Captains and crew

Principal Investigators

photograph of Dr Abbey Eisnehower

Dr. Abbey Eisenhower (she/her/hers)

Principal Investigator (PI),
Director of UMass Boston study site
University of Massachusetts Boston

Hello! I am a professor at UMass Boston, where I conduct research and teach Psychology classes. It is a privilege to work with talented teachers to make school a more affirming and supportive place for autistic students. In my free time, I love to go hiking and camping, watch baking shows with my kids, and drink Boba tea.

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Photograph of Dr. Jan Blacher

Dr. Jan Blacher
(she/her/hers)

Co-Principal Investigator,
Director of UC-Riverside study site
University of California, Riverside

Nice to meet you! I’m a Distinguished Research Professor in the School of Education at the University of California Riverside and in the Department of Psychology at UCLA. When I am not serving as co-Principal Investigator on Smooth Sailing, advising students or writing, I am walking my Cavachon puppy, Archie, playing tennis, or baking (gluten-free or otherwise!).

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Photograph of Dr. Narmene Hamsho

Dr. Narmene Hamsho (she/her/hers)

Co-Principal Investigator
Fairleigh-Dickinson University, NY

Hi! I am an Assistant Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University training the next generation of school psychologists. When I’m not working, you can probably find me curled up in a comfy spot with a good book and a warm cup of tea!

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Key Personnel & Consultants

Photograph of Dr Nedim Yel

Dr. Nedim Yel
(he/him/his)

Key Personnel
Indiana University

Hi there! I am the Executive Director of Data Analysis and Statistical Solutions. On this project, I’m the statistical analysis consultant. Away from the rigors of my professional commitments, I find solace in nature. Whether hiking through verdant trails, camping under starry skies, or taking serene walks alongside lakes, rivers, or beaches, I cherish these experiences’ tranquility.

Photograph of Dr. Eric Endlich

Dr. Eric Endlich
(he/him/his)

Key Personnel
Top College Consultants

Hello, I’m Eric Endlich, Ph.D. and I’m a clinical psychologist and educational consultant for neurodivergent students. I’ll be guiding the advisory board for the Smooth Sailing project. I recently relocated from the Boston area back to California, and enjoy walking, gardening and visiting with family.

Shana Cohen

Shana Cohen
(she/her/ella)

Key Personnel
University of California, San Diego

Hello! I’m Shana Cohen. I am an associate professor in the Education Studies Department at UC San Diego. My research examines the experiences of immigrant, bilingual families who care for children with developmental disabilities. On this project, I will be supporting the qualitative data collection portion (individual and focus group interviews with teachers). When I’m not teaching or doing research, I enjoy hiking with my family and cooking.

Photograph of Dr. Yasamin Bolourian

Dr. Yasamin Bolourian
(she/her/hers)

Consultant
University of California, Los Angeles

I’m Yasamin Bolourian, PhD. I work as the Director of Outreach and Dissemination at the UCLA Tarjan Center UCEDD. On this project, I’m the program evaluation consultant. When I’m not working, I love spending time with my almost one-year-old. It’s a joy to balance family and work while making a positive impact!

Dr. Jason Downer

Dr. Jason Downer
(he/him/his)

Consultant
University of Virginia

Hi there! I’m a Professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, and the Director of the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning. I will serve as a consultant on the Smooth Sailing study, helping with classroom observations. I am the proud father of triplet teenagers and, when not driving them around, I enjoy reading, mountain-biking and playing soccer.

Research Staff and Students

Photograph of Dr. Oscar Hughes

Oscar E Hughes
(he/him/his)

Post-Doctoral Researcher
University of Massachusetts,Boston

Hello! I’m Oscar and I’m a post-doctoral researcher at UMass Boston. I was a high school special education teacher, and I have supervised elementary education and special education student teachers. I also lead teacher professional developmental about sexuality education. I enjoy outdoor activities, like kayaking and hiking. I am excited to be a Smooth Sailing coach!

Photograph of Dr. Fernanda Castellón

Fernanda Castellón
(she/her/ella)

Post-Doctoral Researcher
University of California, Riverside

Hi everyone! My name is Fernanda and I recently earned my PhD in Education from UCLA. I am originally from Mexico and have two autistic brothers with ranging levels of support needs. I am very excited to continue learning and supporting teachers in their journey of supporting neurodivergent students.

Kira Cohen

Kira Cohen
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
Fairleigh-Dickinson University, NY

Hello! I’m Kira Cohen, and I am a research assistant and coach for the Smooth Sailing program, as well as a PsyD student at Fairleigh Dickinson University! When I’m not teaching or engaging in a social skills program, you can probably find me reading, rock climbing, or playing board games!

