Meet The Team
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Content and Instructional Team
Christine Villareal, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
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Dr. Villareal (formerly Maul) is a semi-retired Associate Professor Emerita at Fresno State
University, working in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Deaf Studies. She is
published in the areas of family-centered service delivery, literacy, and multicultural issues, and
she has made numerous presentations in those areas and also in the area of professional ethics.
She has co-authored two textbooks, one on child language disorders and one on behavioral
principles in communicative disorders. In 2023, she was awarded Honors of the Association
recognition by the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and in 2024, she was
granted honorary status as a Board Certified Specialist in Child Language by the American
Board of Child Language and Language Disorders.
In addition she is an advocate for children and adults with developmental disabilities and has
served on several state advisory committees as an appointee of former Secretary of State Diana
Dooley and former Governor Jerry Brown. At Fresno State, she founded a preschool clinic for
children with autism spectrum disorder, another for children with language disorders, and an
early intervention clinic. She has provided pro bono counseling over the years to numerous
families of children with severe disabilities needing assistance in obtaining necessary services for
their children. Her professional career has been inspired by her experience raising Adam, her
adult son with severe autism spectrum disorder.
Kat Holtz, M.S., CCC-SLP
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Kat, M.S., CCC-SLP is a certified speech-language pathologist with experience across inpatient rehab, acute care, outpatient, and VA settings. She works with both adult and pediatric clients and has a strong passion for swallowing, cognitive-linguistic, language, and motor speech disorders. Kat has been a Fripty Praxis tutor since 2023 and brings a structured yet supportive approach to tutoring. Her teaching style is detail-oriented and highly organized. She breaks down complex concepts into clear summaries, outlines, and easy-to-remember acronyms. Having also dealt with testing anxiety, Kat understands how overwhelming the Praxis can feel and is committed to helping students build both knowledge and confidence every step of the way.
Ivalis Chang, M.S., CCC-SLP
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Ivalis Chang, M.S., CCC-SLP is a Texas native turned Chicago transplant and a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist practicing full-time in the Chicagoland area. She earned her master’s degree from Abilene Christian University at Dallas, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.
Ivalis’ passion for the field began in childhood and has been shaped by over 12 years of experience as a caregiver for individuals with significant physical, cognitive, and speech-language disabilities. She currently works as a Speech-Language Pathologist in a high school setting and also provides PRN services in skilled nursing facilities, giving her hands-on experience across both pediatric and adult populations. Her clinical interests include autism, aphasia, dysphagia, fluency, and beyond, allowing her to support students across a wide range of Praxis content areas.
Ivalis has been with the Fripty team for over three years and is deeply passionate about helping students feel confident, prepared, and supported as they work toward passing the Praxis. Her work with Fripty includes one-on-one tutoring, test-taking strategy instruction, development of professional study materials, leading group sessions and webinars, and attending ASHA conventions to connect with future SLPs.
Rachel L. Norotsky, MS, CCC-SLP
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Rachel L. Norotsky, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of voice, upper airway, and swallowing disorders. She earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Boston University and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish from Wake Forest University. Rachel completed her clinical fellowship at the Emory Voice Center in 2024 and has since remained a dedicated member of the clinical team, providing advanced outpatient care and contributing to ongoing research in voice disorders. She is a frequent presenter at national conferences and has authored peer-reviewed publications focused on evidence-based approaches to voice evaluation and treatment. Since 2023, Rachel has served as a tutor with Fripty, where she is passionate about helping students succeed on the Praxis exam. She provides personalized tutoring across all content areas, with particular expertise in voice and resonance disorders, research methods, feeding and swallowing disorders, bilingualism, and adult neurogenic disorders. In addition to her clinical and teaching roles, Rachel is also a certified RYT-200 yoga instructor.
Administration and Student Support Team
Derek
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Derek is the Managing Partner of Fripty, bringing a wealth of entrepreneurial vision and leadership to the organization. A managing partner of several exam prep branches including the highly regarded Final Frontier brand, Derek has played a pivotal role in expanding its reach and impact, empowering thousands of students to achieve their licensure goals. Derek is the Co-Founder and served as CEO of FACTS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to help internationally educated professionals navigate the process of US based educational and licensing requirements. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Derek graduated as a Distinguished Graduate from Airman Leadership School, earning numerous accolades for his exemplary service and leadership. Academically accomplished, he graduated summa cum laude in his undergraduate studies, earned honors in graduate school, and holds a teaching certificate that underscores his commitment to education. Derek’s strategic leadership and dedication to professional growth continue to shape Fripty's mission to inspire and support future healthcare professionals across the globe.
Brandi
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Brandi is an Administrative Assistant with a BS in Community Health and a background in logistics and operations. Based on over two decades of experience, she brings a strong foundation in organization, communication, and administrative support, contributing to the efficient operation of educational programs.
With experience across both operational and educational environments, she is committed to supporting settings that promote accessibility, organization, and long-term success. She is thrilled to be part of Fripty, where she supports students in achieving their goals.
DaMeon
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DaMeon serves as the primary liaison to the Fripty instructional team, helping align faculty and communications to ensure a consistent, high-quality learner experience. She also leads conference and convention support—planning logistics, coordinating on-site execution, marketing, managing vendor and stakeholder relationships, and representing the Fripty brand at national and regional events to strengthen partnerships and expand community engagement.
DaMeon holds a Master of Social Work from Texas A&M University–Commerce, where she graduated with honors and summa cum laude. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.