SCTL Team
SCTL at Drexel
Matthew D. Lerner, PhD
Lab Director
he/him/his
Bio
His work is dedicated to an understanding of the processes of social development and social connection throughout the lifespan. Dr. Lerner explores perception, cognition, behavior, and context to develop new models of social functioning across the range of neurodiverse populations, and develops, implements, and tests novel interventions and supports to facilitate social connection for those who may otherwise struggle to do so. |
Allison Nahmias, MEd, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor
she/her/hers
Bio
Her research interests include understanding how to best meet the needs of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities in the settings in which they receive services, so that programs are delivered in effective and sustainable ways. She is passionate about improving mental health for children and adolescents, as well as training school and community mental health providers in evidence-based interventions, so that all individuals have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their goals. Her work has been recognized by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) for its impact on the field of autism research. |
Dena Gassner, PhD, MSW
Senior Research Scientist
she/her/hers
Bio
Dena is a senior research scientist with the A. J. Drexel Autism Institute, splitting her time between the Life Course Outcomes and the Policy and Analytics Center. Her research is primarily focused on utilizing neuroaffirming approaches to improve the quality of life of Autistic adults. She has also continued to work on reducing the administrative burden of using Social Security systems. She identifies as an Autistic researcher and is the parent of an Autistic adult. Her work has included presentations at the United Nations and INSAR and has published multiple research articles. |
Tamara Rosen, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
she/her/hers
bio
Tamara Rosen, PhD, is a clinical psychologist at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute and assistant professor at the Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Her interests are in expanding access to evidence-based assessment and mental health services for neurodivergent individuals. Dr. Rosen is also passionate about increasing neuroaffirming care in medical settings. Dr. Rosen is a licensed clinical psychologist. She has expertise in providing CBT to autistic and neurotypical individuals and differential diagnostic assessment of autism and co-occurring challenges. Her research examines the efficacy and effectiveness of CBT for autistic individuals with anxiety. In addition, her research examines the phenomenology and assessment of co-occurring psychiatric symptoms in autism, with a focus on depression and anxiety. |
Elliot Gavin Keenan, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
he/him/his
Bio
Elliot Gavin Keenan, PhD is a lived experience researcher who thus far focuses on autism and bipolar disorder. He is also interested in transdiagnostic factors such as rejection sensitivity and repetitive thinking. In addition to research, Elliot is an author of creative nonfiction. |
Natalie Libster, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
she/her/hers
Bio
Her research broadly examines the social experiences of autistic transition-aged youth and associated mental health outcomes. She looks forward to working with an amazing research team and continuing to support and advocate for the autistic community. |
Ava Gurba, MS
Senior Research Associate
she/her/hers
Bio
Her research interests are diverse but include neurodiversity, neurodiversity-affirming interventions and support for autistic individuals, mental health and autism, stigma & prejudice in autism, autistic identity, and autistic and disability advocacy. Ava also seeks to utilize participatory approaches in research that centers and uplifts the perspectives of autistic individuals, their families, and their communities. She collaborates with researchers, professionals, and those with lived experience around the world on various projects. |
Kyleigh Hricak, BS
Research Associate
she/her/hers
Bio
She previously studied in an undergraduate research lab for 3 years, where she began working with autistic and non-autistic children to understand communication styles. During the Pandemic, while living with her autistic, adult twin brother, she became interested in autistic adults and their experiences during COVID-19. Particularly, she dedicated two years conducting qualitative interviews with autistic adults and parents of autistic adults to understand their experiences during the public health crisis. Kyleigh is strongly passionate about conducting qualitative research in the autism research field because she believes that qualitative methods are an essential way to understand and connect with a research group of interest. |
Kilmer Merritt-Gawe, BA
Research Associate
they/them/theirs
Bio
Kilmer joins SCTL after working with mental health organizations and community-centered nonprofits. Previously they built and led programs supporting historically underserved youth and families in building resilience and accessing resources. Kilmer is interested in health disparities – how they manifest, their overarching affects, and how to address disparities, both individually and structurally. In Kilmer’s spare time, you can find them at a concert. |
Erika Frick, MA
Project Coordinator
she/her/hers
Bio
Erika is a research coordinator at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute who primarily works in the Early Detection and Intervention core. Her skill set and experience ranges from qualitative data collection in childcare settings and data management to ensuring IRB compliance and participant scheduling. Erika has moved into the SCTL lab to serve as the project coordinator for Dr. Matt Lerner’s PCORI Grant, titled EMPAACT, or Enhancing Mental Health Practices for Autistic Adults Collaborative Team. 