Brittany Giuliani

Brittany Giuliani
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
Fairleigh-Dickinson University, NY

Hi! I am Brittany Giuliani and I am a School Psychology PsyD student at Fairleigh Dickinson University. I am beginning my role as a research assistant and coach for the Smooth Sailing program. When I’m not at school, you can find me taking my dog on a long walk or spending time with friends!

photograph of gabi macnaughton

Gabi MacNaughton
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University of California, Los Angeles

Hi there! My name is Gabi MacNaughton and I’m a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at UCLA. I work as a teacher coach for the Smooth Sailing project. Some of my favorite things to do are go on walks with my dog, surf at the beach, and read novels. I also love baking gluten free desserts– my speciality is chocolate chip banana bread!

photograph of nicole nadwodny

Nicole Nadwodny
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts, Boston

Hi! My name is Nicole Nadwodny, and I am a PhD student studying clinical psychology at UMass Boston. I work as a teacher coach for Smooth Sailing because I am so impressed by every teacher I meet and because I am passionate about working with neurodivergent youth! In my free time, I love snuggling my dog, going hiking, and trying out new recipes to cook. 

photograph of amy hoffman

Amy Hoffman
(she/her)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University of California, Riverside

My name is Amy Hoffman, and I am a Special Education PhD student at UC Riverside. My area of focus is autism and executive functioning, with a special interest in the high school to college transition for autistic teens. I work as a coach with the Smooth Sailing program, and also help out with enrollment so I’ve probably emailed with a lot of you! I’m a former middle- and high school teacher, and a mom of two neurodivergent teens. In the small amount of free time I have these days, I enjoy rock climbing, hiking, and playing with my dogs and cats. 

 

picture of emma keating

Emma Keating
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
Fairleigh Dickinson University, NY 

Hello! I am a first-year doctorate student in FDU’s Advanced PsyD program. I work as a school psychologist for a charter school district in the central New Jersey area. I am very excited to be a coach for the Smooth Sailing program! In my free time, I love to go to the gym, watch movies, and spend time with family/friends. 

photograph of josh chou

Josh Chou

(he/they)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts, Boston

Josh Chou (he/they) is a doctoral student at UMass Boston, under the mentorship of Dr. Abbey Eisenhower. He received his Bachelor of Science from UCLA in 2022, majoring in Psychobiology with minors in Disability Studies and Global Health. Since graduation, Josh has served as a clinic coordinator at the UCLA PEERS Clinic, where they provided support and coaching to autistic adolescents and young adults around relationships, dating, careers, and self-determination; promoted the inclusivity of dating interventions for LGBTQIA+ populations; and evaluated interventions for autistic children, adolescents, and young adults. Josh’s research and clinical interests include understanding empathy among autistic people, relationships and mental health for autistic adults, and promoting social-emotional well-being among neurodivergent children and adults, grounded in a neurodiversity framework. At UMass Boston, he aims to conduct first-person autistic-centered research on empathy, emotional expression, and social-emotional experiences among autistic people. They will also be a Research Assistant on Dr. Eisenhower’s program to provide neurodiversity-affirming training to early childhood educators working with neurodivergent young children.
 

Photograph of emily linick

Emily Linick

(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
Fairleigh Dickinson University, NY

Hi! I’m Emily Linick, and I am a School Psychology Masters + Certification student at Fairleigh Dickinson University. I am a first year coach for the Smooth Sailing program. I love to spend time outside. When the weather is nice, I enjoy going on long walks and sitting with a book on the beach! 
 

photograph of emily atheson

Emily Atheson

(she/her/hers)

General Education Teacher

Greetings! I am Emily Atheson. I am currently a 3rd grade inclusion teacher, however have taught 4th grade and kindergarten as well. I graduated with my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I recently moved to the DMV where I am currently teaching in center city Washington, DC. Previously I taught in the Coachella Valley in Southern California. I am excited to be a part of the Smooth Sailing team, and to play a role in providing a space/home for autistic children in the general education setting.

Elizabeth Kilgallon

Elizabeth Kilgallon
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts Boston

My name is Elizabeth Kilgallon and I am a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at UMass Boston. I work as a research assistant for Smooth Sailing. I have a big golden retriever named Beasley and, even though he’s already 5 years old, he went swimming for the first time this summer! Now our favorite thing is to find new spots around the Boston area for him to swim and play.

picture of giselle martinez

Giselle Martinez
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Research Assistant
Fairleigh-Dickinson University, NY

Hi, I’m Giselle Martinez! I am currently working as a first-year coach for Smooth Sailing. I am so excited to join this side of the project, as I previously worked behind the scenes as a research assistant. I am also a first-year school psychology graduate student at Fairleigh Dickinson University. When I am not in school or working as a substitute teacher, you will probably find me at a music event, or home catching up on some reading.

