Our Faculty

Dr. Soyoung Park, Ph.D., is the Principal Investigator of Project ASD. She is an Associate Professor of Special Education, specializes in designing and implementing evidence‑based mathematics interventions for students with learning disabilities. With a Ph.D. in Special Education (Learning Disabilities & Behavior Disorders) from the University of Texas at Austin, and an M.A. from Seoul National University, she advances the field through rigorous data‑based individualization strategies and provides high‑quality, research‑informed guidelines to both pre‑service and in‑service teachers. 

Dr. Jacqueline Towson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is Co-Principal Investigator for Project ASD. She is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and holds a joint appointment in the School of Teacher Education. She worked for 14 years in public schools in Texas and Georgia, serving as a speech-language pathologist and preschool special education teacher. She graduated in 2015 from Georgia State University with a doctorate in the Education of Students with Exceptionalities with an emphasis in early childhood special education. Dr. Towson's research is focused on building the capacity of individuals who work with young children with language impairments through collaboration between teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, and speech-language pathologists.

Mariah Valdez, B.S., is the current Graduate Assistant for Project ASD. She supports applicant outreach, coordinates interviews, and assists with project communications. Mariah is a graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at the University of Central Florida.