Max R. Freeman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

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Assistant Professor
Communication Sciences and Disorders
St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Ph.D., Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern UniversityM.A., Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern UniversityB.A., Psychology, Pennsylvania State UniversityB.A., Spanish, Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Freeman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at St. John’s University. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University and worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Chicago Public Schools system.

Dr. Freeman's research spans across multiple disciplines, including psycholinguistics, linguistics, developmental psychology, and communication sciences and disorders. He is interested in the cognitive and linguistic implications of bilingualism across the lifespan, language development in young children, and language intervention in children with and without language delays. His research on bilingualism examines how bilingual adults are influenced by their native language while listening to second language sounds and words, demonstrating that the two languages within the bilingual mind interact and are inseparable. Dr. Freeman’s research on language development investigates the effectiveness of various methodologies in language interventions in order to enhance young children’s communicative competence.

Throughout his research career, Dr. Freeman has collaborated with researchers in communication sciences and disorders, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, linguistics, and second language acquisition. He has several publications in peer-reviewed journals, as well as book chapters, and has presented his work at more than 30 conferences around the world.

Peer-reviewed Publications:

Freeman, M. R. (2023). Linking language to action: Enhancing preschoolers’ communicative competence within language stimulation. Journal of Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.

Freeman, M. R., & Marian, V. (2023). Native-language phonotactic processing inbilinguals. In: Radek Skarnitzl & Jan Volín (Eds.), Proceedings in the 20th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences (ICPhS), 2771-2775. Guarant International.

Freeman, M. R., & Schroeder, S. R. (2022). Assessing language skills in elementary-aged bilingual children: Current trends in research and practice. Journal of Child Science, 12(01), 33-46.

Freeman, M. R., & Marian, V. (2021). Visual word recognition in bilinguals: Eye-tracking evidence that L2 proficiency impacts access of L1 phonotactics. Studies in Second Language Acquisition.

Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H. K., Carlson, M. T., & Marian, V. (2021). First language influence on second language speech perception depends on task demands. Journal of Language and Speech. doi: 10.1177/0023830920983368

Schroeder, S. R., Rembrandt, H. N., May, S., & Freeman, M. R. (2020). Does having a voice disorder hurt credibility? Journal of Communication Disorders, 87. doi: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2020.106035

Freeman, M. R., & Walden, P. R. (2020). Literature-based strategies for clinical fellow mentorship. Seminars in Speech and Language, 38(1). doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1713784

Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H. K., & Marian, V. (2017). Cross-linguistic phonotactic competition and cognitive control in bilinguals. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 29(7), 783-794. doi: 10.1080/20445911.2017.1321553. PMCID: PMC5649739.

Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H. K., & Marian, V. (2016). Phonotactic constraints are            activated across languages in bilinguals. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(702). doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00702. PMCID: PMC4870387. *Republished in eBook: Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H.K., & Marian, V. (2018). Phonotactic constraints are activated across languages in bilinguals. In Darcy, I., Tremblay, A., Simonet, M. (Eds.), Phonology in the Bilingual and Bidialectal Lexicon, Frontiers Media SA. ISBN: 9782889452101. Available for download from http://frontiersin.org/books/b/1243

Blumenfeld, H. K., Schroeder, S. R., Bobb, S. C., Freeman, M. R., & Marian, V.  (2016). Auditory word recognition across the lifespan: Links between linguistic and nonlinguistic inhibitory control in bilinguals and monolinguals. Linguistic   Approaches to Bilingualism, 6(1), 119-146. doi: 10.1075/lab.14030.blu*Republished as a book chapter: Blumenfeld, H.K., Schroeder, S.R., Bobb, S.C., Freeman, M.R., & Marian, V. (2017). Auditory word recognition across the lifespan: Links between linguistic and non-linguistic inhibitory control in bilinguals and monolinguals. In Ellen Bialystok & Margot D. Sullivan (Eds.), Studies in Bilingualism (vol. 53): Growing Old with Two Languages: Effects of Bilingualism on Cognitive Aging. John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Konishi, H., Kanero, J., Freeman, M. R., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2014).  Six principles of language development: Implications for learners of English as a Second Language. Developmental Neuropsychology, 39(5), 404-420.  doi:10.1080/87565641.2014.931961

