Meet Ryan Millager, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Ryan Millager Research Committee Associate Member Ryan Millager is a PhD candidate at Vanderbilt University, under the research mentorship of Dr. Robin Jones. His research interests include contributing factors to developmental stuttering, support programs for children who stutter, and inclusivity in research. Ryan is also a speech-language pathologist with more than 10 years of experience with stuttering and a long affiliation with SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young and other group programs for children who stutter. Since 2015, Ryan has participated in many NSA activities as a stuttering ally, and in 2022 he was awarded the NSA’s Graduate Student Research Award. Ryan’s hobbies include reading nerdy novels, watching nerdy television shows, playing nerdy games with friends, and making nerdy spreadsheets to keep track of it all. He also enjoys running.

Meet Colton Nover, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Colton Nover Teen Advisory Council (TAC) Colton Nover is a freshman in high school and plays varsity soccer along with academy soccer. In his free time, he likes to work out, coach youth soccer, and help care for animals in his community. Colton lives in Jacksonville, Florida and has been to 7 conferences.

< Back Supporter Spotlight: Amber Toerien | Leading With Care, Building Community When Amber Toerien joined the National Stuttering Association in 2023, she was introduced to something that immediately felt different—a community rooted in understanding, shared experience, and genuine support. What began as a professional introduction quickly became something more meaningful. “Everything the NSA stood for resonated with me. It felt human, intentional, and grounded in real connection.” As the NSA’s Marketing Director, Amber helps guide how the organization shares its mission, resources, and stories with the world. Her work is centered on ensuring that people who stutter—and those who support them—feel welcomed, represented, and encouraged to connect. Whether someone is attending their first chapter meeting, joining a virtual event, or exploring NSA resources online, Amber’s focus is on helping that first step feel less overwhelming and more affirming. Living with high-functioning autism, Amber shares that she tends to deeply invest in work that truly matters to her. The NSA quickly became one of those spaces—a place where purpose, community, and belonging naturally intersected. “The NSA gave me a sense of community I didn’t realize I needed. The support, understanding, and shared experiences have been incredibly meaningful.” Through her role, Amber has been both challenged and supported. She credits the NSA with helping her grow personally and professionally, while also reinforcing the importance of showing up—especially when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain. She believes that connection often begins with a small, courageous step. That belief shapes how she approaches her work every day: creating pathways into community, reducing barriers to participation, and making sure people know they are not alone. For anyone considering getting involved with the NSA, Amber offers this encouragement: “Show up for yourself. Whether it’s attending a chapter meeting, joining a virtual event, or simply reaching out, the NSA is a place where you can find understanding, connection, and support.” Get to Know Amber Favorite ice cream: Chocolate Nature pick: The beach Favorite rewatch: The Notebook Favorite Song: Stephen Wilson Jr. - "Stand By Me" Pets: Two dogs Hidden talent: Interior design dreams and transforming outdated homes into Pinterest-worthy spaces Dream vacation: Mexico or Malta Amber’s work reflects the heart of the NSA—community, care, and connection. Through her leadership, she helps ensure that the NSA continues to be a place where people who stutter and their supporters feel seen, heard, and supported at every stage of their journey. We’re grateful for Amber and for everything she brings to the NSA community. Previous Next

< Back Previous Jennifer Downs Presenter Jennifer Downs is a mother to a person who stutters (PWS) and understands firsthand the importance of support and encouragement through the NSA. With Nashville, Tennessee, being her family's hometown, her son attended college out of state and faced his own specific challenges along the way. Family and friends can play a special role in a PWS’s support system during the college years. Over the past 6 years of her son’s college journey, Jennifer has learned helpful (and not so helpful) ways to lend support when needed. Next

