Professor Rivera Appointed on National Autism Coordinating Committee

Professor and Department Chair Susan Rivera was appointed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). The IACC is a federal advisory committee composed of public stakeholders and federal officials that coordinates federal activities concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and provides advice to the HHS Secretary on issues related to autism. 

Professor Rivera heads a program of research that is devoted to investigating neurocognitive development in both typically and atypically developing individuals, specifically those with autism, fragile X syndrome, and Down syndrome. Her research uses psychophysical (infrared eye tracking) as well as functional (fMRI and ERP) and structural (DTI, volumetric measurement) techniques. 

In addition to conducting scientific research on autism and other developmental disorders for over twenty years, Dr. Rivera has also devoted time and effort to championing ideas of neurodiversity and autism advocacy to the public and the academic community, and will bring both types of experience to her role on the committee.