Our Team

Administrators

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  • Julie Cooper, MS, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT
  • Executive Director
  • Julie Cooper is the Executive Director of the Baker Institute for Children with Hearing Loss. She founded the Listen to Me! Conference at Stanford University in 2009 and continues to guide its growth in California, Hawai‘i, and internationally. Julie also leads the Hear Kenya Initiative, which brings together global partners to deliver medical and audiology supplies, expand professional training, and launch Kenya’s first teletherapy program for children with hearing loss. Previously, Julie served as the speech-language pathologist on Stanford’s Cochlear Implant Team (2008–2013) and has provided listening and spoken language (LSL) therapy at the Weingarten Children’s Center since 2007. She holds a BA from Calvin College, an MS in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and certification as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist in auditory-verbal therapy. Julie is most inspired by the resilience of families and the joy of seeing children with hearing loss learn to speak, connect, and thrive.
• • 
  • Caroline Montgomery, MSDE, LSLS Cert. AVEd
  • Co-Director of Development
    (California & International)
  • Caroline Montgomery serves as the Baker Institute's Co-Director of Development, focused on California and international initiatives. She is a Teacher of the Deaf and certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS). Caroline earned her master’s degree in deaf education from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Santa Clara University in California. Caroline also serves as Coordinator for the TeachLSL Tele-intervention Program at Weingarten Children’s Center in Redwood City, CA. Caroline’s experience includes serving as the Cochlear Implant Education Coordinator for the ENT Department at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and as a Teacher of the Deaf at The Moog Center for Deaf Education in St. Louis, Missouri. Caroline has contributed her expertise as both a teacher and therapist for the Listen to Me! conferences, working with children, families, and professionals in California, Hawaii, and Kenya.
• • 
  • Lori Wiley, PhD (Education-Exceptionalities), AuD, CCC-A, Audiologist
  • Co-Director of Development
    (Hawaii & International)
  • Dr. Lori Wiley serves as Co-Director of Development for the Baker Institute for Children with Hearing Loss, focused on Hawaii & International efforts. Additionally, she is the Parent Engagement Specialist on a research team at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Disability Studies. Previously, Lori was an adjunct faculty at the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. She also volunteered in an auditory-oral classroom at a local public school in Hawaii. In the crucible of her family life, Lori has learned valuable lessons about supporting and advocating for the needs of children with disabilities; she and her husband are parents of now young adult triplet sons who received early intervention services, with two sons having received special education and 504 accommodations. She describes her work with Listen to Me! Hawaii as a dream come true- to be a part of a program committed to empowering families.
• • 
  • Danielle Bourque, MS, CFY-SLP
  • Communications Manager
  • Danielle Bourque is the Communications Manager for the Baker Institute. Danielle holds a BS in Kinesiology – Exercise Science from Saint Mary’s College of California, a second BS in Communication Disorders and Deaf Education from Utah State University, and an MS in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. With a passion for supporting children with hearing loss, Danielle has been an integral part of the Listen to Me! program since 2014. She began as a volunteer and has since served in various roles, including Baby Class teacher, LSL teacher assistant, and Administrative Assistant. She is deeply honored to now contribute to the program in her current role. Currently, Danielle works in Early Intervention and preschool through Coastal Speech Therapy in San Diego, CA. Danielle’s favorite part of her work with the Baker Institute is connecting with families during the application process for the Listen to Me! Conference and witnessing the transformative outcomes and lasting relationships that develop throughout the program.
• • 
  • Kelsi Fowler
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Kelsi Fowler is the administrative assistant for the Baker Institute. She is a dedicated professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health Science from Saint Mary’s College of California. Her journey into the world of healthcare was inspired by her own experiences with childhood health challenges and surgery, which ignited a passion for medicine and helping others. Kelsi is currently pursuing a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree as a student at San Jose State University (expected graduation—2028). Kelsi discovered her calling in audiology while working as a front desk assistant at an audiology clinic. It was there that she realized she found her place within medicine. Kelsi is eager to make an impact within the deaf and hard of hearing community and to give people the power to communicate with the world around them.