Join the Baltimore City - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Baltimore City ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS MID-ATLANTIC REGION Official NSA Chapter - Maryland State Welcome to the NSA Baltimore City Adult Chapter! The National Stuttering Association’s® motto: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®, is what our NSA Chapters are all about! Chapter meetings are open to people who stutter, family members of people who stutter, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone that wants to learn more about stuttering. Feel free to reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) to find out more about our chapter. We hope you will join us! How do you typically meet? In-Person Meetings What age group can attend? Adult What languages are spoken? English How much does it cost? Free! Meetings Here is information on the location and schedule of our meetings. Reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for more information! Where? Ella Bailey Recreation Center – 100 E. Heath Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218 When? Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:00PM Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Evan Draine Chapter Leader Get in touch! evanmdraine@gmail.com (410) 396-4634 - Questions? We know that attending your first NSA Chapter meeting might be a little intimidating so we’ve tried to answer some of your questions! We know once you get there, you’ll be greeted by Chapter Leaders who have been in your shoes before and are happy to welcome you! What are NSA Local Chapters? Local chapters are the heartbeat of the NSA — powerful spaces where you can meet others, share experiences, and feel supported. Whether you’re an adult who stutters or part of a family navigating stuttering together, we have a chapter for you. Learn more about NSA Chapters and find a meeting close to home! Read more about NSA Chapters and plan to attend a meeting near you! What does a local NSA chapter do? How can I find a local NSA chapter? What happens at an NSA meeting? Who attends an NSA Chapter? Do you need to RSVP before joining an NSA chapter meeting? Do you offer virtual chapter meetings? Don’t see an answer to your question? How do I start a local NSA chapter? How do I start a local NSA chapter? Testimonials Read more about the power of chapters and support groups from NSA members themselves! "When I attended my first conference in 2019. I was welcomed into this "stamily" with open arms and haven't left the bear hug since!" Lexi Hewitt Exton, PA Chapter "Other people who stutter are the best sources of support, love, and encouragement on your journey. Don't be afraid to reach out, no matter what stage you're at." Gina Waggott Author, Entrepreneur "This community has helped me rediscover myself as a confident and capable person who stutters." John Ontiveros Lorem, CA Chapter

Meet Aidan Marshall-Cort, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Aidan Marshall-Cort Young Adults Committee Chair Aidan Marshall-Cort is a Health and Wellness Professional serving as the Co-Chapter Leader of the NSA's Washington DC Chapter. Alongside contributing to the community and supporting PWS in the DC area, he enjoys speaking on the relationship between stuttering, race, and neurodiversity. A passionate advocate, Aidan understands the empowering effect of vulnerability to foster open discussion amongst those who identify within these intersectionality's. In his free time, Aidan enjoys competitive weightlifting, chess, and cinema.

Learn how Dana Koprowski,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Center Director Dana Koprowski Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’m a Center Director of a KinderCare center. My job duties include managing a childcare center of 17 staff members and 90 children. The most important part of my job is making sure every child is receiving a proper education and making sure they are happy, healthy and safe. Other job duties include managing net revenue and budget. I also play a major role in enrolling new families in our center. We have tours come in on a daily basis and it is my job to enroll the family at our center and “pitch” why families should choose our center. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is communicating with families when there is a parent concern. These concerns can range widely from an injury to their child all the way to a discrepancy with their bill. Unfortunately, I have been accused of lying, making up stories or not knowing what I am talking about due to my stutter. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it and how do you currently disclose your stuttering to unsuspecting co-workers and or customers? I did not disclose during the hiring process, I was promoted from within, so everyone knew I stuttered. In May 2019, I was transferred to a new KinderCare center and I originally did not disclose to my staff that I stuttered, but I did disclose to my managing partner. After about a month, I noticed teachers were finishing my sentences. We had a team meeting with my staff, my managing partner and my District Leader (DL) were in attendance. I asked my DL if I should disclose my stutter and her advice was to do whatever I was comfortable with. So, I started off the meeting by saying, “I know some of you may not know this, but I am a person who stutters.” I then expressed how I would like them to please be patient with me and not finish my sentences. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment recently came from a new family that enrolled with us. This family told me they chose our KinderCare center because of me. I didn’t treat them like a number and they felt in their heart that I had the best interest of their first-born child at heart. They felt like I was treating them like family and felt very safe and confident leaving their 3-month-old daughter with us. That was a very humbling experience and I was very proud! What are your long-term career aspirations? My long-term career aspirations are to help people become the best version of themselves. That can be mentoring other educators or helping young people who stutter realize their amazing potential and help them succeed in life! What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Own your stutter. Do not let it own you. Embrace it as a part of you. Acceptance can take time and effort, but in the end, it’s worth it. Personally, I feel once you have accepted your stutter and owned it, disclosure becomes much easier. Do not let your stutter live your life. You need to live your life being a person who stutters and love it!

