Dr. Christopher Watts
Christopher R. Watts, Ph.D., is the Dean of the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences and Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Texas Christian University. His clinical, research, and teaching interests center on laryngeal function in voice and swallowing, with an emphasis on laryngeal physiology in Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Watts regularly publishes research in the top peer-reviewed scientific journals of communication sciences & disorders, and presents his research at national and international conferences. Dr. Watts is known for his mentorship of students and quality of research. He has published extensively in these areas and has presented research to both national and international audiences. He is co-author of the textbook “Laryngeal Function and Voice Disorders: Basic Science to Clinical Practice” (2019) published by Thieme Medical Publishers.
In the Davies School of COSD, Dr. Watts teaches graduate courses in Voice Disorders and undergraduate courses in Speech & Hearing Science. He also collaborates in the Voice Clinic on the campus of TCU, a specialty program within the Miller Speech & Hearing Clinic. Dr. Watts has established collaborative relationships with national and international colleagues. His ongoing collaboration with Dr. Ted Mau and his team at the UT Southwestern Medical School has resulted in important clinically focused research utilizing high quality research designs.
Dr. Watts has been recognized with the Wassenich Award for Mentoring at TCU, and was twice recognized with the Dean’s Award for Research. His outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and service to the profession were recognized by election as Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 2015.
Mrs. Teresa Gonzales
Teresa Dennett Gonzalez teaches in the Habilitation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at Texas Christian University (TCU) under the Department of Communication Science and Disorders. Her interests include using multisensory strategies when teaching young children to read and write to address the literacy needs of struggling readers at all age levels.
While a professor of Basic Sign language and Advanced Language Development for the Deaf at TCU, Teresa teaches individual Deaf students in a clinical setting, this experience trains Deaf students in a Regional Day school Program for the Deaf in a public-school setting. She enjoys teaching and mentoring students in order to prepare them for the-real-world setting(s).
Ms. Marilyn Davies
Marilyn Davies has ad an extreme passion for business and education for the last 30 years. She understands the value of higher education in today's workforce and recognizes early education's role in helping students and professionals achieve success in the real world. Marilyn is well known in the education community after gifting both TCU and the University of Houston Downtown, educational donations to help students become successful and prepared for the workplace upon graduating. Her donation named college at the University of Houston-Downtown is the first college of business in the state to be named for a woman and only the fourth nationally to hold this distinction.
Davies, a native Houstonian, is the CEO of Bailey Banks Seismic, a proprietary seismic data company. Her familiarity with UHD stems from her summer school classes at South Texas Junior College - the institution that preceded the University at its One Main St. campus. Later, she grew to admire the institution when her son Taylor Davies attended UHD, ultimately earning his bachelor's degree in political science. Her brother Kelly Davies also attended the University, earning a bachelor's degree in computer science. While her passion for TCU came after her daughter, Dr. Joey Davies, attended the Communication Sciences and Disorders program for her undergraduate degree. Marilyn has been a supporter of both her children in their graduate degree journeys and is an avid supporter of the Davies Institute for Speech and Hearing.
Mrs. Merrilynn Stockton
Merrilynn M. Stockton is no stranger to the field of education, having spent 38 years as both a special education/life skills instructor and as a counselor where she guided hundreds of students and their families in the sometimes-confusing world of the public school system.
Upon retiring Mrs. Stockton worked for the United States Military Academy at West Point in the admissions department as a Field Force advisor giving guidance to students in both public and private schools in the greater Houston area regarding admission to the academy. Additionally, she worked with multiple families assisting their graduating students on their college admission applications.
Mrs. Stockton is a graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Education with specialization in special education. She holds a Masters in Education from the University of Houston in both Educational Psychology and Counseling.
Along with being a supportive DISH Board member, Mrs. Stockton also become an official staff member at Davies Institute as our very own Parent and Family Advocate!
Dr. Mary Sue Harrison
Dr. Mary Sue Harrison is the owner of Today’s Hearing, opening its doors in 1986. She graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and from North Texas State University with a Master of Science in Audiology in 1976. She graduated from Arizona School of Health Science with a Doctorate in Audiology in 2003. She has been in private practice in Katy, Texas for over 35 years and specializes in hearing aid fittings and tinnitus treatment.
She and her dentist husband, Dr. Tommy Harrison, share office space, providing dental and hearing care services to the Katy area under one roof.
Dan Bonifazi
