The Autism Initiative is a group of faculty and students that guide Marquette autism research, programs, educational initiatives, awareness, and acceptance efforts. The Initiative also plans annual autism panels, talks, film screenings, information tables/sessions, and the Day of Mourning. The Autism Initiative Advisory Board is a group of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members that serves as a communication pathway between the community, self-advocates, alumni, and local autism professionals. Interested in contributing? Email us for information about joining the AI Advisory Board.

Autism Initiative Members

• Amy Vaughan Van Hecke, PhD, Psychology
• Iqbal Ahamed, PhD, Computer Science 
• Mary Carlson, PhD, Educational Policy and Leadership
• Angela Haendel, PhD, CCC-SLP, Speech Pathology and Audiology
• Shengtong Han, PhD, Dentistry and the Data Science Institute
• Norah Johnson, PhD, CPNP, College of Nursing
• Kathleen A. Koth, DO, DFAACAP, Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital of WI and the Medical College of WI 
• Wendy Krueger, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Pathology and Audiology
• Amy Leventhal, PhD, Next Step Clinic
• Khadijah Makky, PhD, Biomedical Sciences
• Janine Mathée-Scott, PhD, CCC-SLP, Speech Pathology and Audiology
• Kiley McLean, PhD, MSW, MS-Ed, Social Work, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
• Ann Millard, PhD, MOT, ODT, OTR/L, SCSS, Occupational Therapy
• Hyunkyoung Oh, PhD, RN, Nursing, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
• Lee Za Ong, PhD, Dentistry
• Emily Raclaw, MS, LPC, On Your Marq
• Altaf Shah, PhD, Dentistry
• Michelle Sheehan, OTD, Occupational Therapy
• Troney Small, Next Step Clinic
• Doris Walker-Dalhouse, PhD, Educational Policy and Leadership

 For Student Trainee and Alumni Members, see the Education page.

Autism Initiative Advisory Board

• Eugenia Afinoguénova, PhD, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
• Abir Bekhet, PhD, Nursing
• Mark Blankenheim, Community Member
• Rechelle Chaffee, Executive Director, Autism United of WI
• Tony Gamble, PhD, Biological Sciences
• M. Behnam Ghasemzadeh, PhD, Biomedical Sciences
• Susan Giaimo, PhD, Political Science
• Niharika Jain, PhD, Computer Science
• Mary Janz, Director, Residence Life
• Jody Jessup-Anger, PhD, Educational and Policy Leadership
• Rev. Jeffrey T. LaBelle, S.J., Educational and Policy Leadership
• Emily Levine, Autism Society of Southeastern WI
• Enaya Othman, PhD, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
• Daniel Peoples, Community Member
• Giordana Poggiolo-Kaftan, PhD, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
• Sarah and Joe Rock, MU alumni
• Robert Scheidt, PhD, Biomedical Engineering
• Jennifer Sweeney, Community Member
• Megan Wolf, Community Member
• Marcy Hunter, Community Member
• Marquette Students for Autism Advocacy (MSAA)

In Memoriam, 2026
Rev. John Schwantes, S.J.