Staff

 

Lab Manager: Alyssa Verbalis, Ph.D.

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

Elizabeth Black

Current Projects:

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

  • REACH: Relationships and Experiences in Adolescent Connections and Mental Health

  • ACE: Autism Center of Excellence Network: Neurodevelopmental Biomarkers of Late Diagnosis in Autism

School and Degree:

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

Research Interests:

  • Executive functioning, particularly in the context of the social experiences and outcomes of autistic individuals

  • The intersection between internalizing conditions, community defined concepts (e.g., autistic burnout), and quality of life

  • Cognitive neuroscience research methods (EEG)

Future Career Goals:

  • Become a professor of clinical psychology

A Little About Me:

  • I collect vintage cameras and enjoy baking and sewing

Cassidy Miller

Current Projects:

  • SOAR: Studying Outcomes of Autistic Individuals Transitioning to Adulthood

  • ACE: Autism Center of Excellence Network: Neurodevelopmental Biomarkers of Late Diagnosis in Autism

  • ADSI: From Data to Action 

  • BearACCESS

  • ECHO Unstuck for Military Educators

School and Degree:

  •  University of California, Santa Barbara, B.S. in Biopsychology with minors in Applied Psychology and Poverty, Inequality, & Social Justice

Research Interests:

  • Implementing strengths-based interventions to promote flourishing in autistic adolescents and adults

  • Reducing barriers to diagnosis and supports

  • Community-based participatory research

Future Career Goals:

  • In the future, I hope to improve the lives of neurodivergent individuals as a clinical psychologist and researcher.

A Little About Me:

  • I love cats and used to work at a cat cafe!

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

Current Projects:

  • SOAR: Studying Outcomes of Autistic Individuals Transitioning to Adulthood

  • REACH: Relationships and Experiences in Adolescent Connections and Mental Health

  • ACE: Autism Center of Excellence Network: Neurodevelopmental Biomarkers of Late Diagnosis in Autism

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.

Linda Calderon

Current Projects:

  • SOAR: Studying Outcomes of Autistic Individuals Transitioning to Adulthood

  • ADSI: From Data to Action

School & Degree:

  • The University of Texas at San Antonio, B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. 

Research Interests:

  • Identifying barriers unique to the Latino ASD community and strengthening support systems.  

  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) assessment, prevention, and long-term treatments across the lifespan. 

  • Pediatric Neuropsychology, and neurophysiological measurements. (EEG, fMRI, TMS)

Future Career Goals:

  • My future goal is to obtain a Clinical Psychology PhD, specializing in Clinical Neuropsychology. 

A Little About Me:

  • I love to go to concerts, running/hiking/biking through trails, reading books, and volunteering within the community. I also love to travel and visit Mexico often. 

Rachel Resnick

School and Degree:

  • University of Maryland, College Park, B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Human Development

Research interests: 

  • Epidemiology and comorbidity rates of mental disorders in autistic individuals

    Predictors and risk factors of mental disorders in autistic youth

  • Child psychopathology and novel therapeutics and clinical trials of psychotropic medications for youth

Future career goals: 

  • A Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

A Little About Me:

  • I enjoy puzzles, board games, baking, and crafts.