Valerie McDaniel
At Pacific Since: 2021
Valerie F. McDaniel, PhD, CCC-SLP, MT-BC has clinical and research training spanning the fields of music therapy and communication sciences & disorders. She earned her BA from Loyola University Chicago in vocal performance with minors in biology and women’s studies. After completing Americorps-affiliated postgrad volunteering, Dr. McDaniel completed her MA in music therapy at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA with a thesis focusing on the perceived benefits of participation in Parkinson’s Awareness Choirs. She practiced clinically as a music therapist with ages 1 month to 104 years old in a variety of settings throughout the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Dr. McDaniel eventually moved to Memphis, TN to complete an MA/PhD program at University of Memphis with a focus on speech & language science. Her research focused on early dyadic interaction timing and acoustics, but her clinical experience as a speech-language pathologist spans assessment of toddlers to treatment in preK – 8th grade educational environment. Dr. McDaniel followed up her graduation as the first Memphis Communication Sciences and Disorders doctoral student to defend her dissertation during a global pandemic with a postdoctoral fellowship with University of Missouri. Much of her work at Mizzou involved an Early Head Start study focusing on maternal factors in early childhood interaction and language outcomes. The global pandemic also resulted in Dr. McDaniel resuming voice lessons, and she is currently collaborating with her voice teacher on a book about merging classical voice training and pop technique.
BA in Fine Arts – Music (Voice), Loyola University Chicago
MA in Creative Arts Therapy – Music Therapy, Drexel University
MA in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Memphis
PhD in Communication Sciences & Disorders (Speech-Language Science Focus) with a Cognitive Science Graduate Certificate, University of Memphis
Teaching Philosophy: Our communication sets the stage for how we will teach others to communicate. Therefore, I subscribe to the notion that clarity & consistent behavior are kindness. I can help students develop their own style of clear, consistent practice by viewing my course development through a developmental lens and scaffold accordingly. My primary goal as an educator is to help students construct new knowledge and provide opportunities for practice within the classroom space. How I accomplish this goal changes and evolves every year.
Courses:
SLPA 131 – Phonetics
SLPA 211 -- Language Disorders III
Additional Courses TBD
Research Summary: My research has two branches involving acoustics and speech & language science. The most established branch is parent-child interaction – the timing, the coordination, the early, naturally-occurring musical elements, music-enhancement of it, etc. The second, emerging branch focuses on preventative vocal health for clinicians and generalizing classical vocal training to healthy daily use.
Research Interests:
- Parent-Child Interaction
- Acoustic Analysis
- Emotional Regulation & Coordination in Interaction
- Complementary Use of & Co-Treatment with Speech & Music Therapies
- Vocal Health of Clinicians and Public Speakers
