Our Team
Lab Director
Willem S. van Boxtel, PhD, AFHEA
Dr Willem van Boxtel is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences
and Disorders at Louisiana State University. He is interested in sentence processing
across the adult lifespan and in acquired neurogenic communication disorders such
as aphasia. He also takes a more broad interest in language processing, including
in different languages and populations. He works with fine-grained measures such as
electroencephalography (EEG) and eye-tracking, and takes a keen interest in applying
experimental research methods online. He enjoys working with complex statistical models
and analysis techniques, and has been known to get over-excited at bright graph colors.
Dr Van Boxtel hails from the Netherlands and spent several years in the UK (PhD, University of Essex, 2022) and Indiana (postdoctoral fellowship, Purdue University) before coming to LSU. His accent is consequently pretty confused.
View Dr Van Boxtel's CV/resume here.
- Email: wvboxtel@lsu.edu
- Phone: +1 (225) 578-7600
- ORCID
- ResearchGate
PhD StudentsAnugraha ThoratAnugraha Thorat is a PhD student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at LSU. She is interested in how people process language across different modalities, with a focus on reading difficulties and dyslexia. She has experience using methods such as EEG, eye-tracking to study language cognition. Outside the lab, she can usually be found turning lumps of clay into oddly charming creatures. Email: anugraha.thorat@lsu.edu |
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Julie SchoenhardEmail: Julie.Schoenhard@lsu.edu |
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Undergraduate Students
Callie CodyCallie Cody is a junior and is majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has joined the PELICAN lab in order to gain insight into working with adults with neurocognitive disorders. As well, she hopes to use this experience to help prepare and develop useful skills for graduate school and a career in speech pathology. Callie is from Watson, LA and enjoys playing board games with friends and family in her free time. Email: ccody3@lsu.edu |
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Taylor DavisTaylor is a senior majoring in communication disorders with a minor in social work. She is especially passionate about bimodal bilingual intervention and hopes to work with d/Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing folks in the future. Taylor joined the lab to gain hands-on research experience and learn more about how aphasia affects different modalities. Outside of classes, she is also a member of the LSU Women's Ultimate Frisbee Club! Email: tdav175@lsu.edu |
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Allie FolseAllie Folse is a senior majoring in Communication Disorders. She is from Gonzales, Louisiana. After graduation, she plans on applying to a Master's Program and obtaining a Masters in Speech Language Pathology. As someone very interested in speech and language disorders, especially aphasia, she joined the lab to broaden her knowledge on this topic. Allie also hopes to gain valuable experiences for her future career. In her free time, Allie enjoys spending time with family and friends, helping others, and being outdoors. Email: afols21@lsu.edu |
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Sophia Goenaga-EspinozaSophia Goenaga is a senior majoring in Communication Disorders with a minor in Psychology. She is from New Orleans, Louisiana, and plans to pursue her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology after graduation. Sophia aspires to work with individuals of all ages and hopes to own a private practice. She joined the PELICAN lab to explore research opportunities and gain hands on experience. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, working out, and traveling. Email: sgoena1@lsu.edu |
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Ashley HartAshley Hart is a senior majoring in Communication Disorders. She joined the lab to
gain valuable Email: ahart39@lsu.edu |
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Alexandria TilkinsLexi Tilkins is a senior majoring in Communication Disorders with a minor in Biology. She is from Rochester, New York, originally. Her goal is to work with Veterans as an acute care Speech Language Pathologist in the future. She is excited to gain hands-on experience in the lab, specifically with research into Aphasia. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, photography, and spending time with friends! Email: atilki1@lsu.edu |
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Vivian ToupsVivian Toups is a senior majoring in Communication Disorders with a minor in Business Administration. She joined the lab to gain hands-on research experience and further explore her interest in working with adults with communication disorders. After graduation, Vivian plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and being outdoors. Email: vivian.toups@lsu.edu |
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Marissa PriceMarissa Price is a junior majoring in Communication Disorders with a minor in English. She joined the lab to gain hands-on experience and deepen her understanding of the field as she prepares for her future career. She is particularly interested in working with individuals navigating speech and language challenges due to neurological conditions, including aphasia. After graduation, Marissa hopes to pursue her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, family, and especially her labradoodle, Loui. Email: mpric53@lsu.edu |
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Lab Alumni
The PELICAN Lab is extremely grateful to our wonderful alumni:
| Ally Miller | Victoria Walker | Silvia Rivet | Anna Broussard | Emma Briggs |
| Undergraduate | Undergraduate | Undergraduate | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
| Elise Barnett | Charles Tramonte | Zoey Gautreau | ||
| Undergraduate | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
The PELICAN lab in Fall 2025 (from left to right, upper row: Marissa Price, Ally Miller,
Alexia Tilkins, Allie Folse, Willem van Boxtel;
bottom row: Anugraha Thorat, Callie Cody, Anna Broussard, Sophia Goenaga, Victoria
Walker)
The PELICAN Lab in Spring 2025 (from left to right, upper row: Willem van Boxtel,
Zoey Gautreau, Ashley Hart,
Victoria Walker; bottom row: Emma Briggs, Allie Folse, Callie Cody, Ally Miller)
The PELICAN Lab in Fall 2024 (from left-to-right: Ashley Hart, Ally Miller, Elise
Barnett, Zoey Gautreau,Victoria Walker, Charles Tramonte, Willem van Boxtel)