Faculty and Staff

Catherine Lord, Ph.D., Director
Catherine Lord is a Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Michigan and a Senior Scientist at the Center for Human Growth and Development. She is a clinical psychologist with specialties in diagnosis, social and communication development and intervention in autism spectrum disorders. She is renowned for her work in longitudinal studies of children with autism as well as for her role in developing the autism diagnostic instruments used in both practice and in research worldwide today. Dr. Lord has previously worked at the University of North Carolina, University of Minnesota, University of Alberta, the London Medical Research Council Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Harvard University (Children's Hospital) and University of Chicago.

Find out more about Dr. Lord on the University of Michigan webpage:

http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/public/experts/ExpDisplay.php?ExpID=966

Deb Anderson, Ph.D., Research Associate
Deb joined the UMACC staff in January of 2003. She recently received her PhD in sociology and social work from the University of Michigan. She enjoys working with data that addresses health-related concerns. On the off hours, she is often accompanied by her dog, Sam, who rewards her with a long walk at the end of the day.

Pamela Dixon Thomas, Ph.D., Acting Director, Psychologist
Pamela is a licensed clinical psychologist; her clinical and research interests have focused on social functioning in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. She is a graduate of Howard University and completed her postdoctoral training in pediatric rehabilitation psychology at the University of Michigan.

Suzi Naguib, Psy.D. Psychologist
Suzi Naguib is a limited licensed clinical psychologist. At UMACC she conducts evaluations, provides treatment, and supervises graduate students. Her clinical and research interests include treatment of adolescents and adults with ASD, focusing on daily living and organizational skills. Dr. Naguib is currently developing the "Piece of Cake Cooking" (PCC) Treatment Program, which is designed to teach adults with ASD the necessary skills to independently manage their own dietary needs. In addition to working with adults and adolescents, she provides intensive in-home treatment to toddlers through the Early Social Interaction (ESI) Project. Prior to joining UMACC, Dr. Naguib worked at the New York University Child Study Center, where she completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. She has received clinical training at the Children's Hospital of Michigan, the University of Chicago, and the Johns Hopkins University. She graduated from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and has published in the Portuguese Journal of Pedagogy.

Barbara Hanna, Ph.D., Psychologist/Study Coordinator
Barbara is a licensed clinical psychologist who trained at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Michigan.  At UMACC she is a study coordinator for the National Simons Simplex Collections (SSC) Study, and conducts diagnostic evaluations and developmental testing.  Prior to coming to UMACC Barbara was a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan in the Child Division.

Lee Anne Green Snyder, Ph.D., Psychologist/Consultant
LeeAnne Green Snyder is a fully licensed clinical psychologist with specializations in pediatric neuropsychology and autism. She provided clinical diagnostic evaluations at UMACC and is now currently working as a consultant to the national Simons Simplex Collections (SSC) study. She also has research interests that include differential diagnosis and etiology of autism. LeeAnne has trained at the University of Connecticut, and previously worked at Children's Hospital of Michigan.

Fiona Miller, Ph.D., Psychologist
Fiona is a licensed clinical psychologist who trained at the University of Toronto. At UMACC, she conducts diagnostic evaluations, individual therapy, and she leads an integrated play group for young children with ASD. Fiona is also an ADI-R and ADOS trainer. In addition to her UMACC appointment, she is an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Michigan Center for Human Growth and Development (CHGD). Fiona's research interests have focused on parenting children with mental health concerns and special needs. She is currently developing a measure to reliably assess the unique experiences and challenges faced by parents who are raising children with ASD.

Amy Esler, Ph.D., Consultant
Amy is the site consultant for Emory and the University of Illinois at Chicago for the Simons Simplex Collection. She currently works as a psychologist and researcher in the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and she is a lecturer in the School Psychology Department. Her main area of research is early diagnosis and treatment of ASD, and she performs diagnostic evaluations and developmental testing for toddlers seen in the Early Autism and Communication Research Clinic. She received her doctorate from University of Minnesota in 2001. Prior to coming to the Waisman Center, Amy was the Training Coordinator and Research Specialist at UMACC, coordinating training on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), as well as working on a variety of research studies, including genetics, validity of diagnostic measures, intervention with children and adults with high-functioning ASD, and early diagnosis.

