Our Team
Our therapists pride themselves on being up-to-date on innovative speech, language and dysphagia techniques and materials.
We are present with our clients and provide a caring, nurturing environment in which to learn. Our therapists believe in treating the “whole” person, focusing on ALL the areas requisite to effective communication. We encourage involvement of caregivers in the therapeutic setting as well as providing carryover of techniques within the home environment. We strive to work very closely with providers of other modalities and patient’s doctor’s to achieve continuity of care for our patients and caregivers.
Dawn Hansen, MA, CCC-SLP, RPP, CMP, CHT
Owner/Founder, Speech Language Pathologist, Head Clinical Supervisor
Dawn has been practicing Speech Pathology since 1983 and founded her private practice LEARN Speech Therapy in 1987 because of her heartfelt desire to change her little corner of the world. She has a deeply held conviction that speech therapy helps to improve a person’s ability to communicate and think, making their lives more functional and thus making the world a better place. by changing lives for the better.LEARN is a family run business and both of her children are instrumental in handling the logistics required to maintain a well run company.LEARN grew from a small private practice with two ST’s to a thriving practice in the heart of Gilroy. Dawn is bilingual proficient in English and Spanish and has extensive experience in the medical field including: dysphagia, CVA, TBI, neurological defictis (Parkinson’s, MS, ALS) and Pediatrics earlier in her career. Currently, her primary role is in administration, supervision and consultation with her staff. Dawn is also skilled in several of the healing arts: craniosacral therapy, polarity, acupressure, mindfulness meditation and sound/vibrational healing. Her belief in treating the whole person forms the foundation of the guiding principles of the company.In her personal time, Dawn enjoys reading, learning new things, spending time with family, tennis, yoga, walking with her dogs, Kahuna and Gracie, and trips to Hawaii.
*Bilingual (Spanish)
Erica Curiel, BS, C-SLPA
Certified Speech Language Pathologist Assistant, Lead
Erica, our lead SLPA since 2014, provides invaluable knowledge and mentorship to the LEARN team. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. She is certified in ABA and has acquired skills in American Sign Language. Erica received her Bachelor of Science degree at Sacramento State University, followed by her SLPA license in 2012 and provided early intervention prior to joining the LEARN team. Erica has a vast array of experience that includes adults with brain injuries, children with mild to severe speech and language delays, autism, cerebral palsy, and disorders resulting from emotional stress. She provides therapy to our Spanish speaking patients in our brain injury setting and has worked in our acute hospital setting assisting SLP's during evaluations of non-English speaking patients. Her special interests are working with infants/toddlers in early intervention, children with autism and adults. In her free time Erica loves to workout, travel and spend time with her family.
*Bilingual (Spanish)
Christopher Loll, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist/Lead Clinical Supervisor
Chris has worked as a speech language pathologist since 2012, with experience in a wide variety of settings, including acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, brain injury rehabilitation facilities, private practice for adults and pediatrics, home health, and in public schools. He currently works as a supervisor at LEARN. Chris enjoys music, humor, learning, playing with his dog Oliver, and the occasional video game. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from UC Santa Cruz (2006), a Master of Arts in Education (Speech Pathology) from San Jose State (2012), and is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
*Bilingual (Spanish)
Laurie Coleman, MS, SLP
Speech Language Pathologist/Clinical Mentor
Laurie, a retired special education teacher for over 30 years, went back to school to get her Speech Language Pathology degree over 15 years ago. She loves working with kids and has worked with clients of all ages from children under the age of 2 to over the age of 90. She has worked with LEARN for over 15 years and loves the family feeling here. She is a very proud mother and grandmother. Her grandson has Childhood Apraxia of Speech, and she has done extensive training in apraxia to assist with his needs. As an adjunct to her clinical skills, she is training to become a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) to incorporate ABA therapy into her sessions. Laurie loves to swim, and quilt and has a special love for the ocean and whales.