Book Chapters

Freeman, M. R., Shook, A. & Marian, V. (2016). Cognitive and emotional effects of bilingualism in adulthood. In E. Nicoladis, & S. Montanari (Eds.), Lifespan Perspectives on Bilingualism (pp. 285-303). Berlin, Germany: APA and De Gruyter. doi: 10.1037/14939-016

 

Graduate Courses

CSD 440: Advanced Research Methods

Undergraduate Courses

CSD 1730: Language Acquisition

CSD 1710: Phonetics

International
 

Freeman, M. R., & Marian, V. (2023, June). Bilinguals’ Speech Perception Is Influenced by Native-Language Phonotactic Constraints. Poster Presentation at the International Symposium on Bilingualism, Sydney, Australia.

Freeman, M. R., Robinson Anthony, J. D., Marian, V., & Blumenfeld, H. K. (2023,

June). Language Experience and Sociolinguistic Context Impact Cognitive Control in Bilinguals. Paper Presentation at the International Symposium on Bilingualism, Sydney, Australia.

Freeman, M. R. (2022, September). Enhancing Vocabulary and Oral Language Skills in Young Children Through Clay-based Language Stimulation. Poster presentation at the 2022 X International Congress on Language Acquisition, Girona, Spain. *Best poster presentation award

Freeman, M. R., & Marian, V. (2018, June). Bilinguals hear their first language during second language comprehension. Paper presentation at the 2018 Latin American    School for Education, Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Santiago, Chile.

Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H. K., & Marian, V. (2016, May). Non-target language phonological rule activation in bilinguals. Poster presentation at the 2016 International Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Granada, Spain.

Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H. K., & Marian, V. (2016, March). Phonological rule access   across languages in bilinguals. Poster presented at the 2016 Latin American School       for Education, Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Blumenfeld, H. K., Schroeder, S. R., Freeman, M. R., Bobb, S. C., & Marian, V. (2015, May). Bilinguals show fewer age-related changes than monolinguals in lexical competition resolution. Paper presentation at the 2015 International Symposium on Bilingualism, New Brunswick, NJ.

National

Freeman, M. R., Robinson Anthony, J. D., Marian, V., & Blumenfeld, H. K. (2022, November). Individual Differences and Sociolinguistic Factors Shape Cognitive Control in Bilinguals. Poster Presentation at the 2022 ASHA Convention, New Orleans, LA.

Freeman, M. R. (2022, November). Enhancing Vocabulary and Oral Language Skills in Young Children Through Clay-based Language Stimulation. Poster presentation at the 2022 ASHA Convention, New Orleans, LA.

Freeman, M. R., Rubin, H., Blackman, C., Charles, N., Criollo, D., Masiakos, C., Rahming, O., Tadros, M., & van den Burg., H. (2020, November). Does clay-based language stimulation improve language outcomes in preschoolers? Poster presentation accepted at the 2020 ASHA Convention, San Diego, CA. (Conference canceled)

Freeman, M. R., & Marian, V. (2019, November). Bilinguals' second language speech processing is influenced by native-language rules. Poster presentation at the 2019       ASHA Convention, Orlando, FL.

Freeman, M. R., & Marian, V. (2018, November). How the native language influences second language processing: An investigation of bilingual phonotactics. Paper presentation at the 2018 ASHA Convention, Boston, MA.

Freeman, M. R., Leung, A., AlKhuwaiter, M., & Marian, V. (2018, March). Bilinguals hear their first language during second language comprehension. Paper presentation at   the 2018 American Association for Applied Linguistics Conference, Chicago, IL.

Freeman, M. R., & Marian, V. (2017, November). Cross-linguistic perception of  phonotactics in bilinguals. Poster presentation at the 2017 ASHA Convention,   Los Angeles, CA.

Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H. K., & Marian, V. (2016, November). Cross-linguistic activation of phonotactic constraints and cognitive control in bilinguals. Paper presentation at the 2016 ASHA Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H. K., & Marian, V. (2016, May). Cross-linguistic phonological rule access and cognitive control in bilinguals. Poster presentation        at the 28th Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H. K., & Marian, V. (2015, November). Cross-linguistic phonological rule access in bilinguals. Poster presented at the 2015 Psychonomic          Society Meeting, Chicago, IL.

Freeman, M. R., Blumenfeld, H. K., & Marian, V. (2015, November). Phonological rule access across languages in bilinguals. Poster presented at the 2015 ASHA Convention, Denver, CO.

Freeman, M. R., & Roberts, M. Y. (2015, March). The Relationship between African American English and expressive language skills in children with and without language impairments. Poster presentation at the 2015 Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.

Freeman, M. R., Ramsook, K. A., Iglesias, A., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2013,    November). Verb usage patterns in English language learners. Poster presented at     the 2013 ASHA Convention, Chicago, IL.

Freeman, M. R., Aravind, A., Mahajan, N., Johanson, M., Ridge, K., Damonte, J.,  Golinkoff, R.   M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., de Villiers, J., Iglesias, A., & Wilson, M. S. (2013, November). Developing a computer-administered language assessment for bilingual preschoolers. Poster presented at the 2013 ASHA Convention, Chicago, IL.

Ridge, K., Johanson, M., Freeman, M. R., Damonte, J.,  Mahajan, N., Aravind, A.,    Golinkoff, R. M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., Iglesias, A., de Villiers, J., & Wilson, M. (2013,       November). Using developmental science to create a computer-administered language assessment for 3- to 6-Year-olds. Poster presented at the 2013 ASHA     Convention, Chicago, IL.

de Villiers, J., Iglesias, A., Wilson, M. S., Golinkoff, R. M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., Freeman, M. R., Aravind, A., Damone, J., Ridge, K., Mahajan, N., & Johanson, M. (2013, November). Screening 3-6 year old children's language abilities: A computer-based assessment. Oral seminar presentation at the 2013 ASHA Convention, Chicago, IL.

Johanson, M. A., Freeman, M. R., Aravind, A., Ridge, K. E., Mahajan, N., Damonte, J.  C. A computer-based assessment of 3-6 year old children's language abilities. Poster presented at the ASHA Schools Conference, Long Beach, CA.

Miller, H., Damonte, J. C., Johanson, M., Ridge, K., Freeman, M. R., Aravind, A.,    Ranganathan, S., Mahajan, N., de Villiers, J., Iglesias, A., Wilson, M. S., Hirsh-  Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. ( 2013, April). Adjectives are tricky: Children default  to noun interpretations of novel adjectives. Poster presented at the Society for  Research in Child Development 2013 Conference, Seattle, WA.

Mahajan, N., Freeman, M. R., Aravind, A., Johanson, M., Damonte, J., Miller, H.,  Ranganathan, S., Smith, L., Wilson, M. S., de Villiers, J., Iglesias, A., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2013, April). Using developmental science to design a  computerized preschool language assessment. Poster presented at the  Society for  Research in Child Development 2013 Conference, Seattle, WA.

Aravind, A., Freeman, M. R., Tejada, J., Mahajan, N., Iglesias, A., de Villiers, J., Golinkoff, R.   M., Hirsh Pasek, K., & Wilson, M. S. (2013, April). A computer    administered language assessment for Spanish English Language Learners. In C.  Ebanks (Chair), New tools for the new preschool context: The development of measures to assess the school readiness skills of young dual language learners. Poster symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development    2013 Conference, Seattle, WA.

Freeman, M. R., Mahajan, N., Miller, H., Ranganathan, S., Aravind, A., Damonte, J.,       Smith, L., Wilson, M. S., Golinkoff, R. M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., de Villiers, J., & Iglesias, A  (2013, April). Developing a research-based computerized preschool language assessment. Poster presented at the Council for Exceptional Children 2013Convention, San Antonio, TX.

