Shanika Phillips Fullwood, a Duke University doctoral student in Psychology and Neuroscience and trainee with the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, has been selected as one of just 12 students nationwide to receive a 2026 Conference Student Fellowship from the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS).
The highly competitive fellowship recognizes emerging scholars who demonstrate exceptional promise and a commitment to advancing research and clinical care for individuals with neurogenically based communication disorders. Phillips Fullwood is the first speech-language pathologist admitted through Duke's Cognitive Neuroscience Admitting Program (CNAP). Her research focuses on the cognitive processes that support language production, with the goal of improving diagnostic tools and interventions for individuals with communication impairments, including those affected by right hemisphere stroke.
A member of the Minga Right Hemisphere Communication Lab, Phillips Fullwood is mentored by Jamila Minga, PhD, whose research program brings together neuroscience, communication sciences, linguistics and speech-language pathology to improve outcomes for individuals following right hemisphere stroke. Since joining Duke in 2021, Minga has helped establish an internationally recognized, community-engaged research and education program focused on this underserved patient population while mentoring students across disciplines.
Phillips Fullwood’s previous research experience includes work on executive function in children, bilingual language acquisition and laryngeal cancer treatment at New York University, the Yeled V Yalda Research Institute and Oakwood University.
The fellowship includes complimentary registration to the 2026 ANCDS Annual Scientific & Business Meeting, mentorship from an ANCDS member, participation in a student fellow event and a one-year ANCDS student membership, providing opportunities for professional development and engagement with a national network of researchers, clinicians and advocates dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with neurologically based communication disorders.