Stanford Neurodiversity Project - Research, Education, and Advocacy Camp for High Schoolers (SNP-REACH)
2024 Faculty, Guests Speakers, and Camp Leaders will be updated around March 2024
Recruiting college students to serve as camp leaders!
2023 Faculty
Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project and Organizer of SNP-REACH. Dr. Fung specializes in the phenomenology, neurobiology and novel interventions of autism spectrum condition. Dr. Fung is the editor of "Neurodiversity: From Phenomenology to Neurobiology and Enhancing Technologies" with American Psychiatric Association Publishing. He serves as Director of the Neurodiversity Clinic, and Assistant Professor (University Medical Line) in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. He is also the father of a teenager on the spectrum.
Rabia Belt, J.D., Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Law and Professor (by courtesy) of History at Stanford. She is a legal historian whose scholarship focuses on disability and citizenship. Her scholarship ranges from cultural analysis of disability in media, to contemporary issues facing voters with disability, to the historical treatment of disabled Americans. She is currently writing a book titled, “Disabling Democracy in America: Mental Incompetence, Citizenship, Suffrage, and the Law, 1819-1920” that is forthcoming with in the Studies in Legal History Series with Cambridge University Press. In 2015, the American Society of Legal History named her a Kathryn T. Preyer Scholar for her paper, “Ballots for Bullets? The Disenfranchisement of Civil War Veterans.”
Dr. Karen Parker is the inaugural Truong-Tan Broadcom Endowed Professor, Chair of the Major Laboratories Steering Committee, and Associate Chair for Research Strategy and Oversight, in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also Professor, by courtesy, of Comparative Medicine at Stanford University. Dr. Parker directs the Social Neurosciences Research Program, which seeks to advance understanding of the biological basis of social functioning across a range of species, and to translate these fundamental insights to drive diagnostic and treatment advances for patients with social impairment. Her core research interests include: oxytocin and vasopressin signaling pathways, development of valid animal models for streamlined translation and clinical impact, and biomarker discovery and therapeutic testing in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Marci Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. In the SNP, Dr. Schwartz contributes to teaching the PSYC229 series (Topics in Neurodiversity: Introduction and Advocacy). She is also the founder of Thrive College Counseling where she works with students with unique learning profiles to find the right college fit. Dr. Schwartz received her Ph.D. in clinical social work from NYU and her certificate in college counseling from UCLA.
Thuc-Quyen Nguyen, M.D. is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is a psychiatrist in the Adult Neurodevelopment Clinic and Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic. She received her BS in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley and MD at UC San Francisco. She completed her Psychiatry Residency Training at the Harvard Longwood Program, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Stanford.
2023 Guest Speakers
Beth Grady, M.D., F.A.A.P. is a pediatrician who has been caring for low income children and teens in San Mateo County, California for over 25 years. Her professional interests include promoting a strengths-based neurodiversity model for pediatric primary care and making neurodiversity-positive resources and supports accessible to low income and non-English speaking patients and families. She is particularly interested in the intersection between neurodiversity and trauma. Since 2015, Dr. Grady has led the San Mateo Medical Center’s effort to implement Trauma Informed Care, including participating in the Center for Care Innovation’s Resilient Beginnings Collaborative https://www.careinnovations.org/programs/resilience/.
Olenka Villarreal is the founder of Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto and Magical Bridge Foundation and a former Silicon Valley leader. In 2008, Olenka brought together an effective team of experts, city officials, and volunteers to design and develop the groundbreaking Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto, CA. Olenka holds a B.A. in Economics and Public Policy from Pomona College and M.B.A. in Marketing from Golden Gate University.
Dani Bowman—who is on the autism spectrum founded her company, DaniMation Entertainment, at age 14 in 2009 and launched DaniMation UK in 2019. She graduated with a BFA in Animation in 2018 and an MBA in Global Strategy and Leadership in 2020. Dani has premiered 10 animated short films, a PSA, and a music video at San Diego Comic Con. Over the next 12 years, Dani has led summer animation camps and around the country, initially with Joey Travolta's Inclusion Films, and then expanding out on her own, adding programs at the University of South Florida and Plymouth University in England, teaching over 2000 youth with autism and other different abilities. In 2020, Dani pivoted to teaching animation from in-person to online with 1-Week Animation Workshops and One-on-One classes. In addition to teaching animation, Dani works with her students as a role model and mentor, encouraging them to follow their dreams. In 2021, Dani and her team participated in the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, where she won for “Best Editor” with her film “The Home Office”. Dani is currently working on getting a Ph.D with thesis on how much the impact her program has had in the autism community.
Dr. Yu Sun is an associate professor of Computer Science at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Dr. Sun has extensive work, research, and entrepreneurial experience in software engineering, mobile communications, cloud computing, and Internet applications. He currently serves as director of Software Engineering, Cloud and Mobile Computing Lab (SotCom Lab), and guides student research and entrepreneurship projects. At the same time, Dr. Sun is also the founder of Coding Minds, an technology educational startup that promotes Computer Science education for K-12 students. Prior to founding Coding Minds, Dr. Sun also co-founded Ziiio, an indoor navigation startup based on mobile technology. Dr. Sun also worked as a software engineer at Amazon and participated in the development of Amazon Silk, the world's first cloud-based mobile web browser.
