Staff

 

Lab Manager: Alyssa Verbalis, Ph.D.

Alyssa Verbalis Headshot

Dr. Alyssa Verbalis is the Clinical Research Program Manager in the Center for Autism at Children's National Hospital. Dr. Verbalis received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of Connecticut with a concentration in neuropsychology. Dr. Verbalis is actively engaged in clinical work associated with the research projects at the Center for Autism, emphasizing assessment and treatment paradigms associated with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Dr. Verbalis has particular research interests in understanding the experiences and presentation of autistic girls and women, as well as the impact of executive functions on educational and adaptive outcomes for autistic people. Dr. Verbalis oversees aspects of most of the research projects at Center for Autism and provides direct supervision to the research staff. She also leads the annual hiring efforts for identifying and interviewing potential new staff members. 

Alyssa VERBALIS Research profile (researchgate.net)

Research Coordinators

Alejandro Todd Headshot

Alejandro Todd

Current Projects:

  • SOAR: Studying Outcomes of Autistic Individuals Transitioning to Adulthood

  • Unstuck & On Target: High School, Clinic-based Trial

  • Unstuck & On Target: High School, School-based Trial

School & Degree:

  • University of Pittsburgh 2024, B.S. in Psychology and Certificate in Children's Literature

Research Interests:

  • Exploring the identity development of race, sexual orientation, and neurodiversity 

  • Social media's role in the sense of belonging in marginalized communities

Future Career Goals:

  • My future goal is to have a Ph.D. in developmental and social/community psychology.

A Little About Me: I love learning new songs and choreography!

Elizabeth Black

Current Projects:

  • Unstuck & On Target: High School, School-based Trial

  • Gerber Project

School and Degree:

  • University of West Florida 2025, B.S. in Psychology with minors in Biology and Child Welfare

Research Interests:

  • Executive functioning and familial dynamics in neurodiverse families

  • Quality of life and self-concept in autistic individuals 

  • Cognitive neuroscience research methods 

Future Career Goals:

  • Become a professor of clinical psychology

A Little About Me: I collect vintage cameras and enjoy baking and sewing

Hannah Behar Headshot

Hannah Behar

Current Projects:

  • Unstuck & On Target: High School, School-based Trial

  • Unstuck & On Target: High School, Clinic-based Trial

School and Degree:

  •  University of Richmond 2023, B.S. in Psychology.

Research Interests:

  • Exploring various thinking styles

  • Understanding how executive functioning challenges might affect the experience of trauma and grief

Future Career Goals:

  • My future career goal is to have a career in child or adolescent mental health.

A Little About Me:

  • I enjoy reading and was in an acapella group in college!

Julianna McKenna headshot

Julianna McKenna Headshot

Julianna McKenna

Current Projects:

  • Unstuck & On Target: High School, School-based Trial

  • Unstuck & On Target: High School, Clinic-based Trial

  • Unstuck & On Target for Early Childhood

School and Degree:

  • Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame Indiana 2021, B.A. in Psychology and Creative Writing, minors in Philosophy & Justice Studies.

Research interests: 

  • Developing culturally informed neuropsychological assessments.

  • Sex education practices and the impact on socioemotional development in young adults.

  • The effectiveness of neuro-affirming executive function interventions for autistic teens and their parents.

Future career goals: 

  • In the future, I hope to become a licensed clinical social worker and work with neurodivergent youth in both school and clinical settings.

A Little About Me:

  • Outside of work I can be found listening to Taylor Swift on repeat while exploring new hiking trails around the DMV.

Tara Anderson Headshot

Tara Anderson

Current Projects:

  • SOAR: Studying Outcomes of Autistic Individuals Transitioning to Adulthood

  • Unstuck & On Target: High School, Clinic-based Trial

  • Gerber Project

School and Degree:

  • UCLA 2025, B.A. in Psychology & B.A. in Disability Studies.

Research interests: 

  • Barriers to support and diagnoses

  • Adolescent and child psychopathology, adverse childhood experiences, risk/resilience factors, familial dynamics, and emotion regulation

  • Improvement and development of interventions and predictors of treatment

Future career goals: 

  • A Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology

A Little About Me:

  • I enjoy activities like baking, reading, traveling, and playing beach volleyball.