Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and is a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Laugeson is the Director of the UCLA Tarjan Center, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and is the Founder and Director of the UCLA PEERS Clinic, which is an outpatient hospital-based program providing parent-assisted social skills training for individuals from preschool to adulthood. She also serves as the Program Director for the Predoctoral... more
Team
Leadership
Director of Operations
Jennifer Arnold (she/her) is the Director of Operations for the UCLA Tarjan Center, where she oversees daily operations and ensures the achievement of the Center’s short- and long-term goals and objectives. Jennifer provides high-level managerial support to faculty, staff, and trainees, while offering strategic guidance to the Director and executive team. In her role, Jennifer plans, implements, and leads key initiatives, and provides oversight of data and grant progress reporting for the Center's contracts and grants.
Prior to her work at the Tarjan Center, Jennifer was the... more
Director of Training and Education Services
Dr. Jasper Estabillo is the Director of Training at the UCLA Tarjan Center and Program Director of the UCLA-LA County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) BASIC-T Program. At the Tarjan Center, she oversees our interdisciplinary pre-service training and continuing education initiatives, including the Distinguished Lecture Series and In Other Words plain language podcast, and works closely with the team on the Annual Forum in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Leadership Academy.
Dr. Estabillo is a licensed clinical psychologist who received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from... more
Director of Research
Dr. Rujuta B. Wilson is a pediatric neurologist specializing in autism spectrum disorders and related neurodevelopmental disorders. She is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART). Dr. Wilson is the Director of Research for the UCLA Tarjan (UCEDD) Center. Dr. Wilson's NIH funded research is focused on developing quantitative methods of motor phenotyping to improve characterization of atypical motor development, better understand how atypical motor skills can impact cognition and... more
Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Brandon Ito, MD, MPH completed his undergraduate degree in Human Development with dual minor studies in Psychology and Healthcare & Social Issues from UC San Diego and medical training at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. He completed an additional masters degree in public health (MPH) at the Harvard University with a concentration in Family and Community Health. Dr. Ito completed his adult psychiatry training at UC San Francisco and his child & adolescent psychiatry fellowship at New York University.
Dr. Ito is passionate about medical education and teaching, LGBTQ... more
Director of Outreach and Dissemination
Dr. Yasamin Bolourian, Ph.D., is the Director of Outreach and Dissemination at the UCLA Tarjan Center and Senior Research Supervisor at the UCLA PEERS Clinic. She received her doctorate in Education from the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Bolourian's research interests cover a wide range of topics related to neurodiversity, including postsecondary outcomes for neurodivergent students and service pathways for autistic youth and their families in both community and school settings. Dr. Bolourian is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.... more
Faculty and Staff
Postsecondary Education and Employment Specialist
Christine T. Moody, Ph.D., leads the postsecondary education and employment initiatives at the UCLA Tarjan Center. Specifically, she is involved with multiple partnerships with the California Community College Chancellor's Office and California Department of Rehabilitation, providing training and technical assistance to support those serving young adults with developmental disabilities, such as autism and intellectual disability, in these systems. In addition to these roles, Dr. Moody is the Director of Research at the UCLA PEERS Clinic, facilitating and publishing research on the... more
Professor and Shapiro Family Endowed Chair in Developmental Disability Studies
Lauren Clark, PhD, RAN, FAAN, is Professor, Shapiro Family Endowed Chair in Developmental Disability Studies and Associate Dean, Academic Programs at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing. She serves as a member of the Tarjan Center Advisory Committee. As a nurse-anthropologist, Dr. Clark draws on her background as a public and community health nurse to inform her research. She studies health care experiences of Mexican American women and children and families of children with developmental disabilities. Using participatory research methods, she developed a... more
George Tarjan Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry
Dr. Catherine Lord is the George Tarjan Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She is a practicing clinical psychologist whose primary focus is autism and related disorders across the lifespan from toddlers through adulthood. Her research and clinical work are aimed at improving methods of identifying strengths and difficulties in individuals with possible ASD and working with families and individuals to maximize independence and well-being for all concerned. This has involved the development of diagnostic instruments (the Autism Diagnostic... more
Senior Disability Rights Advocate
Kecia Weller is the Tarjan Center’s Advocacy and Community Liaison. Kecia serves as a liaison with self-advocates and their networks and the programs and activities of the Tarjan Center. She represents the Tarjan Center at local and state meetings as requested by the Director. She assists and supports the work of the Tarjan Advisory Committee. She serves as the liaison to Self-Advocacy Statewide Network.
