Listening Deeply, Learning Constantly: Meet Monica Johnson

If you’ve ever met Monica Johnson, you’ve likely experienced two things: her deep respect for human connection… and a pun so good that it sticks with you all day.

Monica is a speech-language pathologist (SLP), researcher, and teacher who brings warmth, curiosity, and heart into every space she’s in. Her journey with the National Stuttering Association (NSA) started during graduate school, but it wasn’t until she returned to earn her Ph.D. that things really clicked. Attending her first NSA Conference during that time proved to be a turning point.

“Being part of the NSA during my education and clinical training has provided me with invaluable insights into the lived experiences of people who stutter,” she says. “It has deeply informed my clinical work, research, and teaching.”

Monica didn’t just join the NSA to listen… she also joined to learn, to connect, and to reframe the way our field approaches stuttering.

“Understanding stuttering goes far beyond fluency techniques and textbooks—it requires a deeper awareness of the social, emotional, and identity-related dimensions that shape everyday life.”

That deeper awareness is at the core of her research, which explores how stuttering impacts romantic connection and self-perception in dating contexts, areas sometimes pushed to the margins of clinical conversations. For Monica, the NSA offers a space where these kinds of real-life experiences can finally take center stage.

“This community is actively changing the narrative around stuttering—from a focus on ‘fixing’ to one rooted in empowerment, communication confidence, and genuine acceptance.”

And while Monica is all about showing up with intention, she’s also all about showing up with joy. Especially when it comes to her favorite thing: relationships.

“I’m obsessed with dating, intimacy, and all the ‘ships’—friendships, mentorships, partnerships, you name it,” she says. “Stuttering doesn’t exist in isolation—it lives in the spaces between people, in the pauses, the courage, the conversations.”

Whether she’s in the therapy room or at a karaoke night absolutely not crushing the vocals (her words, not ours!), Monica makes it clear that it’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about people. It’s about the kind of growth that happens when we slow down, listen up, and learn from one another.

“The NSA has created a space where real connection is possible. Where lived experiences and authentic voices are not only welcomed, but celebrated.”

So what’s she proud of? Not the pitch-perfect karaoke, but the connections she’s built by simply showing up with care.

“I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built by showing up with intention, openness, and respect—especially in spaces where people are trusting me with their voices and their stories.”

Her advice to newcomers?

“Come as you are—your voice, your pace, your story—it all belongs here.”

And now, a few essential Monica facts:

Favorite ice cream: Ben & Jerry's non-dairy The Tonight Dough.

Mountains, beach, or desert?: Mountains.

Favorite rewatch: Rom-coms from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Dream vacation: Hawaii.

Karaoke style: Enthusiastic. Painfully off-key. Completely unbothered.

Pets?: Technically, plant babies. Ask her about them and prepare for a full photo gallery.

We’re lucky to have Monica in this community!