Damonte, J. C., Johanson, M. A., Ridge, K. E., Mahajan, N., Freeman, M. R., Aravind,   A., de  Villiers, J., Iglesias, A., Wilson, M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M.  (March, 2013). Assessing preschoolers' language abilities using a touch-screen  computer. Poster presented at the 3rd Latin American School for Education,     Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Bahia, Brazil.

Miller, H., Freeman, M. R., Aravind, A., Ranganathan, S., Mahajan, N., Damonte, J., Golinkoff, R. M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., de Villiers, J., Iglesias, A., & Wilson, L. S. (2012, July). Developing a computer-assisted language assessment for   preschoolers. Poster presented at the ASHA Schools 2012 Conference, Milwaukee, WI.

Regional

Pzena, C., Golden, A., & Freeman, M. R. (2023, March). Enhancing Vocabulary and Syntactic Skills in Young Children Through Clay-based Language Stimulation. Poster Presentation at the 2023 SLHS Student Research Poster Day (CUNY), New York, NY. *Best poster award

Freeman, M.R., Corbett, S., Criollo, D., Jordan, N., Kurutz, S., Lemus, J., Tumminaro, M., & Wilson, V. (2022, October). Does Clay-Based Language Stimulation Improve Language Outcomes? Poster presentation at the 2022 Biennial Poverty Conference, Jamaica, NY.

Wilson, V., Tumminaro, M., Corbett, S., Criollo, D., Jordan, N., Kurutz, S., Lemus, J., & Freeman, M.R. (2022, April). Does Clay-Based Language  Stimulation Improve Language Outcomes? Poster presentation at the 2022 St. John’s University Research Conference, Jamaica, NY.

Freeman, M. R., Corbett, S., Criollo, D., Jordan, N., Kurutz, S., Lemus, J.,    Tumminaro, M., & Wilson, V. (2022, April). Does Clay-Based Language Stimulation Improve Language Outcomes? Poster presentation at the 2022 New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, Tarrytown, NY.

Freeman, M. R., & Rubin, H., (2021, November). Does clay-based language stimulation improve language outcomes in young Children? Poster presentation at the 2021 ASHA Convention, Washington, DC.

Freeman, M. R., King, C., & Mosquera-Valerio, S. (2021, March). Speech-language  pathology services for children with challenging behaviors: The what, why and  how of behavior and behavior management. Lecture given to the St. John’s University Alumni Network, New York, NY.

Freeman, M. R., Rubin, H., Blackman, C., Charles, N., Criollo, D., Masiakos, C., Rahming, O., Tadros, M., & van den Burg., H. (2020, November). Does clay-based language stimulation improve language outcomes in preschoolers? Poster presentation at the New York State Speech Language Hearing Association Conference, Tarrytown, NY (virtual).

Freeman, M. R. & Rubin, H. (2020, May). Introducing Claynguage™, a speech and language immersion program. Poster presentation at the New York State Speech Language Hearing Association Conference, Tarrytown, NY. (Conference canceled)

Freeman, M. R. & Marian, V. (2020, March). Bilinguals' second language speech processing is influenced by native-language rules. Poster presentation at the Neurolinguistic and Psycholinguistic Aspects of Bilingualism and Multilingualism Workshop, New York, NY. (Conference canceled)

Aravind, A., de Villiers, J., Freeman, M. R., & Iglesias, A. (2013, April). Assessing bilingual 3-5 year-olds' language. Talk given at UMass-UConn-Smith Language   Acquisition Workshop (UUSLAW). 

Freeman, M. R., Kroll, J. F., McClain, R., Martín, M. C., Macizo, P., & Bajo, M. T. (2011,    February). Does the phonology of red prevent bilinguals from getting  caught in the  net: Exploring how phonological overlap influences the time course of language inhibition. Poster presented during PIRE/NSF week, University Park, PA.

 

 

 

 

Seed Grant/Venture Capital Program Grant: Does Clay-Based Language Stimulation Improve Children’s Language Skills?, St. John’s University, July 2020.

The Richard and Camille Sinatra Endowment Grant: Grant aimed to improve the areas of poverty and social justice in research (clay-based language stimulation project), St. John’s University, May 2020.