Doctoral candidate in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders (SCSD) Miguel Garcia-Salas, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Vanderbilt Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences Rising Star Award.

“I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive the Rising Star Award,” Garcia-Salas said. “It’s incredibly validating to know that my work resonates with others in the field, especially at such an early stage in my career.”

The Rising Star Award is given to early-career researchers whose work stands out for its contributions to the field of communication sciences and disorders. The award specifically celebrates research that amplifies diversity and inclusivity in the field. This recognition highlights the importance of work that bridges research and practice, making a real difference in vulnerable populations.

The award directly aligns with Garcia-Salas’s focus on supporting the language and literacy development of children from vulnerable and underrepresented communities. “This recognition fuels my motivation to continue pushing the boundaries of research that supports children and families from migratory and underrepresented communities,” Garcia-Salas said.

Garcia-Salas’s work has involved developing shared book reading interventions, first piloting a program for older siblings in underrepresented families and currently developing an online and asynchronous dialogic reading program for parents. “By using a strengths-based approach, I’ve been able to highlight the natural abilities of these families while addressing barriers to educational resources,” Garcia-Salas said.

As Garcia-Salas transitions into a professorship in Communication Sciences and Disorders, he plans on continuing his research on language development within vulnerable and migratory communities.

As part of this award, Miguel will deliver an invited lecture at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on October 23, 2024.