Sharing stories through spoken and written words and pictures, and helping others share theirs, brings energy and joy to Elaina Sepede. The Communication Sciences and Disorders senior finds outlets for her passions through research on autism, participating in the UVM Speech and Hearing Club, mentoring peers and taking photographs for UVM's student-run newspaper, Vermont Cynic.

Sepede became a research assistant in her first year at UVM, joining a team of scientists examining social cognition among children with autism spectrum disorder. As she prepares for graduation and a career in speech-language pathology, Sepede is writing a thesis with communication sciences and disorders professor Patricia Prelock, UVM's provost and senior vice president. The thesis explores the parent's perception of their child through Theory of Mind — the ability to reason about the thoughts, feelings, and intentions of the self and others — throughout a structured narrative book reading. 

For an internship last summer, Sepede worked as a student clinician at the on-campus speech, language and hearing clinic, Eleanor M. Luse Center for Communication. Her work involved helping professor Sharon Cote prepare for speech sessions and engaging with clients practicing articulation skills. Sepede previously joined Alternative Spring Break, traveling to Springfield, Missouri, to work with athletes with disabilities.

Sepede shares her communication sciences knowledge and dedication to the field, serving as president of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Honors Society, secretary of the UVM Speech and Hearing Club and mentoring Communication Sciences and Disorders peers: "I enjoy participating in clubs because you get to meet a variety of students with different perspectives," she says. "I love meeting new people and finding connections we may have. Through our work, I learn how to be a better collaborator, and improve my communication skills."

Working as a staff photographer for the Vermont Cynic affords Sepede an opportunity to apply her creativity, interpersonal skills and eye for detail. Her portfolio of work includes campus landscapes, students, fashion and culture, including a recent spread on UVM's Prism Center.