Collaboration: the action of working with someone to produce or create something.
Community: a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Meet our lab/collaborators/community.
Research Advisory Board
The Autism in Context Research Advisory Board consists of members of the University of Delaware community who identify as being on the autism spectrum. Members of the advisory board provide critiques and advice on current research projects. The advisory board shapes the Autism in Context research agenda.
finnigan madison
finnigan madison (ze/hir & he/him) is an autistic, jewish, gay & genderqueer trans man from newark, de. ze holds a BA in asian studies from university of delaware (’19), with a minor in religious studies. he is currently a talent acquisition associate for an agricultural start-up.
finnigan’s special interests include judaism, beekeeping, meditation, and gardening. he strongly dislikes capital letters. ze is fascinated by the intersections of neurodiversity, transgender identity, sexual orientation, and religious identity; he is especially interested in research that examines how those identities overlap and interact with each other. ze is also interested in how perceived gender, race, age, and intelligence/ability relates to missed diagnosis and/or misdiagnosis of autistic individuals. his aspirations are to become a rabbi and a gestational parent.
Sarah Tilman
Sarah Tillman (she/her) is an autistic queer woman originally from Michigan. She has a BA in mathematics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with minors in computer science and German; her MS in applied mathematics is from the University of Delaware. She hopes to pursue a PhD in mathematical neuroscience in the future.
Sarah’s special interests include mathematics, guinea pigs, German language and culture, and a rotating list of hobbies such as knitting and playing the clarinet. She also has strong opinions on the Oxford comma. She is most interested in research concerning the support services autistic people may need or receive and their impact on autistic people’s lives.
Irfan Alam
Irfan Alam (he/him) is an autistic person from India who currently works at the University of Pennsylvania as a Hans Rademacher Instructor of Mathematics. He completed Ph.D. in mathematics and MA in Philosophy (both from Louisiana State University) in 2021. Discovering his own autism at the age of 30 and realizing the severe effects of the years of unconscious masking was a transformative experience that has since motivated him to contribute to the growing need for autistic people to participate in autism research. In the future, he hopes to remain a mathematician while simultaneously also being active in professional autism research in the social sciences.
Besides mathematics and analytic philosophy (which is what he focused on in his philosophy degree), Irfan has started working on ethics in mathematics and education, with an interest in ethics more generally. Outside of academia, Irfan is currently passionate about music/songwriting, professional wrestling, psychology, parenting techniques, and walking/hiking.
We are currently accepting members for the research advisory board. In order to participate, you must be connected to the UD community as a student or employee and identify as being on the autism spectrum.
Research Assistants
In the Autism in Context research lab, students learn about the research process: how to observe, ask questions, and come up with a plan to answer those questions. Research assistants are part of every step of the research process and learn about autism, social science, and equity every step of the way.
Majd Subih
Majd Subih (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in Education at the University of Delaware specializing in Sociocultural and Community-based Approaches. She is originally from Jordan and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Jordan in Modern Languages, Spanish and English, focusing on literature and language learning/teaching. She also received two master’s degrees from Villanova University, a masters of arts in Hispanic Studies, and a master’s of education in Teacher Leadership.
Melissa Stoffers
Melissa Stoffers (she/her) is a doctoral student in the Human Development and Family Sciences department at the University of Delaware. She has a Master of Science degree in Collaborative Teaching, as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in Collaborative Education and American Studies from Rowan University. As a certified educator, Melissa previously worked as a special education teacher for students in grades K-8 in New Jersey. Melissa is interested in pursuing research to support the educational and socioemotional development of individuals with disabilities.
Sarah Durante
Sarah Durante is a current student at the University of Delaware planning to graduate in the spring of 2024. At the University of Delaware, Sarah is majoring in neuroscience on a pre-med track. In addition, Sarah is a member of the University of Delaware Marching Band, specifically the Color Guard. She is also a member of Making Doctors and the American Sign Language club. In her professional career, Sarah hopes to go on to medical school and become a pediatric neurologist. She is especially interested in developmental disorders, and would like to work specifically with children with ASD. She plans on furthering her research of intellectual disabilities, and to help children and their families.
Kaitlyn Myers
Kaitlyn Myers is a student at the University of Delaware planning to graduate in the spring of 2023. In her high-school career, Kaitlyn partook in a leadership program, mentorship in a life skills classroom, and was an involved member of her community. She was also the valedictorian of her graduating class.
At the University of Delaware, she is in the honors program and has a major in psychology and minors in disability studies and neuroscience. In addition, Kaitlyn is an Access: Abilities Scholar, allowing her to explore disability in her field of interest through her college career. Kaitlyn hopes to continue to do research with individuals with disabilities in her future endeavors.
Sarah Garner
Sarah Garner is a student in the honors program at the University of Delaware and plans to graduate in May of 2025. She is a biological sciences major on the pre-medical track with minors in dance and history. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, walking, Spanish tutoring, attending and teaching dance classes, and working at a cat adoption center. She volunteers in the research and emergency departments of Nemours Children’s Hospital. Sarah is interested in educational, sociological, and biological/chemical research that has medical implications.
Community Partners
Leading collaborative efforts across the state to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism.
