Loran majored in Communication Disorders and worked on an Honors Thesis under the direction of Dr. Julie Stierwalt. The title of her thesis is “Swallowing Pressures in Normal Young Adult Women.” Loran studied whether or not different techniques used to evaluate tongue function elicit accurate measures of tongue endurance and strength. This research will affect those patients with multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injuries, dysphagia, or Parkinson’s disease who possess reduced tongue strength and/or endurance. Loran and Dr. Steirwalt have worked closely together on projects relating to the National Students for Speech, Hearing, and Languages. Loran was an active member in the local chapter of the National Students for Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA).

Loran is from Inglewood, California, and graduated in 2005. She is currently attending graduate school at San Francisco State University.

To read Loran’s thesis, please visit FSU’s D-Scholarship Repository.