I am a developmental psychologist. My research is inspired by the lived experiences of autistic people and done in collaboration with them. Many of our studies address long-held and often harmful assumptions about autism—that autistic people aren’t interested in social interaction, for example, or that autistic people don’t feel pain. I’m excited to teach about neurodiversity in the Engagements for three reasons. First, the neurodiversity movement challenges conventional wisdom in many fields by insisting that cognitive differences are not inherently deficits. I’m looking forward to lively discussions! Second, our research shows that neurodivergent undergraduates at UVa often encounter barriers that can keep them from feeling like they belong here. My hope is that the seminar provides them an opportunity to get to know each other (and allies) early in their college career. Finally, in my 20+ years at the University, I have enjoyed teaching courses that cross disciplinary boundaries and engage students in creative activities and ways of thinking different from those they encounter in their usual coursework.