The Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR) is pleased to announce the selection of Stephen M. Camarata, PhD, as the new editor-in-chief for the language section of the journal. Dr. Camarata will begin his term on January 1, 2020, replacing Sean Redmond, PhD, who is finishing his term at the end of 2019.

Dr. Camarata is a Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences and Psychiatry in the School of Medicine and Professor of Special Education at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. In addition, he is an Investigator at the John F. Kennedy Center for Research on Development and Disabilities. 

Dr. Camarata’s Background

Stephen Camarata received his PhD in 1984 at Purdue University with a major in Audiology & Speech Sciences and a minor in Statistical Methods. Postdoctoral appointments were held at the University of Arizona (Speech & Hearing Sciences) and at the University of California, San Diego (in Cognitive Science).

Dr. Camarata served as the Acting Director of Vanderbilt Kennedy Center from 1999 to 2002, and directed the program in communication and learning from 2002 to 2009. Prior to his appointment at Vanderbilt in 1990, he held faculty positions at Penn State University and in the Autism Research Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara. 

Dr. Camarata’s areas of research interest are focused on the identification and treatment of speech, language disorder, and hearing loss. Populations of interest include autism, Down syndrome, phonological disorder, and language disorder.  

A Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Dr. Camarata is a permanent member of the NIH study section on Communication Disorders Research and has been a member of review panels at the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. He has also served as an editor for JSLHR.

Dr. Camarata can be reached via email at stephen.camarata@vanderbilt.edu. He welcomes your input and suggestions on how JSLHR can best serve the Communication Sciences and Disorders community.