Nicole Wilson-Friend

Nicole Wilson-Friend is a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant with more than 20 years of experience across educational, clinical, rehabilitation, and hospital settings. She has spent the past 17 years supporting students and families within Stockton Unified School District, where she is recognized for her collaborative approach, creativity, and strong commitment to student advocacy and access to services. In addition to her clinical work, Nicole is a passionate advocate for SLPAs, SLPs, classified school employees, and the paraprofessionals who support student success behind the scenes every day. She is the founder of SLPAs in the Wild, an international online community connecting thousands of SLPAs through mentorship, professional discussion, resource sharing, and candid conversations about the realities of the field. Nicole has also been actively involved in advocacy and professional engagement through both the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, where she has contributed to conversations surrounding SLPA utilization, ethical supervision, professional identity, and equitable support for both SLPAs and SLPs. She is passionate about building stronger collaboration between SLPs and SLPAs and helping elevate the profession through education, advocacy, and community connection. Nicole also serves in leadership roles within the California School Employees Association (CSEA), where she works to elevate the voices of classified professionals through organizing, representation, communication, and labor advocacy efforts at both the chapter and regional levels. Her work often focuses on professional respect, ethical supervision, workplace equity, and ensuring that support staff are recognized as essential members of the educational team. Through her presentations, leadership, and advocacy, Nicole strives to create spaces where communication professionals feel informed, empowered, and genuinely connected, because the people helping others find their voices also deserve to have theirs heard.