Ashley Rodriguez Tomasetti, BA, SLP-A, SLP Graduate Program
Speech Language Pathologist Aide, SLP Graduate Program, CSUN
Ashley’s experience includes serving children with mild to severe speech delays, Autism, Down Syndrome, Soto Syndrome, major and minor motor impairments, among others. She has experience working with children ages 0-12, and her special interests are working with toddlers in early intervention as well as school age children with Autism and Down Syndrome. As an adjunct to her clinical skills, she is training to become a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) to incorporate the principles within her therapy sessions. She is currently working towards her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and Communication Disorders so she can further her abilities to aid children and adults of all ages. In her free time, Ashley enjoys working out, soaking up the sun at the beach, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Kathleen Welsh, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist, Supervisor
Kathleen received a bachelor's degree in Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2007. She then worked at various jobs in the community. After her father suffered a stroke that impaired his ability to speak, she decided to become an SLP. She received a master's degree in Speech Language Pathology from San Jose State University, CA in 2019. Kathleen has experience working with all ages via Home Health, elementary schools, clinics, hospitals, Tele-therapy, and long term care facilities and specializes in assessment/therapy for speech, language, swallowing, voice, fluency, pragmatics, cognition, etc. As an adjunct to her clinical skills, she is training to become a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CBT) to incorporate CBT therapy within her sessions. She enjoys working with adults who have dementia, dysphagia, dysarthria, aphasia, and hearing loss. Kathleen enjoys swimming, singing, playing board games, and her favorite color is purple.
*Bilingual (Spanish)
Leeann Gutierrez, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Courtney Nelson, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Elena Figueroa, BA, SLP-A
Speech Language Pathology Aide
*Bilingual (Spanish)
Jasmine Alvarez-Jimenez, BA, SLP-A
Speech Language Pathology Aide, SLPA Graduate Program
*Bilingual (Spanish)
Miriam Miller, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist, Supervisor
We are fortunate to have had Miriam rejoin our team in June 2023 after several years away.
*Bilingual (Spanish)
Wendi Hansen, BA, CMP, RPP, CHT
Director of Operations
With LEARN since 2001, Wendi oversees the general operation of LEARN and handles Accounts Receivable, Insurance Billing, Contract Negotiation and Human Resources for LEARN. Her primary focus is to create a welcoming, professional and joyful environment for our staff and patients. She is strongly influenced by her love for Hawaiian culture and her background in positive reinforcement training with marine mammals and dogs. In her free time, Wendi enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Tim, their dog, Maddie, and their loved ones. She has a love for the ocean and is passionate about the care of animals.
Christopher Hansen
Facilities Manager
With LEARN since 2014, Christopher manages the many needs of the facility which vary widely from “Chris can you build this for me?” to literally remodeling the clinic for therapy.The photographs that grace the walls are his and his green thumb keeps our plants thriving. His skills are far reaching and his friendly demeanor and warm smile are often sought after by the patients big and small. His contributions to the business are essential and LEARN would not be functioning without him.In his free time, Christopher enjoys spending time with his boys, Jack and Ryder, photography, leading his troop through growth and adventure as Cub Scout Master, and camping and fishing with his son, Ryder and their dog, Suki.
Natalie Alejandrez
Office Manager
Natalie manages New Patient Scheduling, Patient Accounts, Insurance Verification and Authorizations for LEARN. Since 2014, her role as office manager has enabled her to not only greet both our English and Spanish speaking patients with her outgoing and friendly demeanor, but to ensure that their services at LEARN are exemplary with her attention to detail and pride in her work.She is an invaluable member of our LEARN family and her infectious joy and happiness, paired with her unmatched ability to multi-task keep the clinic not only a joyful place to be, but a well-oiled machine. In her free time, Natalie enjoys spending time with her husband, three boys, and little girl, Anthony, Nathaniel, Andrew and Aaliyah, and reading (when she isn’t running around after her little ones!).
*Bilingual (Spanish)
Yolanda Vargas
Front Desk
Yolanda is the first face you see when you enter our clinic and the first voice you hear when calling our clinic. She keeps our office running each and every day and we are so grateful for her!
*Bilingual (Spanish)
