Meet Our Staff

Fiona graduated from San Jose State University with a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She was the recipient of the Hamaguchi Scholarship at SJSU while a student, due to her outstanding academic and clinical work, as well as rave reviews from her clinical supervisors. So it is with great enthusiasm that we recruited Fiona to join our practice in 2016!

Fiona is now our Senior Lead SLP, which means she will be assisting with training our new staff members, supporting our SLP team as a mentor, assessments, and other administrative tasks.

Fiona is a cheerful and passionate clinician who enjoys working with children of all ages. Prior to starting her career as a speech-language pathologist, Fiona worked as an ABA therapist for over two years in Los Angeles. She has a special interest and experience in working with children who are on the autism spectrum, Down syndrome,  and also those who have auditory deficits (hearing/listening), having worked with children at the  Weingarten Children's Center in Redwood City through the Project Aural Impact grant. She is trained in PROMPT, a specialized approach for children with apraxia. 

Fiona is multilingual and speaks fluent Cantonese, conversational Mandarin, and English. She believes in working closely with parents and families as a team, in order to help their children reach their maximum potential. 

Fiona loves live music, watching sports, and trying out new restaurants with her friends and family.

  Richard joined our staff after moving from Boston. Prior to becoming an SLP, he worked in public schools as a literacy interventionist and as a special education paraprofessional. 

Richard is passionate about empowering and encouraging young people, especially those with communication difficulties. He has experience working with a variety of disorders, including articulation, dyslexia, auditory processing, apraxia, and social/pragmatic communication. He is trained in PROMPT, a specialized technique used in the treatment of apraxia, a motor-speech disorder.

Richard has a special interest in working with children on the autism spectrum. He is a Certified Autism Spectrum Clinical Specialist (ASDCS). and holds a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA. 

Richard has been with our practice since 2021. He firmly believes that healthy, trusting relationships with clients and their families are key to providing quality treatment. 

In his spare time, Richard loves playing board games, listening to K-Pop, and hanging out with friends!

Emily joined our practice in 2018 and now works part-time after welcoming her son in 2023. She has primarily worked in schools and pediatric private practice settings, gaining a wide range of experience supporting children with a variety of communication disorders. 

Her clinical interests include autism spectrum disorder, articulation/phonological disorders, apraxia, auditory deficits, early intervention, social-pragmatic language and play. Emily has received advanced training in working with children with hearing loss using an Auditory Verbal Therapy approach. She is also trained in PROMPT, a specialized intervention approach for children with apraxia. 

Emily graduated from The University of Toledo with a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and holds the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Certificate of Clinical Competency. As a therapist, Emily believes in a client centered approach, prioritizing connection with her clients and collaboration with their families to develop individualized interventions that ensure each child’s unique communication needs are met. 

Outside of the office, Emily enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring local hiking trails, and trying out all of the delicious cuisines the Bay Area has to offer. 

Currently Emily is on maternity leave.

Radhika (pronounced RAH-dikkah), a Cupertino native with a deep connection to the community, has experience working with children with a wide range of speech-language disorders. She has advanced training and experience with autistic children, motor speech disorders (including PROMPT training), and gestalt language processing. 

Radhika uses evidence-based practices to enhance communication and social skills. She believes that building strong, supportive relationships with her clients and their families is essential for effective therapy. Radhika strives to create individualized therapy sessions that are engaging for her clients and fun. 

In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, practicing yoga, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Chelsea is a super friendly, warm and sweet speech-language pathologist! She will be joining us full-time in June and we could not be happier to have her on our team.

Chelsea brings recent experience from both the public-school elementary setting, as well as private practice. She enjoys working with children of all ages, especially those with autism, focusing on social communication and emotional regulation skills, as well as AAC use.  She has experience with articulation, early intervention, myofunctional therapy (a specific type of oral-motor intervention), and has a special interest in dyslexia and literacy. 

When working with clients, Chelsea prioritizes building rapport, understanding their personal interests, and making therapy engaging and enjoyable. Her goal is to create a safe learning environment that fosters confidence and growth.

Chelsea was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before moving to San Jose for graduate school at San Jose State University. 

She initially began gaining experience in the educational setting as a special education paraeducator in the Santa Barbara School District, then as an elementary literacy curriculum specialist as well as a reading tutor through the Pride Reading Program. 

Through this work, she discovered a passion for supporting students with speech and language disorders and realized that being an SLP was the career path for her!

In her free time, Chelsea enjoys going on walks, reading, spending time with her friends and family, as well as exploring new coffee shops and nearby restaurants.

Dakota, an experienced licensed speech-language pathologist, joins us after working at the Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital (outpatient) in Cleveland for several years. 

Dakota holds a specialty certification as a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist. (ASDCS).

Dakota has a warm and dynamic personality! She has been a “shining star” at her current position and comes very highly recommended.