Angela Fish , Ph.D., Post Doctoral Fellow
Angela returned to the University of Michigan and UMACC after completing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Wayne State University. She was previously an undergraduate at UofM and worked as a research assistant at UMACC when the center first opened in 2001. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at the center. In graduate school Angela worked clinically with a wide range of children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, including individuals on the autism spectrum. She recently completed her internship at Hawthorn Center, a child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric hospital in Northville, Michigan. She is happy to be back at UMACC working clinically with individuals on the autism spectrum and participating in research.

Costanza Colombi , Ph.D., Post Doctoral Fellow
Costanza is a developmental psychologist who trained at the University of Parma (Italy) as a clinician and earned her doctorate at the M.I.N.D. Institute (UC Davis). Prior to entering graduate school, she worked as an assistant psychologist at E.S.P.A. (Sunderland, U.K.). Costanza’s research interests include early diagnosis, intervention, and socio-cognitive development in children with ASD. Her dissertation focused on Mirror Neuron System in high-functioning adolescents with autism. She joined UMACC in October 2008 as a Post Doctoral Fellow to continue clinical and research work in ASD.

Kathy Hatfield, Clinic Coordinator
Kathy joined UMACC in September 2007. Her previous UM positions were in the Dept. of Psychology as an Administrative Assistant in the Developmental and Clinical Areas and as the Student Services Coordinator in the Graduate Office. She has extensive administrative, customer service and web design experience. She is responsible for patient services including phone intakes, appointments and billing issues, as well as various duties relative to the daily operation of the center.

Mary Yonkovit, Secretary
Mary joined UMACC in June of 2004. She has extensive administrative experience in corporate, legal, international, immigration, and travel environments. She is responsible for the transcription and processing of clinical and research client reports.

Ellen Buchholz, M.P.A., Accountant
Ellen joined UMACC in 2005 as the Grant and Contracts Accountant. She has more than 10 years professional administrative experience with the U of M. Ellen has a B.B.A. and most recently completed her M.P.A. at the University of Michigan-Flint. In addition to her interest in financial analysis, her graduate work focused on the administrative implementation of policy, specifically HIPAA, and the evaluation of programs and services in the health care sector. Ellen has a diverse background in both the profit and non-profit sectors. Her interest in organizations that combined health care, research and academics are what brought her to the Center.

Jennifer Tjernagel, M.S., Project Manager
Jennifer joined the center in 2007 as project manager for the Simons Simplex Collection, a large multi-center autism genetics study coordinated by UMACC. Previously she spent 10 years in the pharmaceutical research industry as a manager of statistical analysis and reporting. She also worked as a biostatistician for the University of Michigan Cardiology Department. Jennifer has a Masters Degree in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan.

 Lori Stark, Ph.D., Project Manager

Julie McCormick, M.A., Project Manager
Julie joined UMACC in 2007 to provide project management for an early intervention project at the center. She has a varied background that includes 12 years of pharmaceutical research. She has served as the director of a community mental health program that provided outreach services to individuals with developmental disabilities and psychiatric disorders. Additionally, she has served as a therapist and program coordinator at a spinal cord and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation center. Julie has a Masters Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Western Michigan University.

Dörte Junker, M.A.-CCC/SLP, Project Manager and Interventionist
Dörte is a Speech-Language Pathologist with extensive therapeutic and teaching experience in various clinical, school and university settings. Her first Speech Therapy degree was done in Germany; subsequently she worked as a therapist in a neurological clinic, then as an instructor and clinical supervisor for the School for Speech Therapy at the University of Tübingen in Germany. In 1993 she came to the US with her American husband. Dörte completed her Master's Degree at Michigan State University in 1999, received her American license in Speech-Language Pathology in 2000, and published her Master’s Thesis on Bilingual Language Acquisition in 2001. In the Ann Arbor public school system, she gained experience working with multiply impaired children as well as with children on the autism spectrum and teaching parent training classes. Her interest in research motivated her to join UMACC in October 2007. Dörte is presently involved as a project manager and interventionist for the Language Assessment Project. In addition, she is participating as an interventionalist for the Early Social Intervention Project and participating as a consultant in the Early Steps Study.

Carrie Miller, L.L.M.S.W., Interventionist
Carrie is an interventionist for the Early Social Interaction (ESI) Project at UMACC. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.S. in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She also has earned a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and is currently in the process of obtaining her certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has done extensive work with children with ASD over the past five years, having worked a private program consultant and instructor for in-home programs based on the principles of ABA and as a head instructor at a private academy for children with ASD.

