SKS ALUMNA & ENTREPRENEUR MICHELE DESIMONE ’00

In 2019, Dr. Michele DeSimone ’00 scored a hat trick defined by Merriam Webster as “three successes within a limited time.” For the DeSimone family, it was an incredible year by any measure. In August, Michele completed a Clinical Doctorate Degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Kean University. At the same time, she and her husband Adam DeSimone ’00 purchased a building and fully renovated it to open a third business location in September. If that wasn’t enough, the couple also welcomed daughter Emma Grace into the world in October!

After graduating from Storm King, Dr. DeSimone earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology from St. John’s University in 2004 and went on to earn a Master’s Degree from New York University in 2007. Soon after she began to work with patients, Dr. DeSimone was asked to teach within the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at St. John’s. There, she realized her passion for mentorship and professional guidance within the field. Following in her father’s footsteps, she went on to become the entrepreneur that she is today.

After Michele spent several years as a partner in smaller practices, the DeSimones founded The Sensory Studio in March 2016. The Sensory Studio is a community-based resource center offering specialized speech therapy, occupational therapy, workshops, professional training, and peer groups for children with developmental and communicative needs.

Addressing a critical community need, The Sensory Studio opened its second Staten Island Center in the autumn of 2018 and a third in September 2019 after the couple purchased and renovated a building to become their flagship location.

Dr. DeSimone employs 32 speech and occupational therapists across their three Staten Island locations and staffs several community schools. Each of the three centers is equipped with a full sensory gym, providing a comprehensive therapeutic experience. “Our entire team is tirelessly dedicated to maximizing the potential in children and guiding families through what can be a confusing and stressful process,” explains Dr. DeSimone.

The DeSimones have also purchased a new home where they will be moving in August 2020 with their infant daughter, Emma; eight-year-old son, Sal; and their Boston terrier, Rocco. Michele and Adam met on the Mountain and wrote: “We have Storm King to thank for bringing us together, and we look forward to seeing classmates for a belated 20 th reunion in June 2021.”