Disability Rights Advocate
Holly is the Self Advocate and Community Liaison for the UCLA Tarjan Center. She graduated from The University of Arizona with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on Art, Media, and Entertainment. She is passionate about advocacy after serving as an intern during college. She has also been involved in several programs at the UCLA PEERS Clinic, including PEERS for Young Adults, PEERS Bully Proofing Boot Camp, and PEERS for Careers.
She was recently selected to become an advisory committee member for SARTAC (Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center).... more
UCLA Field Work Supervisor for the Luskin School of Public Affairs, Social Welfare
Resheda Patterson (she/her/hers) is the UCLA Field Work Supervisor for the Luskin School of Public Affairs, Social Welfare. She supervises two MSW interns providing social service support to families in the Center for Cerebral Palsy. Resheda believes she was destined to be a social worker and educator and has had the pleasure of serving “those who need her the most” for over 20 years. Ms. Patterson’s work experience ranges from working with the Department of Children and Family Services, Boys & Girls Clubs, and various non-profit organizations. She’s provided support to her community... more
Field Work Supervisor in the Luskin School of Public Affairs Social Welfare Department
Steph Tuazon, LCSW (she/they/siya) is a Field Work Supervisor in the Luskin School of Public Affairs Social Welfare Department, where she provides educational support to an MSW student at the Special Patient Care Clinic in the School of Dentistry at UCLA. They are always learning, un-learning, and challenging what’s “normal.” The core of their philosophy is treating people as people. She sees each individual as a result of intricate interactions within a flawed system, valuing their humanity over any perceived “brokenness” or medical label. With optimism, Steph eagerly anticipates a... more
Dr. Maya Ayoub, MD, EdM is a Clinical Instructor in Child Neurology at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, as well as a current Fellow in Medical Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Prior to joining the medical field, Maya worked as a Clinical Developmental Associate in an intensive outpatient therapy program in California for autistic children, and children with neurodevelopmental disabilities; from there, she focused her studies on the overlap between educational accommodations, neurodevelopment, and the healthcare system through her Special Studies Program at Harvard... more
International Disability Rights Advocate
Russell Lehmann is an internationally recognized speaker, poet, author, and advocate for autism, mental health, and disabilities. His work has transformed lives across the globe, inspiring acceptance, resilience, and understanding. With a compelling narrative shaped by overcoming profound struggles, Russell challenges stereotypes, fosters inclusion, and advocates for systemic change.
Diagnosed with autism at 12 after spending five weeks in a lockdown psychiatric ward, Russell dropped out of public school in the 5th grade due to severe OCD and debilitating phobias... more
Center Administrator
Diana Rodriguez, Center Administrator for the UCLA Tarjan Center and Clinic Administrator for the PEERS Clinic. Diana will provide administrative and financial support for both programs. She will assist with meeting planning, coordination of events, and the Director’s calendar such as scheduling her appointments, clinics, and training seminars. She will handle the purchasing of all center and clinic supplies, materials, and equipment, assist to get the paperwork ready for Child to process invoices and travel reimbursements, and assist faculty in arranging travel for conferences and... more
Trainees
Giselle Salinas, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral fellow at the UCLA Semel Institute forNeuroscience and Human Behavior in the Program for Education Enrichment ofRelational Skills (PEERS®) Clinic and the Tarjan Center. Dr. Salinas earned herdoctorate in special education at UC Riverside, where she studied the high schooltransition planning experiences of autistic adults and/or intellectual disability (ID) andtheir parents. As a graduate student, Dr. Salinas worked closely with Spanish-speakingfamilies at a free autism screening clinic, where she guided families in special educationadvocacy and autism assessments. Her research interests revolve around the transitionto adulthood for young adults... more
Yuriko Matsuo (Yuri) is a third-year doctoral student at the UCLA School of Nursing. She received her BSN and MSN from the University of Pennsylvania. She has experience working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in a crisis service for pediatrics. Her research interests lie in the adulthood of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), with a special focus on Down syndrome and their family caregivers, in their mental health, Alzheimer’s disease dementia, and quality of life.
Yuri participates in IDD research with her advisor, Dr. Lauren Clark, Professor and Shapiro Endowed Chair for Developmental Disability Studies at UCLA. Projects include the... more
Dr. James Yang is a postdoctoral scholar at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior in the Program for Education Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) Clinic. He earned his doctorate in Human Development and Psychology from UCLA’s School of Education and Information Studies. As a graduate student, he studied the employment and post-secondary education attainment of high school students with autism in addition to training teachers to implement the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI). His research interests include further understanding the role of adaptive functioning skills and self-determination on employment and educational outcomes of... more
Samara Wolpe is a practicum student in PEERS®. She is a PhD candidate at UCLAstudying under the mentorship of Dr. Jeffrey Wood, and was a UC Leadership Educationand Neurodevelopment and Related Disabilities (LEND) trainee. Samara is a PEERS®Certified provider with experience working with PEERS® for teens and young adults, anEducational Psychologist for autistic and neurodivergent teens and young adults, and apublished researcher who advocates for neurodiversity-forward, community partnershipbased research in the autistic community. Samara is passionate about improvingoutcomes in employment, education, social and emotional welfare, and quality of life inautistic adults.
