Featured Alumni: Dr. Brooke Findley

Dr. Brooke Findley grew up in Dinuba and graduated from Immanuel High School in Reedley. She first enrolled at Fresno State in 2008, where she was part of the 10th entering class of the Smittcamp Family Honors College. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology Option in 2010.

After her initial graduation, Dr. Findley returned to Fresno State and completed a master’s degree in Communicative Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology Option in 2012 and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration and Doctor of Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) in 2018, all with distinction.

"I consider myself truly fortunate to have been offered the opportunity to join the SFHC. My experience as an honors student was a formative aspect of my educational experience.

I value the role the coursework played in helping me build my academic knowledge and critical thinking skills. Volunteer opportunities strengthened my dedication to service. I appreciate the support I received from the program directors and staff. The opportunity to engage with and learn from other honors college scholars was such a rewarding experience.

She holds a variety of professional certifications, including a Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech-Language Pathology, California licensure in Speech-Language Pathology, a Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential, and a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Certificate of Eligibility. She is a dually-certified speech-language pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Dr. Findley has spent her career working in various educational settings. Her professional experience includes work as a school-based speech language pathologist and special education program manager. She started her career at Fresno State as an undergraduate lecturer in 2014 and accepted a tenure track position in 2018. She is currently an associate professor in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Deaf Studies, where she serves as Graduate Coordinator for the Speech-Language Pathology master’s program.

"Participating in the honors college strengthened my connection to the university and encouraged me to contribute to the field of education."

Pictured right: Dr. Brooke Findley (middle) with graduate students Elise Guerra (left) and Karlee Hobbs (right), both SFHC alumni.

She has taught undergraduate and graduate coursework in the areas of phonetics, language disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, augmentative and alternative communication, research methods, speech sound disorders, stuttering, and behavioral principles in assessment and treatment. She has also served as a clinical educator for speech-language pathology graduate students, supervised graduate student theses and projects, and coordinated the department’s speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) post-baccalaureate coursework option. 

"As a faculty member, I have had the honor of mentoring several SFHC students. I have so enjoyed connecting with these students over our shared experiences. Supporting them in their academic, clinical, and research pursuits is one of the most rewarding parts of my job."

Pictured left: Dr. Brooke Findley with students and other faculty members during the CSHA Convergence Conference.

Dr. Findley’s primary areas of professional and research interest include school-based speech-language pathology, services for clients on the autism spectrum, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) in speech-language pathology preparation programs.

She is a past recipient of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Distinguished Early Career Professional certificate and served on the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA) board of directors.

She is a current Subject Matter Expert for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and an Editorial Board Member for the Administration and Supervision topic area of ASHA Perspectives. She has been involved in state and national professional advocacy in speech-language pathology, serving as a representative for CSHA and ASHA during advocacy days in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.