We partner with the Autism Alliance of Michigan on sexual abuse identification, prevention, and risk reduction.
autismallianceofmichigan.org
A statewide network of resources for autism spectrum disorders.
We have partnered with The Autism Program of Illinois and the University of Illinois affiliate to conduct research on comprehensive sexuality education and family mealtimes.
theautismprogram.illinois.edu
Academic Partners
Lifting Individuals and Families through Empowerment
We partner with the LIFE research team to conduct research on the transition to adulthood for autistic youth and their families.
msuliferesearch.wordpress.com
Lab Alumni
Wes Ingram
Wesley Ingram (he/him) is an autistic trans man from Newark, Delaware. He currently works as the Programs Manager for NAMI Delaware, a grassroots mental health nonprofit. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 2018 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Gender & Sexuality Studies. As a disability advocate, he is interested in the intersection of disability/mental health, the LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized identities.
Wesley has many special interests, which include reading and collecting books, trivia competitions, and overanalyzing media. As text is easier than physical speech for him, he is interested in the different versions and uses of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for autistic people. He enjoys research and learning and is considering returning to academia to pursue a graduate degree in Psychology.
Kerry Daly
Kerry Daly (2020-2021) is a current student at the University of Delaware, who is planning to graduate in the spring of 2022. At the University of Delaware, Kerry is in the Honors Program and is majoring in Elementary Teacher Education with a concentration in Middle School Social Studies and minoring in Disabilities Studies.
Kerry is a teacher’s assistant at an Early Intervention Center for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She plans on pursuing graduate school for special education when she finishes her undergraduate and to continue working with children with disabilities. Kerry hopes to become an amazing teacher and to continue pursuing research with individuals with disabilities.
Ryan Pratt
Ryan Pratt is a current student at the University of Delaware planning to graduate in the spring of 2022. At the University of Delaware Ryan is double majoring in Biological Sciences and Neuroscience as well as minoring in Entrepreneurship.
In addition, Ryan is an Access: volunteers at A.I. Dupont Children’s Hospital in the emergency department as well as works at United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware working with kids with special needs. Ryan hopes on attending medical school and becoming a pediatric surgeon and has the goal of opening up his own rehabilitation center where kids and young adults with disabilities can go and seek treatment, therapy and be prepared for life as an adult.
Stuti Gupta
Stuti Gupta (2019–2020) comes from Delhi, India. She received her Bachelor of Special Education (intellectual disability) from the University of Delhi. She is a carefree and innovative spirit who aspires to make the society fit for people with developmental disabilities. She had worked with children with developmental disabilities for two years before joining the University of Delaware to pursue a master’s in Leadership in Disability Services and enhance her learning.
After her master’s completion, she wants to start a Non-Profit organization of vocational training for children/adults with developmental disabilities. The diversity and potential of this field continues to enthuse and inspire her.
Anna Wojehowski
Anna Wojehowski (2020) is a Freshman at the University of Delaware class of 2023. She is a Psychology major, who plans on attending graduate school after she finishes undergrad. Anna is from Baltimore, Maryland and plans on working in the educational psychology field. Throughout high school she volunteered at several preschools, developmental classes, and interned at a school specialized for Autism. She is focused on helping people with disabilities and learning.
Sarah Hantman
Sarah Hantman (2020–2021) is a current student at the University of Delaware planning to graduate in the spring of 2022. At the University of Delaware, Sarah is majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in cell and molecular biology and genetics as well as minoring in Chemistry and Professional Selling and Sales Management on a pre-dental track.
Sarah is a volunteer at Nemours A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital in the post anesthesia care unit and the magnetic resonance imaging unit and a volunteer in the University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinic. In addition, Sarah is a Studio Fellow at the University of Delaware for BISC207/208 and CHEM107/108. In her professional career, Sarah hopes to work in a dental practice as an advocate and resource for patients with autism and intellectual disabilities and their families.
Sophia Munier
Sophia Munier (2020–20221) is a current student at the University of Delaware, who is planning on graduating in the spring of 2023. In high school, she was involved in several award winning research projects, mentored elementary age children and worked closely with students in the life skills program. She was also a graduate of the International Baccalaureate program.
At the University of Delaware, Sophia is an honors student majoring in Medical Diagnostics on a pre-med track. In addition, Sophia is also an Access: Abilities scholar, which allows her to pursue her interest in disability. She also mentors children at the local elementary school and volunteers at the Mary Campbell center, a home for people with disabilities. Her future aspirations include becoming a pediatric oncologist and to continue working with people with disabilities.
Wynter Bartley
Wynter Bartley (2020) (she/her, he/him, they/them) is a Freshman in the University of Delaware class of 2023. She is a Psychology and Criminal Justice double major who plans to go into Forensic Psychology for Graduate school. They are a genderfluid, bisexual, pagan from Wilmington, Delaware. Wynter is hoping to eventually work in juvenile detention centers to help rehabilitate and help the children in those centers before they potentially get sent back into society. He has multiple family members that are on the autism spectrum and hope this opportunity will help him learn about the difficulties they may face in their daily lives. She is a part of the UD Fightin’ Blue Hens Marching Band in the color guard and an active member in the Lavender Programming Board, one of the University’s LGBT+ organizations.
Autism in Context 