Assistant Professor - Maria Claudia Franca, Ph.D.
Program Affiliation: Communication Disorders and Sciences
Office: 331A Rehn Hall
Phone: 618-453-8292
E-mail: franca@siu.edu
Specializations: Voice Science and Multicultural Issues Related to Communication Disorders and Sciences
Dr. Maria Claudia Franca is an Assistant Professor in the Communication Disorders and Sciences Program. She holds a M.S. in Communication Disorders and Sciences and a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation with a concentration in Communication Disorders from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She received the Janet and David Stover Award in 2006, and the University Women's Professional Advancement and Women's Studies award in 2009 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Dr. Franca was the recipient of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Minority Student Leadership Program Award in 2006. Prior to earning her doctorate degree in 2006, she worked in a variety of clinical and educational settings as a speech-language pathologist in Brazil. Dr. Franca has published journal articles and a book chapter focusing on voice and multicultural issues. She has presented research results at state and national professional conferences including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention (ASHA) , the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention (ISHA) and the Voice Foundation Annual Symposium. Her current research agenda includes investigations about effects of caffeine on voice performance, and attitudes and beliefs toward language diversity in university students. Dr. Franca is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Voice Foundation.