Photograph of Ellen

Ellen Parry Luff
(he/him/his or she/her/hers)

Staff Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts Boston

My name is Ellen Parry Luff. I am a research assistant and observer/interviewer for the Smooth Sailing study. In my free time I love to draw and paint, I actually used to work as an art teacher! I also love music and play guitar, bass guitar and am trying to learn to play the drums.

Katharine 'KOB' O'Brien

Katharine ‘KOB’ O’Brien
(they/them/she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University of California, Riverside

Greetings! My name is Katharine O’Brien, but I commonly go by my initials, KOB. The work we do on the Smooth Sailing Study is close to my heart as an autistic teacher who specialized in working with neurodivergent students. I hold an Ed.M from Harvard, and taught for nine years in the Greater Boston area before coming to UCR to work on my PhD in special education. I’ve coached skiing, sailing, and even Dungeons & Dragons club, and I’m looking forward to now coaching my fellow teachers!

Sarah M. Yang (Min)

Sarah M. Yang (Min)
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts Boston

Hello! My name is Min and I’m a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at UMass Boston. I work as a teacher coach and classroom observer for the Smooth Sailing project. In my free time, I love trying new restaurants, exploring fun places in Boston, and dancing (I used to be a ballet dancer!). My favorite ice cream flavor is olive oil chocolate eggplant– it sounds weird, but it’s delicious.

picture of vanh

Ngoc Van Anh Nguyen (Vanh)
(she/her/they)

Undergraduate Student Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts Boston

Greetings and Xin chào! I’m currently an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Since 2023, I’ve been working as a research assistant under the mentorship of Dr. Abbey Eisenhower. My past work with neurodivergent children/students in a clinical setting has shaped my area of interest, and I’m passionate about continuing this focus in my future career. In my free time, you’ll likely find me playing League of Legends or vibing at a hip hop concert!

 

 

 

 

Nicolas Lam Villalobos (Nico)
(he/him/his)

Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts, Boston

Hello!! My name is Nicolas Lam Villalobos, but I go by Nico. I’m currently a senior at UMass Boston and a research assistant for the Smooth Sailing project. I’m very excited to join the team because I used to work with neurodivergent students as a mentor back home in Peru. In the future I want to bring awareness, research and build solid inclusive foundations on competitive E-sports settings for the neurodivergent community from neuropsychological lenses. On my free time, I’m a huge E-sports watcher, and movie enjoyer – or any media for that matter. My current favorite is Pan’s Labyrinth! 
 

Kohrissa Joseph

Kohrissa Joseph
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts Boston

Hi! My name is Kohrissa and I’m a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at UMass Boston. I will be a teacher coach for the Smooth Sailing Study. In my free time, I love to sing and play my guitar or relax with a good tv show. Game night with my friends is another go-to for enjoyment! I’m looking forward to meeting you!

Hayley McAvoy

Hayley McAvoy
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University California, Riverside

Hey there! I’m Hayley and I am a PhD student in school psychology at UC Riverside. I have worked with autistic students in classrooms, in clinics, in private practice, and at summer camps! I am a researcher on Smooth Sailing and will serve as a teacher coach. I love Harry Potter and like to spend my time hiking, running, swimming, biking – or just about anything else outside!

Chanel Nettle, M.A.

Chanel Nettle, M.A
(she/her/hers)

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University California, Riverside

Excited that you’re here! I am Chanel, but most people call me Nellie. I am a neurodivergent PhD student in school psychology at UC Riverside. School was always my favorite place and that isn’t always true for all neurodivergent students. I love working with teachers because you can help make it that magic place! In my free time I love a good true-crime or cooking/baking show (if you have any recommendations, please share!)

Ready to learn more about Smooth Sailing?

Follow this link to fill out a Screening Survey to learn more about our upcoming 2024-2025 PD program for K, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers.

Additionally, please sign up for our mailing list below to learn about future participation opportunities.

You may also email us with any questions.

You may reach our coordinator, Ellen ParryLuff, for any questions about this program, at smoothsailingstudy@gmail.com.

You can also reach our program directors, including Abbey Eisenhower at UMass Boston (abbey.eisenhower@umb.edu) and Jan Blacher at UC Riverside (jan.blacher@ucr.edu).

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