Join the Cincinnati - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Cincinnati ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS CENTRAL NORTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Ohio State Welcome to the NSA Cincinnati Chapter! The National Stuttering Association’s® motto: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®, is what our NSA Chapters are all about! Chapter meetings are open to people who stutter, family members of people who stutter, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone that wants to learn more about stuttering. Feel free to reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) to find out more about our chapter. We hope you will join us! How do you typically meet? In-Person Meetings What age group can attend? Adult What languages are spoken? English How much does it cost? Free! Meetings Here is information on the location and schedule of our meetings. Reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for more information! Where? Cincinnati, OH When? Meetings, socials, and special events are held periodically. Reach out to the Chapter Leader for more information. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Chris Mancini Chapter Leader Get in touch! cmancini101@gmail.com (513) 207-6490 - Questions? We know that attending your first NSA Chapter meeting might be a little intimidating so we’ve tried to answer some of your questions! We know once you get there, you’ll be greeted by Chapter Leaders who have been in your shoes before and are happy to welcome you! What are NSA Local Chapters? Local chapters are the heartbeat of the NSA — powerful spaces where you can meet others, share experiences, and feel supported. Whether you’re an adult who stutters or part of a family navigating stuttering together, we have a chapter for you. Learn more about NSA Chapters and find a meeting close to home! Read more about NSA Chapters and plan to attend a meeting near you! What does a local NSA chapter do? How can I find a local NSA chapter? What happens at an NSA meeting? Who attends an NSA Chapter? Do you need to RSVP before joining an NSA chapter meeting? Do you offer virtual chapter meetings? Don’t see an answer to your question? How do I start a local NSA chapter? How do I start a local NSA chapter? Testimonials Read more about the power of chapters and support groups from NSA members themselves! "When I attended my first conference in 2019. I was welcomed into this "stamily" with open arms and haven't left the bear hug since!" Lexi Hewitt Exton, PA Chapter "Other people who stutter are the best sources of support, love, and encouragement on your journey. Don't be afraid to reach out, no matter what stage you're at." Gina Waggott Author, Entrepreneur "This community has helped me rediscover myself as a confident and capable person who stutters." John Ontiveros Lorem, CA Chapter

< Back Previous Kerri Berard Presenter Kerri Berard has been involved with the National Stuttering Association (NSA) since 2018 and currently serves as the Co-Chapter Leader for the NSA’s Fort Worth Family and Adult Chapters. Kerri also serves as the NSA Kids Programming Coordinator. She is a school-based speech therapist in Texas who specializes in stuttering. Kerri enjoys being outdoors, making kombucha, and spending time with her family and cats. Next

Meet Charley Adams, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Charley Adams Research Committee Associate Member Charley has been teaching the graduate course on stuttering at the University of South Carolina since 2000, and he has led the National Stuttering Association’s Columbia, SC Chapter since 2001. In 2013, he received the award for the NSA’s Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year. Charley Joined the board of the NSA in the summer of 2019 as Co-Director of Special Projects, and then transferred to Director of Professional Relations in January of 2020. He has been involved with several local and regional workshops sponsored by the NSA, as well as webinars. Charley has presented on stuttering and cluttering nationally and internationally.

< Back Previous Nicole Terhune Presenter Nicole (Kulmaczewski) Terhune, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist, clinical educator, and advocate with a strong focus on stutter-affirming care. She teaches graduate students how to provide evidence-based, stutter-affirming therapy that centers autonomy, identity, and the client’s lived experience. Her work emphasizes collaborative goal setting, counseling competencies, and the therapeutic alliance as essential components of effective stuttering treatment. Next

Meet Julie Marshall, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Julie Marshall DEI Committee Julie Marshall is a Clinical Associate Professor at The University of Memphis, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). For the past 25 years, she has taught speech-language pathology graduate students in the areas of stuttering and fluency disorders, articulation disorders, professional clinical writing, and speech/language diagnostics. Her research interest is in cultural and linguistic diversity. She served on the CSD Diversity Task Force and currently serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The committee has successfully increased the diversity of CSD program applicants and admissions. Ms. Marshall earned her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1986 at West Chester University. She has presented regionally on the topics of diversity, fluency disorders, and clinical practicum supervision.