 Anna Alter, M.A. L.L.P.C., Interventionist
Anna is an interventionist for the Early Social Interaction (ESI) Project at UMACC. She graduated from Wayne State University with a B.S. in Psychology and from Oakland University with a Master's Degree in Counseling. She completed her internship as a therapeutic riding instructor at O.A.T.S., which introduced her to children with an autism spectrum disorder. Anna is currently in the process of obtaining her certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has worked with children with ASD over the past four years, having facilitated ABA programs in both center-based and home-based settings. Anna has love for horses and eventually would like to have a riding center that serves children with an autism spectrum disorder.

Caitlyn B. Sorensen, Research Assistant
Caitlyn graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007 where she received a B.A. in psychology. She narrowed her studies with an interest in children's social and language development. Research was also an interest, playing a key role in her undergraduate experience; she worked on different studies in the Social and Political Issues Lab in the Psychology Department at UM. Before joining UMACC as a research assistant, Caitlyn has worked one-on-one with children with ASD and other developmental delays to promote language development. At UMACC, she will work with very young children in the intervention studies. In the future, Caitlyn plans to attend graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and continue working with children.

 Alexandra Hessenius, M.A., Treatment Supervisor
Alexandra graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2005 with an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in English. She worked as a behavioral interventionist providing one-on-one ABA treatment for children with autism at the Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention before attending graduate school at New York University's Steinhardt School of Education where she received her Masters Degree in Educational Psychology.  Alexandra is a Treatment Supervisor on the Early Steps Study and co-leads a UMACC social skills group for 9-12 year old boys with ASD. She is currently in the process of obtaining her certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

 Larry Kowalski , Research Assistant
Larry graduated from the University of Michigan in April of 2007 receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with a dual concentration in History and Psychology. He has previous experience working with children at U of M Children's Center. He also has prior research experience studying in the Social and Political Issues Lab and working as an undergraduate research assistant for the Director of the Center for Human Growth and Development at U of M. At UMACC, Larry works on the Simons Simplex Collection project and co-leads a social group for younger children. In the future, he plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and hopes to continue working with children with autism and other developmental disorders.

Whitney Guthrie , Research Assistant
Whitney graduated summa cum laude from Pepperdine University with a BA in psychology and an emphasis in psychological research. She works as a research assistant at UMACC, coordinating the First Words and Toddlers projects, and as a therapy assistant on the Early Start Intervention project. She is also involved in leading the social group for children ages 4-6. Before coming to UMACC, Whitney worked as a play therapist for children with autism and other developmental delays, and she conducted research in the area of child maltreatment. Whitney plans to pursue her Ph.D. in child clinical psychology and continue to focus on research in the area of autism spectrum disorders.

Sarah Luchansky, LLMSW, Research Assistant
Sarah graduated summa cum laude from the State University of New York College at Cortland with a bachelor’s degree in human services studies and a minor in psychology. She continued her education at the University of Michigan where she received her masters in social work in 2007. Prior to working at UMACC, Sarah provided one-on-one respite care for children and adults with ASD and other disabilities. Sarah began her time at UMACC as a student researcher and then continued on to complete her MSW internship at the Center. Sarah is currently working as a research assistant on the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC). Additionally, she co-leads the boys and girls social skill groups for children with ASD who are 9-12 years of age.

Ciara Marti, Research Assistant
Ciara graduated from the University of Michigan in 2008 where she received a B.A. in Psychology. As an undergraduate, Ciara worked on both the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) project as well as through the clinic at UMACC furthering her interest in research with children. Currently at UMACC she is the undergraduate student coordinator, as well as, a research assistant on the Language Assessment Project. Ciara also co-leads a social group for 9-12 year old girls with ASD. Her future plans include pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and continuing to work with children with developmental disorders.

Melissa Maye, Research Assistant
Melissa graduated from the University of Michigan in April of 2008 with a honors BA in psychology and a minor in African and African American studies. While in school, she worked as a student researcher at UMACC and completed her honors thesis here. Now graduated, Melissa is the research assistant working on Longitudinal Studies of Autism Spectrum Disorders: 2 to 23. She has also been involved with the social group for young children aged 4-6 years old. Melissa plans to continue her education and pursue a Ph.D. in child clinical psychology, as well as continue her research within autism spectrum disorders.

