Christine Sapienza

Dr. Christine Sapienza, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a nationally recognized academic leader, researcher, and innovator in health care and higher education. She currently serves as executive vice president for partnerships and development at Jacksonville University (JU), following a transformative tenure as provost and founding dean of the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences. Her leadership helped launch JU’s flagship graduate health programs, state-of-the-art simulation labs, and the foundation for a new College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Internationally known for her pioneering research on the interaction between voice and respiratory function, Dr. Sapienza has built a career advancing the science and clinical care of neurorehabilitation. She co-invented the Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer, now used worldwide to improve respiratory and vocal function in clinical populations. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and other major funding agencies. She has authored over 125 peer-reviewed publications and the widely adopted textbook Voice Disorders.

Dr. Sapienza is also a dedicated educator and mentor, having guided dozens of doctoral students and received multiple honors for excellence in teaching and research. As cofounder of the Women’s Health Innovation Network, she champions women’s health through science, entrepreneurship, and cross-sector collaboration. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards, advancing health-care and education initiatives across the region.