RISHA's Board Members are Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists who volunteer their time in order to support, promote, and advocate for the professions. If you are an SLP or an Audiologist and would like an opportunity to give back to the professions by joining the RISHA Board, please contact us--we are eager to have fresh perspectives and insight.
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Allan B. Shaw M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist in the Cranston Public School District. He has almost 20 years of experience working in school settings across four states. Allan has received awards from the Dartmouth and Bristol County Educators Associations for his work in the schools, and was recognized as the 2021 Speech Language Pathologist of the Year by the Rhode Island Department of Education. He also teaches Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to graduate students at the University of Rhode Island.
Patricia Iafrate Bellini M.S. CCC/SLP has been a school-based practitioner for over 40 years. She is a Past President of the Rhode Island Speech and Hearing Association (RISHA) and has served as chair of their Public/Private School Committee. Ms. Iafrate Bellini was the first State Education Advocacy Leader (SEAL) for the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) from Rhode Island. She served as a member of ASHA’s School Finance Committee from 2008 to 2009 and was chair of the committee in 2010. She serves as Chair of the Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology at the Rhode Island Department of Health. During the course of her career, Ms. Iafrate Bellini has worked as a Speech/Language Pathology Fellow at the Rhode Island Department of Education, where her duties included drafting statewide eligibility criteria.
Ellen is currently employed part-time by Easter Seals RI and serves the birth-3 population providing early intervention services. Ellen retired in June 2011 from the South Kingstown School Department after a 30 year career as a school-based SLP. Ellen has been a member of the affiliate medical staff at South County Hospital since the late 90’s. She has been a RISHA board member since 2000 serving as Past President, Vice President, Schools Committee Chairperson and Co-Chairperson.
Robyn Earley is a Speech-Language Pathologist and health care
administrator who received her BA in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Florida and her MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from San Diego State University. She has over 20 years of experience as a healthcare leader in a variety of settings including long-term acute care, subacute rehab, outpatient, home health, hospice, long-term care and senior housing. Robyn developed and successfully pitched the adoption of an employee wellness plan to her healthcare organization as part of an executive training program. Most recently, Robyn worked in business development and as a clinical specialist for an established mobile healthcare company. Currently, Robyn serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for CareLink a growing non-profit healthcare network providing post-acute and community-based care for older adults and adults with disabilities.
administrator who received her BA in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Florida and her MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from San Diego State University. She has over 20 years of experience as a healthcare leader in a variety of settings including long-term acute care, subacute rehab, outpatient, home health, hospice, long-term care and senior housing. Robyn developed and successfully pitched the adoption of an employee wellness plan to her healthcare organization as part of an executive training program. Most recently, Robyn worked in business development and as a clinical specialist for an established mobile healthcare company. Currently, Robyn serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for CareLink a growing non-profit healthcare network providing post-acute and community-based care for older adults and adults with disabilities.
Megan Lavigne M.S., CCC-SLP earned her Bachelor’s degrees in Communicative Sciences and Disorders and Psychology from the University of Rhode Island, and her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the MGH Institute of Health Professions. With 15 years of experience working within skilled nursing facilities, home health, outpatient, inpatient rehab, and inpatient acute settings, Ms. Lavigne has a passion for advocating for, helping, and guiding patients through recovery and medical challenges in order to achieve their goals in communication and swallowing. She has enthusiastically served as RISHA Medial Co-Chair since 2023, is a mom of two young boys, and remains steadfast and optimistic for a more peaceful, tolerant world.
Keleigh is a school-based SLP with over 15 years experience. She works in the North Kingstown School Department. Keleigh has been a long-standing member of the schools committee. Keleigh and her co-chair Lynn went to grad school together and have reconnected through RISHA. The Schools Committee is a very active committee. The committee meet monthly at the North Kingstown Library (just outside of Wickford). The committee deals with school-based member issues.
Lynn is a school-based SLP in Cumberland. She and Keleigh went to school together and have reconnected through RISHA. The Schools Committee is a very active committee. The committee meets monthly at the North Kingstown Library on Boone St. in Wickford. The committee deals with school-based member issues.
Jorie (Marjorie) Foer is currently a co-chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee and a past president of RISHA. She retired in 2021 from a 12 year stint in a residential and day trauma treatment center for children through 21 years of age. Prior to 2012, she contracted as an independent SLP to schools across Rhode Island. She is a BCS-SCF (Board Certified Specialist – Stuttering, Cluttering, Fluency) and has had her own private practice specializing in working with people who stutter since 1997.
Mary Jo Chretien, MS, CCC-SLP, currently serves as CE Administrator. Mary Jo has spent her career in schools, providing services to students from PK – 22 and working as an administrator; currently, she works part-time with several districts and agencies. With experience in 4 states and over 40 public and private schools, Mary Jo is passionate about mentoring beginning clinicians; she is proud of the many graduate interns and clinical fellows with whom she has worked. Mary Jo received her masters degree from Penn State University and has studied at the University of Pittsburgh and Sacred Heart University.
Our Valuable Team Members
ASHA Representatives and Advisory Councilors