Kristin Colella, Research Assistant
Kristin graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007 with a B.S., doubling majoring in Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Sciences, as well as Anthropology-Zoology.  She previously worked as a Research Assistant for University of Michigan Psychiatry in the Substance Abuse Division. She is currently a Research Assistant at UMACC working on coordinating training workshops for the ADOS and ADI-R.  Kristin plans to continue her education by attending medical school in the pursuit of becoming a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Fei Chen, Research Assistant
Fei graduated from the University of Michigan in 2009 with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in biology. As an undergraduate student, she previously worked with young children at UMACC and in playgroup before becoming a research assistant on the intervention studies. In the future, Fei is looking to apply to either graduate school for a Psy.D. in clinical child psychology or medical school to pursue a career as a pediatrician.

Elizabeth Buvinger, Graduate Student
Liz is a second year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program. She graduated in 2003 from Beloit College in Wisconsin with a double major in Psychology and Spanish. She spent three years working at James Madison University in Virginia in a center whose research focused on middle school students with ADHD. Her current research interests include adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders and their transition into adulthood. In addition, she is interested in the concept of friendship within ASD populations and how this affects their daily functioning and mental health. Liz co-leads one of the adult social groups and is also coordinating the Longitudinal Study at UMACC.

Themba Carr, Graduate Student
Themba is a 2nd year graduate student in the Clinical doctoral program at the University of Michigan. She earned her Bachelor's degree at the University of Virginia in 2004 with a major in Psychology. Prior to entering graduate school, Themba spent two years as the Research and Lab Coordinator for a Developmental Psychology lab at the University of Virginia. Her research interests include studying the influence of culture and social class on families' experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorders with an emphasis on how cultural and economic variables affect parents' diagnosis-seeking and treatment-seeking behavior. In addition to conducting research, Themba also co-leads the UMACC Teen Social Group and assists with one of the Adult Social groups.

Catherine Fan, Graduate Student
Catherine is a second year doctoral graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Michigan. She graduated in 2003 from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in Psycholgy. Before entering graduate school, Catherine worked for two years as a Lab Manager for a prospective longitudinal study of preadolescent girls with ADHD at UC Berkeley. She also worked for a year in an individualized autism intervention program using play- and behaviorally-based therapies. She is currently working with Dr. Sheryl Olson on the Michigan Longitudinal Study investigating the links between gender, emotion dysregulation and future psychopathology in at-risk toddlers. Catherine completed the UMACC clinical practicum in the Spring and Summer of 2007. She currently co-leads the UMACC Teen Autism Social Group and assists with an Adult Social Group.

Kaite Gotham, Graduate Student
Katherine Gotham is a fourth-year student in the University of Michigan Clinical Psychology doctoral program and will be a clinical intern at UMACC through August 2009. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, Kaite studied psychology in the Netherlands on a Fulbright scholarship. Since 2003 she has been working with Dr. Catherine Lord on improving psychometrics and utility of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), including standardizing scores for use as a measure of autism severity. She is also interested in studying mood disorders and comorbidity on the autism spectrum. Kaite co-leads a social group for adults with high-functioning autism and Asperger disorder.

So Hyun "Sophy" Kim, Graduate Student
So Hyun (Sophy) is a second year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Michigan. She graduated Ewha University in Korea with a major in Psychology, and also studied at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts for 1 year as an exchange student. Her current research interests include studying repetitive and restricted behaviors in young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In addition to conducting research, Sophy also co-leads one of the UMACC Adult Social Groups.

Kristina Lopez, Graduate Student
Kristina is a second year student in the developmental psychology doctoral program. Kristina graduated magna cum laude from California State University Northridge (CSUN) in 2005, earning a B.A. in psychology. In 2007 Kristina earned a M.A. with distinction in general experimental psychology. Before coming to UMACC Kristina worked as a lab coordinator and research assistant at CSUN. At CSUN she conducted research focused on ethnic minority adolescents and social attitudes toward children with disabilities. For several years Kristina was also special education assistant in primary schools for the Los Angeles Unified School District during which she worked with children with a variety of disabilities. Kristina has a special interest in autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, children’s language development, and culturally sensitive early intervention programs. Currently she is researching language development among children with autism spectrum disorders and works as an interventionist on the early social intervention study. Kristina also co-leads the girls social group.

Student and Volunteer Researchers:
Amber Baig
Jennifer Briskin
Kathleen Bruder
Fei Chen
Song Choi
Kelly Clark
Renee First
Michelle Geffen
Eric Hall
Jessica Irwin
Jessie Liang
Evan Lynch
Erika Moses
Shannon Olinyk
Ji Young Park
Cristina Popa
Honor Potvin
Peter Robichaux
Christa Ruthowski
Amy Santoriello
Kirsten Schohl
Alayan Schreier