Graduate Research Team
Tihitina (Titi) Bekele, M.S.
Titi is a fourth year student enrolled in the Developmental Science PhD program. She is originally from Ethiopia. Her focus lies in the realm of disabilities, particularly autism. Titi finds joy in interacting with children and serves at KidsWorld at First Baptist Church on Sundays. LinkedIn Profile
Elodie Carel
Elodie is a first-year student enrolled in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. Elodie graduated from UMass Amherst with a B.S. in Psychology, a B.A. in Disability Studies, and a letter of specialization in Developmental Disabilities and Human Services. Following graduation, Elodie worked as a research coordinator at the Center for Autism at Children’s National Hospital. Elodie’s research interests lie in the role families play in a young person’s understanding of their own disability.
Undergraduate Research Team
Ella Ford (’26)
Ella is an Honors Psychology student with a Minor in Education and is pursuing a Letter of Specialization in Developmental Disabilities & Human Services. Upon, graduation Ella hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a focus in autism studies. LinkedIn Profile
Gianna Smith (’26)
Gianna is an Honors Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Major with a Minor in Psychology and is pursuing a Letter of Specialization in Developmental Disabilities & Human Services. She is passionate about supporting and enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities and is eager to begin her honors thesis focused on disability. Upon graduation, she plans to further her education by attending graduate school in pursuit of a MA in Speech-Language Pathology. LinkedIn Profile
Lydia Cohen (’26)
Lydia is a Psychology Major and is pursuing a Letter of Specialization in Developmental Disabilities and Human Services. Lydia hopes to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Work or Education and eventually work with autistic children and their families in the future. LinkedIn Profile
Dani Wagner (’26)
Dani is an Honors Psychology major pursuing a letter of specialization in Developmental Disabilities & Human Services. They are working on their Honors Thesis investigating a neuroaffirming crafting workshop for autistic adults. They are passionate about disability advocacy and strive to continue their work in a Clinical Psychology PhD program. LinkedIn Profile
Kaitlin Flaherty (’27)
Kaitlin is an Honors Public Health and Psychology Double major. Her interests in this field began when she interned an occupational therapist in a public school system. She hopes to continue working with children in the future by focusing on developmental psychology and mental health counseling.
Sidney Adams (’27)
Sidney is a sophomore in the College of Natural Sciences, majoring in Psychology. She is passionate about researching developmental disabilities and improving diagnostic accessibility. Sidney aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology or Neuropsychology, with the goal of becoming a neuropsychologist. LinkedIn Profile
Hannah Ly (’27)
Hannah is a psychology and education double major. Her career goal is to become well trained in the field of therapy for children and adolescents. She is passionate about all things mental health and positively impacting the community.
Noy Toledano (’26)
Noy is a Junior Honors Biology student and is pursuing a Letter of Specialization in Developmental Disabilities and Human Services. Noy is passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities and their families and is eager to continue doing so as a Physician Assistant. LinkedIn Profile
Abby Beardsley (’26)
Abby is a psychology student pursuing a letter of specialization in Developmental Disabilities & Human Services. She is passionate about improving treatment and increasing accessibility in the healthcare field for patients with disabilities. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school. Abby is currently serving as our lab manager. LinkedIn Profile
Keara Johnson (’28)
Keira Johnson is a Psychology and Community Education and Social Change Double major. She has hopes of getting her Masters in School Psychology, and aspires to work with children in the future. Keira has a specific interest in Developmental Psychology, but is enjoying getting to explore the different fields of both Psychology and Education. LinkedIn Profile
Lab alumni
Abi Keefe, Psychology ’25
Ryan McGillicuddy, Psychology ’25
Meghan Hausser, Psychology ’25
Principal Investigator
Ashley Woodman, Ph.D.
Ashley Woodman received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from McGill University. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology from Boston College. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at the Waisman Center (University of Wisconsin-Madison). She is currently the Program Director for the Developmental Disabilities and Human Services (DDHS) program and Senior Lecturer in Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Google Scholar Profile, LinkedIn Profile