

Alaina Davis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
alaina.davis@howard.edu
Dr. Alaina Davis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She received her B.A. in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston, her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Southern University and A&M College, and she received her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Howard University. Dr. Davis specializes in adult neurogenic communication disorders with expertise in traumatic brain injury (TBI). She directs the Cognitive-Communicative Skills Research Lab in which the team examines cognitive-communicative deficits associated with concussion. Dr. Davis is also a practicing clinician, licensed in DC, MD, and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer with the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists.
SLP license in DC, MD, and TX
Confirmed completion of the ASHA required CEU courses for Ethics and Supervision Yes
Research Interests
Dr. Davis’ research interests are in Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive Impairments in individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury and Health Disparities in the Adult Neurogenic Population. She also conducts research in the area of return-to-learn for student athletes and supports them as they transition back into the classroom. Her work also addresses cognitive and communication styles of adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who have neurogenic communication disorders. Dr. Davis is published in professional journals and has co-authored chapters on TBI. She teaches graduate courses in neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders including Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurogenic Language Disorders, Neurogenic Speech Disorders, Dysphagia, Aging, and Medical Speech-Language Pathology.
Creative and Published Works
Coelho, C., Davis, A. S., Key-DeLyria, S., Lindsey, A., Maruca, A., Myers, J., & Solomon, N. P. Traumatic brain injury in Special Populations. In Cultural Competence in Adult Neurorehabilitation: A Community Based Rehabilitation Approach for Speech-Language Pathologists. G. Wallace (Ed.). San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing. (In press).
Cifu, D. X., Uchima, O. K., Davis, A. S., Lower, A. E., Jin, J. L., & Lew, H. L. (2016). Significance of concussions in Hawaii: From land to sea. Hawaii Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 75(9), 262-265.
Davis, A. S., Wright-Harp, W., Lucker, J., Payne, J. C., & Campbell, A. (2016). Cultural familiarity of figurative expressions from three music genres in African American adults. Contemporary Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders, 43, 238-254.
Payne, J. C., Wright-Harp, W., & Davis, A. S. (2014). Traumatic brain injury. In J. C. Payne, Adult Neurogenic Language Disorders: Assessment and Treatment–An Ethnobiological Approach. 2nd Edition (pp. 175-264). San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing.
Contact Us
CATHY HUGHES SCHOOL OF
COMMUNICATIONS
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
525 Bryant St Nw
Washington, DC 20059
Phone: (202) 806-7698
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION
admission@howard.edu
Toll Free: (800) 822-6363
Phone: (202) 806-2763 or
(202) 806-2755
Fax: (202) 806-4465
GRADUATE ADMISSION
hugsadmission@howard.edu
Toll Free: (800) 822-6363
Phone: (202) 806-6800
Fax: (202) 806-4465