Dakota’s diverse background includes working in a specialized autism school, supporting children with complex medical diagnoses, sensory-based feeding difficulties ("picky eaters") behavioral needs, social-pragmatic language development, and articulation. She has a special interest in the assessment and implementation of AAC devices, with a commitment to ensuring they are seamlessly integrated into a child’s daily communication and providing them with the ability to have their voices heard across environments.

Dakota is deeply committed to building meaningful relationships with children and their families, fostering a trusting environment that centers on the child’s unique interests and needs.

She earned a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from St. Mary’s College and holds a CCC Credential (Certificate of Clinical Competency) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Outside of her professional life, Dakota enjoys hiking, reading, cooking, exploring tiki culture, and discovering new places with her fiancé and their dog.

Ping is an experienced and licensed speech-language pathologist, who has been working at a multidisciplinary pediatric practice for three years, prior to a placement in a school district in Washington.  She is multilingual, having proficiency in Mandarin, Cantonese and Malay. 

Ping has a special interest in autism and early intervention, including AAC, as well as language development, social communication, play and articulation. She has experience providing individual as well as group therapy. 

Ping earned a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington and holds a CCC Credential (Certificate of Clinical Competency) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

We are super excited and proud to have Anna join our speech-language pathologist team at Bright Stars. We first met Anna during her graduate internship placement at our practice in 2025. Parents and staff raved about her warm, supportive personality and ability to reach even the most reluctant children. We were so impressed with her that we offered her a position as an aide, so she is a familiar face at Bright Stars! 

Previously, Anna worked as a paraprofessional in a classroom for children with special needs. She has a special interest in autism.

Anna earned a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the San Jose State University and is an ASHA Clinical Fellow.

Kim is our Senior Lead Aide, helping to train new aides and supervise them as well. A San Jose native, Kim has her bachelor's degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences  from San Jose State University. A busy bee at heart, she divides her time between working at our office, working at the Morgan Center with children and adults with autism, and being a social media/community outreach manager at a dance studio specializing in urban choreography. In her spare time, she loves going to concerts and spending time with her friends and family

Nino graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a
bachelor's degree in Intensive Psychology. She has years of experience
working with children in the classroom and summer camp settings, and
is currently working as a Special Education Instructional Aide. She
has a passion for working with children on the autism spectrum in
particular. She truly values the connection she is able to make with
each student, especially through play-based activities. Nino is
pursuing a career path in Speech Language Pathology, and hopes to workas an SLP in the elementary school setting. In her free time, Nino
enjoys playing music with her friends, going to concerts, watching
movies, and staying active!

Alyssa is currently pursuing her degree in Speech-Language Pathology at California State University, East Bay, with the goal of becoming a speech-language pathologist. She has experience working with children through her background in child care, behavior therapy, and school-based support roles. Alyssa is passionate about creating positive and supportive environments where children feel encouraged to learn, communicate, and grow.

Outside of school and work, Alyssa enjoys crafting, music, spending time with family and friends, and exploring new coffee shops, restaurants, and activities around the Bay Area.

Nyla is graduating from the University of California San Diego with a degree in Cognitive Science, specializing in Design and Human Interaction, and a minor in Theatre. She is fascinated by how the brain works and enjoys learning about why people think, behave, and interact the way they do.

Nyla has worked with children as a swim instructor, camp counselor, and assistant kindergarten teacher. She loves helping kids learn, grow, and build confidence while creating positive and supportive environments where they can thrive.

Outside of school and work, she enjoys gymnastics and is always excited to try new experiences and learn new skills. Nyla also enjoys baking, crafting, and playing the piano in her free time.

Isaya is a rising senior undergrad double majoring in Psychology and Applied Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She will then pursue a graduate degree in Speech Pathology after this year, hoping to stay in the lively Bay Area. 
Isaya has experience working with children from preschool to adults, and has worked professionally at elementary after-school programs in Taipei, Taiwan, and San Jose. She gained an in-depth understanding of neurodivergent clients through volunteering at a local curriculum-based speech clinic in the summer of 2026. Especially inspired by how the clinic operated, she believes Bright Stars will be just as welcoming. In her free time, Isaya likes to crochet, bake, travel, and is always down to grab boba. 

Kiara is a San Jose native and a graduate of the University of San Francisco, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology. She brings experience working in early education as well as serving as a Registered Behavior Technician and Early Intervention Specialist. 

Through these roles, she has developed a deep passion for supporting children's social, emotional, and developmental growth. She is dedicated to fostering positive learning environments that encourage children to grow and explore through play. 
Kiara aims to continue her education in the mental health field, where she hopes to create supportive spaces where children can thrive. In her free time, she loves discovering new places around the Bay Area, collecting trinkets, cooking for her friends and family and performing.