Michael Karnell was recruited to the University in 1993. He has active clinical, teaching, and research responsibilities. His research interests involve understanding normal and abnormal velopharyngeal function for speech. Karnell works with Jerry Moon toward development of a photosensor approach to documenting normal patterns of velopharyngeal closure for speech. He staffs cleft clinic where he obtains acoustic and physiologic records from patients with suspected VPI. He teaches a graduate course in Cleft Palate Speech in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.