Calli Faulk, BS
Project Coordinator
she/her/hers
bio
Her research interests center around improving social communication and understanding emotion. On this project, she hopes to strengthen her project management skills and learn about effectively engaging more of the community in research. She considers herself a “jack of all trades” and is always looking for how to creatively solve her next problem. She joins SCTL after four years working with the Center for Autism Research at CHOP. Outside of work, she can be found exploring Philly's restaurants, rocking to showtunes, or curled up with a good book. |
Madeline Barrett, MA
Project Coordinator
they/them/theirs
Bio
Madeline is focused on advancing autism research through community-engaged and participatory approaches. Their interests center on investigating biases in diagnostic processes and intervention strategies, aiming to improve how we understand diverse autistic experiences and ensure that interventions are more inclusive and meaningful. Currently, they are the research coordinator on the NAI Study, a study focused on developing a fidelity tool for neurodivergent-affirming interventions. This study is an exciting step toward improving the accessibility and effectiveness of interventions for neurodivergent individuals. When Madeline is not immersed in research, you can find them lost in a book, enjoying live music, or guiding a group of adventurers through their latest Dungeons & Dragons campaign. |
Kathryn "Katie" Bouvier-Weinberg, BA
Project Coordinator
she/her/hers
bio
Katie previously worked the Social Dynamics of Intervention (SoDI) Lab within the AJDAI Life Course Outcomes unit. She was a project coordinator for multiple studies that looked at the social networks of individuals with autism. Specifically, my previous research assessing how the social network changes during times of transition for people with autism across various life stages and/or the impact of the social network around an autistic individual on the individual’s long-term outcomes |
SCTL Graduate Students
PhD Students
Talena Day, MA
PhD Student:
Stony Brook University she/her/hers
BIO
She studies neural mechanisms involved in emotion and reward processing. Her research focuses on understanding factors contributing to the high rates of co-occurring internalizing disorders observed in autism. |
Tamara Garfield, MA
PhD Student: Drexel University
she/her/hers
bio
Tamara is currently focusing on research related to employment for autistic people. She is also interested in barriers to positive mental and physical health outcomes for autistic adults and addressing these challenges using community-based approaches. Tamara also focuses on the role of autism-related stigma in research, clinical, educational, and vocational contexts. |
Jacquelyn Gates, MA
PhD Student:
Stony Brook University she/her/hers
BIO
Her research focuses on increasing the effectiveness of social supports and dissemination of research and knowledge to people and professionals research and knowledge to people and professionals people with various mood and internalizing disorders and with various mood and internalizing disorders and interpersonal difficulties using a neurodiversity affirming perspective. |
Morgan McNair, MA
PhD Student:
Stony Brook University she/her/hers
BIO
Her research interests center on social interactions and social problem solving in autistic and non-autistic children and adolescents. Clinically, Morgan is interested in assessing and diagnosing neurodevelopmental Morgan is interested in assessing and diagnosing neurodevelopmental youth's strengths and unique challenges they may experience. |
Jared Richards, MS
PhD Student: Drexel University
they/any
bio
Jared is interested in using multi-method approaches to investigate transdiagnostic social and emotional factors related to health in autism and co-occurring conditions. Jared is also interested in studying community-derived constructs (e.g., autistic burnout) and leveraging the lived experience of community members to improve and personalize mental health interventions for autistic people. In addition to research experience, Jared looks forward to leading training programs to disseminate information about autism to professionals and community members and excited to help incorporate more community and/or participatory methods into SCTL’s work. |
Kristin Walker, MA
PhD Student:
Stony Brook University she/her/hers
bio
Her research is grounded in a strengths-based perspective, emphasizing the inherent value of differences in fostering human diversity. She aims to: 1) better understand the experiences of the d/Deaf and hard of hearing, as well as autistic communities, with a special focus and hard of hearing, as well as autistic communities, with a special focus on the intersectionality of these identities, and 2) identify and address disparities experienced by the disability community. |
Master's Students
China Parenteau, BA
Master's Student: Drexel University
she/her/hers
Bio
China is dedicated to understanding and improving mental health and quality of life for individuals with autism. In her previous role as a Clinical Research Coordinator at UCSF, she assisted in delivering social skills and emotion regulation interventions for individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. This inspired her to explore the factors that influence mental health in autism using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Together with the SCTL team, she aims to develop effective strategies for measuring outcomes in individuals with autism to better evaluate interventions, with a particular emphasis on integrating strengths-based and community-based participatory approaches into her research. |
Aubrey Eason, BS, BA
Master's Student: Drexel University
she/they
Bio
Aubrey's research interests include the co-morbidity of Autism and ADHD, the presentation of Autism across diverse genders, and community. They look forward to learning more about research from the wonderful experts around me and supporting a variety of projects. |