Dr. Megan Micheletti (she/her) is a postdoctoral scholar in the Lord Lab at UCLA. Shereceived her PhD in Clinical Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin, whereshe used wearable sensors to examine the dynamics of everyday, naturalistic infant-caregiver interactions. Megan's clinical and research interests are rooted in supportingneurodiverse individuals and their families. She specializes in neurodevelopmentalevaluations and treatment (e.g., psychotherapy, parent training, PCIT) for children andyoung adults with ASD, ADHD, behavior problems, anxiety, and mood concerns. Herresearch is focused on developing and applying methods to detect change in socialbehavior and... more
Dr. Blake Warner (he/him) is a postdoctoral fellow at the UCLA Semel Institute forNeuroscience and Human Behavior in the Program for Education Enrichment ofRelational Skills (PEERS®) Clinic and the Tarjan Center. He received his PhD with adual specialization in Clinical and Disaster Psychology from the University of SouthDakota, where he was a two-time Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental andRelated Disabilities (LEND) trainee. Dr. Warner's research and clinical interests centeron disability-related policy and advocacy training as well as interventions focused onthe intersection of gender, sexuality, and neurodiversity.
Danica Limon-Mialkowski is a Clinical Psychology PhD doctoral candidate at Brigham Young University. She is completing her internship at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior in the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Assessment Track. Danica is involved in the Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental (CAN) clinic, the Program for Education Enrichment and Relational Skills (PEERS) Clinic, the Spanish-Speaking Psychosocial Clinic, and the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Clinic. She is passionate about ensuring that neurodiverse individuals from underrepresented communities receive fair and inclusive support. Her clinical and research pursuits focus on improving... more
Amanda Berumen, WHNP-BC, BA, RN, PHN is a doctoral student in the UCLA School ofNursing. She earned a BA in Anthropology and an MSN from UCLA. She is a board-certifiedWomen’s Health Nurse Practitioner, trained at Georgetown University. Amanda is the recipientof the UCLA Cota-Robles Fellowship for her doctoral studies. Her research focuses on healthinformation–seeking behaviors and social determinants of health among parents of children withintellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Through qualitative inquiry, she aims toadvance health equity by contributing to the development of nursing practices... more
Amber Chong (she/her) is a dual Master of Social Welfare and Master of Asian American Studies student at the University of California, Los Angeles. She received her undergraduate degree from Scripps College, where she became passionate about the intersection between health justice and abolition. Previously, she provided individual mental health therapy and case management for systems-impacted youth of color. She currently works at UCLA’s Special Patient Care Clinic in the School of Dentistry, supporting patients with medical complexities and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Amber’s clinical and research interests include trauma- informed care, ableism’s impact on U.S. immigration... more
Alexandra Donell is a third-year undergraduate student at UCLA, pursuing a B.S. in Psychobiology. She currently volunteers as a dental assistant with UCLA’s Clinical Dental Outreach at South Central Family Health Center, supporting dental students and residents in delivering affordable care to underserved communities in Los Angeles. Alexandra also serves as Co-President of UCLA’s Pre-Dental Student Outreach Program, where she leads service and mentorship initiatives for pre-dental students. Beyond her clinical experience, she mentors youth through Girls Inc. Los Angeles and Best Buddies. Alexandra is also a volunteer research assistant with the Wilson Motor Lab at UCLA, where she... more
Elmer Flores is a Master of Social Welfare and Master of Public Health student at UCLA,specializing in Health and Mental Health Across the Lifespan and Community HealthSciences. He currently serves as a clinical social work intern at the UCLA School ofDentistry’s Special Patient Care Clinic, where he supports patients with intellectual anddevelopmental disabilities and complex medical needs through psychosocialassessments, care coordination, and systems-level advocacy. Elmer brings a strongbackground in both direct practice and research, with previous experience at LA CountyDepartment of... more
Dena Gohari, MA, is a fourth-year doctoral student and clinical researcher under the mentorshipof Dr. Catherine Lord. In service of the autism community since high school, her researchfocuses intersectionality within autism, specifically identity development among gender-diverseautistic individuals. She is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion inclinical research and practice. Clinically, Dena has provided services across outpatient, intensiveoutpatient (IOP), and partial hospitalization (PHP) levels of care, supporting individuals with arange of mental health challenges. As a... more
Rebecca Lee is a 4th-year undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Psychobiology and minoring inDisability Studies. She will be interning at UCLA School of Dentistry’s Special Patient Care Clinic as a DisabilityStudies intern during Fall and Winter. Rebecca is interested in pursuing a career in dentistry with a focus oninclusive care for patients with disabilities and medically complex conditions. She is passionate about increasingaccessibility in dental settings and hopes to integrate both clinical practice and community engagement toimprove oral health equity.
