Lisa Fitton

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I knew that I wanted to pursue a graduate degree from a very young age. We don't know enough about how to educate people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and this is an area that I wanted to explore. I saw that there were a lot of questions that hadn’t been answered and wanted to change the narrative, and I also knew that accomplishing this would require a graduate degree.

Importance of research and work

My research is focused on better understanding the unique needs of minority language speakers being educated in the United States. These children are often referred to as "English Learners" or "English Language Learners" and are at increased risk for difficulties in school compared to their peers, although bilingualism is the norm globally. As I began my clinical training as a speech-language pathologist, I discovered that there was relatively little information about how to assess and support English learners effectively. Consequently, I decided to apply to Florida State's doctoral program in Communication Science and Disorders and have loved every minute since. I discovered the importance of and my interest in quantitative methodology and statistics and have had the opportunity to merge my interests into a research agenda focused on rigorous educational research with English learners.

Accomplishments during academic career

I defended my doctoral dissertation in Communication Science and Disorders in February 2018 where my research focused on the early literacy development of minority language speakers and on research methodology and statistics. With the support of faculty in my department and others, I have obtained invaluable experience that I have been able to continue to build upon since receiving the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences & Disorders (CAPCSD) PhD Scholarship. I was also a recipient of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Graduate Student Scholarship.

Career aspirations

I want to pursue a career focused on research within academia. I hope to contribute to the fields of speech-language pathology and education by concentrating my research on the development of effective language and literacy assessment and instructional practice for English learners.