvestigatorJuliana Gebhardt
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Kimberly Briseño
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Graduate Research Assistants
University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
Martine Moore
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Jasmine Bolar
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Andrea Cervantes
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Samantha Feeney
Class of 2025 
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Masters in Speech-Language Pathology Student (M.S.)
Future Plans: After completing my Master's in Speech-Language Pathology, I am interested in working with children in the bilingual community. With a commitment to cultural competence, I aspire to serve as a bridge for the gap in communication obstacles. Avery Cranford
Class of 2026 
Masters in Speech-Language Pathology Student (M.S.)
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Masters in Speech-Language Pathology Student (M.S.)
Savannah Jackson
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Letizia Tamburini
Class of 2026
Masters in Speech-Language Pathology Student (M.S.)
Future Plans: To become a Speech-Language Pathologist, supporting individuals across all developmental stages and serving linguistically diverse communities.
Future Plans: To become a Speech-Language Pathologist, supporting individuals across all developmental stages and serving linguistically diverse communities.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
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Santiago Avendano
Class of 2026 
International Business and Finance Major with Chemistry and Spanish Minor
Key Honors & Accomplishments: HSF Scholar Magellan Journey Honors Research Grant Dean's Scholarship Future Plans: Attend Medical School Caleb Rogers
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Leslie Rangel
Class of 2026 
Biology Major
Key Honors & Accomplishments: McDonald's HACER Scholarship Provost Scholar Watson-Brown Foundation Scholarship David W. Robinson Scholarship Future Plans: Attend Medical School Harshitha Visikamalla
Class of 2024 
BARSC-MD Major
Key Honors & Accomplishments: First Place Discover Poster President's List Provost Scholarship Future Plans: Attend Medical School |
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Mariana Orihuela
Class of 2024 
Psychology Major with Neuroscience Minor
Key Honors & Accomplishments: Amgen Scholar Fellowship- Highly competitive research program, Summer 2023 Awarded the Honors College Research Grant, Spring 2023 and Spring 2024 Awarded the Magellan Journey Mini Grant, Spring 2022 Presentations: Orihuela, M., Land, S., Leeann, S., Tran, K. (August 2023) Psychological Distress of Participants Screened for Lung Cancer Before Versus During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Poster presentation at the National Institutes of Health Summer Poster Day. Bethesda, MD. Orihuela, M., McFadden, J., Estrada, J., Johnson, M., Raynor, D., Revilla, R., Uvalle, M., & Hudac, C. (2023, April) Understanding the Relationship Between Adolescent Social Skills and Emotion Dysregulation. Poster presentation at the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology “Diversifying Clinical Psychology” Conference. Online. Curry, E., Orihuela, M., Gebhardt, J., & Fitton, L. (2023, February) Impact of error type on bilingual sentence repetition task scores. Poster presentation at the South Carolina Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention. Myrtle Beach, SC. Future Plans: I aspire to become a child and maternal health advocate for underrepresented communities, serving in a non-profit or government institution. Maddie Tiago
Class of 2024 
Public Health B.A. Major
Future Plans: Attend a graduate program for a dual Masters in Physician Assistant Studies and Public Health. After completing graduate school, I plan to work in a cardiothoracic or burn surgery unit. |
Joanna Godlewska
Class of 2024 
Public Health B.S. Major (Pre-Med)
Future Plans: Goal to go to MUSC for medical school and focus in pediatrics or emergency medicine Jonathan Molina
Class of 2025 
Psychology Major with Air Force ROTC Minor
Key Honors & Accomplishments: Type II Scholarship - AFROTC, LIFE Scholarship Future Plans: Commission into the Air Force as a 2d Lt and get my PhD and become a clinical therapist |
Interested in Getting Involved?
- Individuals (especially undergraduate students) interested in working on this project are encouraged to contact me.
- Detailed information about paid positions is available here.
- Learn more about our partnership with schools in Columbia, South Carolina here.