Juliette Lerner is a third-year doctoral student in the UCLA Human Development andPsychology PhD program and a graduate student researcher in the Lord Lab within the Centerfor Autism Research and Treatment (CART). She received her bachelor’s degree in psychologyand a minor in disability studies from UCLA in 2021 and has years of experience working withautistic and neurodiverse populations within various community, clinical, and research settings,including as an extern in the Lord Autism Clinic and Youth Stress and Mood Program (YSAM);clinic coordinator and behavioral coach at the UCLA PEERS Clinic;... more
Delmy Munguia Lopez (she/her/ella) is a second-year MSW student at the University ofCalifornia, Los Angeles. She earned her B.A from the University of California, Santa Barbara,where she served as a research assistant on projects exploring compassion fatigue among socialservice providers and a longitudinal study of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Currently,she serves as a Social Work intern at the Special Patient Care Clinic in the UCLA School ofDentistry. Delmy is deeply passionate about serving and supporting neurodivergent individualsand those with developmental disabilities, as well as... more
Originally from rural Iowa, Sarah took an unconventional path to healthcare. Unsure of herinitial direction, she earned a BFA in Theater from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri andwent on to perform in stage productions and musical improv, including work with All Skate, amusical improv group performing weekly at Second City Los Angeles, Story Pirates performingstories written by children, and multiple productions with the Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills.Her interest in human behavior led her to pursue a master's in psychology, launching a 16-yearcareer in Applied Behavior Analysis—nearly half of which... more
I am Kevin Picard, and an undergraduate student majoring in Comparative Literature at UCLA. I am a first-year trainee at the UCLA Tarjan Center, where I work closely with faculty, clinicians, and researchers. I ampassionate about collaborating with various departments, clinics, and laboratories dedicated to advancingand supporting our mission to serve individuals with developmental disabilities.
Krista Rose (she/her) is a Clinical Psychology Predoctoral Intern in the Autism andNeurodevelopmental Disabilities Assessment Track at the UCLA Semel Institute forNeuroscience and Human Behavior. She is also a PhD candidate at the University at Albany,SUNY where she completed training and research at the Center for Autism and RelatedDisabilities. Krista is involved in the Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental (CAN) clinic, theProgram for Education Enrichment and Relational Skills (PEERS) Clinic, and the UCLA TarjanCenter. Krista is passionate about enhancing the quality of life of neurodiverse individuals... more
Dr. Nicole Rosen is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the UCLA Semel Institute forNeuroscience and Human Behavior. She was awarded a postdoctoral fellowshipthrough the Autism Science Foundation to lead the Next Generation Siblings project(“Next Gen Sibs”) at UCLA alongside her mentor, Dr. Catherine Lord. Dr. Rosen alsoworks in the Bilingual and Spanish Interdisciplinary Clinical Training Program (BASIC-T), a partnership between the UCLA Hispanic Neuropsychiatric Center of Excellenceand the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to support the needs of fostercare youth through... more
Gabby Slater, MA, is a pre-doctoral intern at the UCLA Semel Institute, specializing in autism andneurodevelopmental disabilities. She earned her master's degree in psychology fromPepperdine University and is currently completing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with anexpected graduation in Spring 2026. Gabby’s clinical training encompasses diverse evidence-based programs, including PEERS® for Preschoolers and PEERS® for Adolescents, as well as theUCLA Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program. She is especially passionate aboutdelivering affirming care to neurodivergent and gender-diverse youth... more
David Song is a fourth-year undergraduate at UCLA with a strong interest in biomedical researchand disability-centered care. In the Wilson Motor Lab, he studies early motor developmentusing wearable sensors to better understand movement patterns and their links to lateroutcomes. Beyond the lab, David interns with the Early Childhood Partial HospitalizationProgram, where he supports behavioral intervention and play-based therapy for children withdevelopmental disabilities. A pre-medical student, he plans to pursue a career in medicine andcontinue advancing disability-focused research, aiming to translate... more
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