Tingting Chen is a Professor of Computer Science at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, conducting active research in deep learning in medical applications, AI model security and privacy. Dr. Chen founded Code the Spectrum in 2021, a non-profit organization, aiming to help bridge the digital divide between neurotypical and neurodiverse people in the Technology world.
2023 Camp Counselors and Coordinators
Sasha Balasingam is an incoming freshman at Stanford University from Los Gatos, California and has served as co-chair of the NNEA Core-Committee for the upcoming year. She grew up as a younger sibling of a sister on the Autism Spectrum and has been involved with several forms of neurodiversity all her life through serving as a representative for special needs inclusion and advocacy. Over the past few years, she has worked with police and fire departments to install a program that helps first responders during emergencies with neurodiverse individuals. Outside of her neurodiversity work, she loves playing piano, dancing, taekwondo, and working in town government.
Tess Carichner is a rising junior at the University of Michigan, where she majors in Nursing and minors in Global Health. As a member of the Digital Accessible Futures Lab, Tess researches neurodivergent women and gender diverse people’s experiences with ableism in healthcare. As a neurodivergent self-advocate, Tess is passionate about disability community and equity. Tess enjoys communicating and learning information about lived disability community experience through qualitative and creative means. In her free time, Tess leads University of Michigan School of Nursing Disability Nursing Association, reads, and collages.
Erica Detemmerman is the administrative associate for the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, Fung Lab and Center for Sleep in Autism Spectrum Disorder. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago, she became a pre-kindergarten teacher’s assistant and also started part-time work as a research assistant at the Goldin-Meadow lab at the University of Chicago studying non-verbal communication. Desiring to focus on autism, she started work at Soaring Eagle Academy’s therapeutic day school where she supported students with very different profiles and support needs using the Developmental Interpersonal Relationship model. She likes visiting her homeland, Switzerland, and baking pastries.
Sundari Enkhtugs is a Master's student at Stanford University. As a mother of a neurodiverse child, she aspires to create opportunities for children to learn and grow in their own unique ways.
Isabelle Hsu is an EECS (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) major at UC Berkeley. Being neurodiverse, she’s served various roles at SNP since she attended SNP-REACH in 2020, including being SNP-NNEA’s Co-Chair and advisor, SNP-REACH’s counselor and coordinator, and SNS Summit’s organizing committee member, speaker, and moderator. Isabelle loves music. She holds an LRSM in piano performance and has been teaching piano to autistic students for over 3 years; she’s also won the Sweepstakes Drum Major title multiple times from leading her high school’s award-winning varsity marching band.
Hi everyone! My name is Ellie and I'm a rising sophomore at Brown University. I am very excited to be your camp leader for SNP REACH this summer, and I hope you learn as much as I did when I attended this camp in high school! I'm looking forward to meeting and getting to know you all! Reach out to me at yeonwoo_jeong@brown.edu if you have any questions!
Hannah Karsting is an intern for the Stanford Neurodiversity Project and an SNP-REACH camp counselor in 2023. She is a junior at Columbia University studying Psychology. Hannah became interested in neurodiversity after being diagnosed with ADHD at age 17 and subsequently learning about other neurodiverse diagnoses received in early childhood. Beyond research, she enjoys directing, musical theatre, plant-based eating, and spending time with animals!
Hi! My name is Anna and I’m a 2nd year at UCSB studying Psych & Brain Sciences and Applied Psychology. I’m especially interested in the neurobiology of neurodiverse conditions as well as being neurodiverse myself. Some of my hobbies include reading, weightlifting, and collaging. I am also one of the Presidents of the UCSB slackline club!
Xiao is a doctoral student in the health behavior department at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on developing educational intervention to foster positive health behaviors, particularly among neurodiverse individuals. She is also interested in translational research to implement scientific study findings in promoting a neurodiverse environment. In her free time, she enjoys walking, cooking, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Cassidy Miller is a rising Junior at UC Santa Barbara, majoring in Biopsychology and minoring in both Applied Psychology and Poverty, Inequality, and Social Justice. She is passionate about public health and healthcare equity, with a particular interest in mental health. She is involved in research that examines positive psychology interventions (PPIs) in psychotherapy, and hopes to conduct her own research examining the effects of PPIs in neurodiverse populations in the near future. In her free time, Cassidy enjoys playing Spikeball, hanging out with her cats, and spending time in the sunshine.
Alberto Navarro is a PhD candidate in anthropology at Stanford interested in questions regarding human consciousness, performance, and wellness. His current project explores ways in which smartphone use in the United States is transforming many of the most basic structures of human existence and experience. Outside of research, Alberto enjoys hiking, biking, lifting weights, surfing, and exploring other cultures. He’s proudly autistic.
