OBU welcomes new faculty to lead the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program

February 25, 2026

Oklahoma Baptist University has announced the director appointments of Dr. Carson C. Walker, Dr. Carol Koch, Dr. Becky Jones, Dr. Nancy Quick and Dr. Stephanie Karidas in its new Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program.

The MS-SLP program will provide exceptional, Christ-centered preparation for individuals called to serve others through the prevention, assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders. Designed to be completed in just 16 months, the program will feature an accelerated hybrid format blending online coursework, on-campus residencies and clinical externships in the student’s own community.

Rooted in Christian values, the curriculum integrates hands-on clinical training and service-learning experiences, with a focus on academic excellence, spiritual growth and servant leadership.

Dr. Carson C. Walker

Walker is a speech-language pathologist with more than 20 years of experience working with children from birth to age 21 who have communication disorders. Her background includes developing individualized education plans, collaborating with interprofessional school teams and serving on early learner evaluation teams. She has taught online undergraduate and graduate speech pathology courses focused on clinical experiences and practicums.

Walker holds a bachelor of arts in communication sciences and disorders from Winthrop University, a master of science in speech pathology from the University of South Carolina and a doctor of education in educational leadership from Charleston Southern University. She is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a National Board Certified Teacher in exceptional needs, with additional certification in early childhood special needs.

She has served as vice president of new membership and recruitment for the South Carolina Speech and Hearing Association and is involved in ASHA’s special interest group on higher education. Walker is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer and was named Doctoral Student of the Year at Charleston Southern University for 2022-23.

Dr. Carol Koch

Koch is a nationally recognized speech-language pathologist and educator with two decades of experience teaching, mentoring and guiding students in higher education. Her clinical background is in early intervention, particularly with children who have autism spectrum disorder and severe speech sound disorders, including childhood apraxia of speech.

Koch holds a doctor of education in education and speech-language pathology from Nova Southeastern University and both a master of arts and a bachelor of science in speech-language pathology from Central Michigan University. She is an ASHA Fellow and a board-certified specialist in child language and child language disorders.

Her academic interests include early phonological development, clinical transcription and speech sound disorders. She is currently working on the second edition of her textbook Clinical Management of Speech Sound Disorders: A Case-Based Approach and is a co-author of several therapeutic tools published by Bjorem Speech Publications.

Koch is a frequently invited presenter at national and international conferences, including recent presentations in India and at annual conventions for ASHA and the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Dr. Becky Jones

Jones is the director of clinical education and associate professor for the MS-SLP program. She has practiced as a clinical speech-language pathologist since 2009 and has been working with and supervising SLP graduate students for more than a decade.

Her research interests focus on Parkinson’s disease and the comparison of health care and community resources between urban and rural areas.

 Jones successfully defended her dissertation related to this research at Murray State University in Kentucky.

Dr. Nancy Quick

Quick is the director of student success and associate professor for the MS program in speech-language pathology at OBU. Most of her clinical work has been with children who are deaf and hard of hearing, using a variety of communication approaches and modalities, including auditory-verbal, oral, ASL, cued speech, key word signs and AAC. Some of her research interests focus on children with significant intellectual disabilities and hearing loss.

She co-authored the first manuscript on the educational profiles of children with significant intellectual disabilities and hearing loss, as well as the first pilot study that examined the use of objective measurements for screening hearing loss with this population.

Dr. Stephanie Karidas

Karidas is an associate professor of speech-language pathology and serves as director of research and scholarship for OBU’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program. She brings strong academic, clinical and research expertise in neurologic communication disorders, with a focus on aphasia and traumatic brain injury.

Her scholarly interests center on advancing evidence-based treatments for neurologic communication disorders, including aphasia treatment research and replication studies aimed at strengthening therapeutic outcomes. She is also dedicated to improving quality of life for individuals with traumatic brain injury through community-based and peer-led support initiatives.

Karidas is the founder and lead speech-language pathologist of B.I.G. (Brain Injury Group), a peer support group for young adults recovering from traumatic brain injury. Since its launch in 2020, B.I.G. has served survivors in more than 18 states. She also serves as secretary on the executive committee of the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification Network–Neurogenic Communication Group.

For more information about the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program, go to okbu.edu/programs/speech-language-pathology-ms.

Accreditation Status: The Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) (distance education) at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) is an Applicant for Candidacy by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.