Vess received her bachelors from UNC-Chapel Hill and masters degree in communication disorders from Appalachian State University. She has specialized in the areas of voice, swallowing, and head/neck cancer for more than 13 years.

Her voice expertise is evaluating and treating people who have medically complex and multi-factorial voice conditions as well as the aging voice. She also specializes in voice restoration and prosthetic management via tracheo-esophageal speech after cancer of the larynx, and management of swallowing disorders.

Additionally, she is considered an expert in the area of paradoxical vocal cord dysfunction and related irritable larynx conditions. She co-teaches a voice disorders class in the masters degree program at UNC-CH. Vess is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Her personal interests include rock climbing, hiking, and cycling.