Kristen Gillespie-Lynch
Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology
Professor Kristen Gillespie-Lynch conducts participatory autism research that collaborates directly with autistic individuals to develop educational programs, mentorship initiatives, and inclusive technologies.
Kristen Gillespie-Lynch is a Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the College of Staten Island and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is the director of the Advanced Certificate Program in Autism.
Her research focuses on participatory autism research, which involves collaborating directly with autistic individuals to design research projects and interventions that improve education, employment, and social inclusion.
Dr. Gillespie-Lynch has led multiple initiatives aimed at supporting autistic students, including mentorship programs and educational workshops designed to build employment skills. Her work is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and other research organizations.
Through programs such as Project REACH and other mentorship initiatives, she works to promote positive autistic identity development and create opportunities for autistic students to succeed academically and professionally.