Amy Jane Griffiths

Amy Jane Griffiths is an Associate Professor in the Attallah College of Educational Studies at Chapman University, where she also serves as assistant director of the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) program. She is a research affiliate at the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability and holds faculty appointments in the Ph.D. in Education program. Her work is centered on enhancing outcomes for underserved and neurodiverse youth through systemic and translational research.

Dr. Griffiths earned her Ph.D. in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, complemented by a Master of Arts from the same institution and a Bachelor of Arts from Chapman University. She is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 24536) and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), bringing clinical expertise to her academic and research roles.

Her research spans two primary domains: school-based interventions to improve psychological well-being and mental health for underserved youth, and career development and transition support for teens and young adults with disabilities, particularly autism. She investigates academic and behavioral interventions in alternative education settings, promotes parent and educator collaboration, and evaluates programs that prepare autistic youth for employment and entrepreneurship. She notably integrates machine learning and labor market data into her research to identify effective strategies for employment success.

Her recent publications reflect a strong focus on autism and employment, collaboration in schools, STEM education for disabled youth, and trauma-informed, anti-racist practices. She frequently publishes in journals such as the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, Advances in Autism, and Frontiers in Education, and contributes to edited volumes on neurodiversity and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Griffiths has received recognition through editorial selections, such as an 'Editor’s Choice' in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, and her work is widely cited, demonstrating significant influence in the fields of special education, school psychology, and disability policy. She has led and contributed to numerous research reports and grant-funded projects, often in collaboration with institutions like the Thompson Policy Institute and The Help Group.

She actively mentors and collaborates with colleagues and students, co-authoring extensively with researchers such as Rachel Torres, John Brady, and Angela Hurley-Hanson. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, family-school partnerships, and systemic change to support resilient futures for marginalized youth.

Dr. Griffiths is involved in several research initiatives, including the Thompson Policy Institute Disability Summit, where she has authored multiple annual reports on autism in the workplace and transition planning. She also leads projects like the Autism Community Toolkit and evaluations of programs such as STEM3 Academy, focusing on expanding opportunities for youth with diverse needs.