The American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (AJSLP) is pleased to announce the selection of Amy L. Donaldson, PhD, CCC-SLP, as an editor-in-chief of the publication. Dr. Donaldson will begin her term on January 1, 2025, succeeding Erinn Finke, PhD, CCC-SLP, and serving alongside editor-in-chief Dr. Rita R. Patel. Amy L. Donaldson is a professor in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at Portland State University, where she directs the Autism and Social Communication Lab.

Dr. Donaldson’s Background

Dr. Donaldson earned her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at Gallaudet University in 1995, and later earned her PhD at the University of Washington in 2005. She served as an editorial board member (EBM) for the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR) from 2017–2018 and for Perspectives in 2023. Dr. Donaldson has served as an editor for AJSLP since 2021.

She was the guest editor or co-guest editor for four forums in Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, focusing on communication choice for autistic people, neurodiversity-affirming practices, evidence-based practices for autistic children, and early intervention. Dr. Donaldson has served as a subject matter expert for the ASHA Autism Practice Portal in 2024 and as the co-chair of the Autism Committee for the ASHA Convention from 2020-2022.

Dr. Donaldson has published articles in ASHA journals such as JSLHR, LSHSS, and Perspectives, and her work has thousands of citations. A former SLP, Dr. Donaldson’s research interests have included investigating early intervention efficacy, equity-based social interaction supports, and coaching models. Currently, she uses a participatory research framework to examine issues of communication choice and agency within the autistic community, social interaction and relationships, neurodiversity, and disability representation.

About AJSLP

AJSLP publishes peer-reviewed research and other scholarly articles on all aspects of clinical practice in speech-language pathology. You can read more than 30 years of articles in AJSLP‘s archive or check out the latest issue.

Amy L. Donaldson can be reached at adonald@pdx.edu. She welcomes your input and suggestions on how AJSLP can best serve the speech-language pathology community—and the discipline of communication sciences and disorders at large.