My name is Ryan Neale, I am from San Mateo, California, and I am a rising sophomore at UCLA. I intend to major in Sociology and double minor in Film and Disability Studies. I have both Autism and ADHD, and as such am incredibly passionate about sharing the importance of embracing our neurodivergence in a neurotypical world - especially in college. In my free time I enjoy playing basketball, working out, watching movies, debating current events, and spending time with family.
Eli Oh is recent graduate of UC Berkeley. Throughout college, she was part of an organization called Spectrum where she learned about the importance and power of disability advocacy as she led committees and awareness events for Autism. It is her hope that she can continue contributing and being a part of the Neurodiversity community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and exploring good food spots in SF. She has recently become interested in yoga and boxing, which she hopes to do more of!
Grace Peterson is a rising senior at University of California, Irvine, majoring in chemistry with a minor in biology. Her interest in neurodiversity began with her own diagnosis of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). With a twin sister who is also neurodivergent, Grace has grown up developing skills for the challenges she has faced as a neurodivergent individual. Grace is passionate about sharing her skills with other neurodivergent individuals and is motivated to make sure neurodivergent individuals feel supported to accomplish their goals, as a neurotypical individual would. Her extensive experience involved with patient care as a volunteer through Hoag Memorial Hospital has inspired her to pursue a career in the medical field to study neurobiology and how it relates to the development of psychiatric disorders. In her free time, she enjoys running/hiking on local trails and spending time with friends and family.
Michelle Simon is a rising sophomore at the University of Chicago, majoring in cognitive science. She’s particularly interested in the blend of neuroscience and computer science and its effects on the future of societal functions and artificial intelligence. She is excited about SNP-REACH’s mission in establishing a culture of strengthening neurodiverse individuals and empowering them to build their identity and enhance their long-term skills of daily living, because it is important to develop the talents of neurodiverse individuals to enhance the quality of our society as a whole. Outside of academics, she loves to spend time with her family and friends exploring the city, cycling, driving, and cuddling her dog. Some day, she hopes to visit all 7 wonders of the world!
Srishti Thapar is a rising sophomore at UCSB, double majoring in Psychology and Data Science. As a counselor in the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, she hopes to spread awareness and promote education about neurodiversity to create a more understanding world. She also wants to learn as much as she can about neurodiversity to become a better advocate. She is particularly interested in promoting mental health awareness and teaching emotional skills in K-12 schools and hopes to become a therapist eventually. In her free time, she loves to make watercolor paintings, draw, attend workout classes, write poetry, and eat yummy food. She also tries to meditate every day!
Fanheng Ye (Fan) is a SNP-REACH counselor in 2023. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago, with a B.A. in Psychology and minor in Neuroscience, aspiring to pursue further studies in clinical psychology. Fan is an advocate of all things mental health, with particular interests in comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches to psychiatric treatment and research. She spent her undergraduate years involved in advocacy for increased diversity and accessibility of campus mental health resources and hosted conferences focused on jumpstarting conversations surrounding the cultural nuances of mental health treatment and conceptualization. In addition to campus advocacy, Fan worked with students from underprivileged communities in South Side Chicago to help them succeed in their educational goals, and spent the rest of her time engaged in clinical research exploring the effects of sleep deprivation in inpatient wards. She is fascinated in sleep disorders and disturbances because sleep is such an essential aspect of life and cognitive function with high predictiveness of mental health disorders and quality of life, but so little is known of its mechanisms and function despite devastating societal costs in health and productivity when sleep is disturbed. In her free time, she can be found mired in artistic pursuits like fine arts and music composition, or deep in exploration of the philosophy of spirituality and how the metaphysical can integrate with empirical science to better approach the big, terrifying existential questions of our lives.
Helen is a rising junior at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, studying Computer Science on the pre-med track. She has been involved with neurodiversity advocacy and research for the past 5 years. In high school, she worked in the Fung Lab as a research intern, developing a musical abilities assessment for individuals with autism. After attending the inaugural SNP neurodiversity summer program for high school students in summer 2019, she founded the Neurodiversity Committee at her high school, leading a team of students to spread awareness for neurodiversity. She served as a program coordinator for SNP-REACH in summer of 2020 and now in 2023. She served as the founding chair for SNP NNEA, the Network for K-12 Neurodiversity Education and Advocacy, and now serves as an advisor. Outside of school, she is a passionate portrait photographer and avid musician.
Julia Zielke (she/they) is a rising senior at Stanford University, and will be graduating this spring with a B.A.H. in Psychology with a minor in Music. Particularly as a neurodiverse person themself, they are passionate about disability advocacy and dismantling institutionalized ableism. Some of their current research investigates the gender differences in neurodiversity presentation (e.g., masking/camouflaging in women), and how these intersect with underdiagnosis of neurodiverse conditions. Their research also spans the intersection of emotions, communication, and mental health more broadly. In their natural habitat, they can be found playing the flute and piano, listening to/composing music, writing (cringy) poetry, analyzing their favorite characters from media, or stargazing. They’re looking forward to meeting you all—and they’re very excited to learn about your hyperfixations, special interests, and passions!