Gloria Lee

Gloria Lee is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education at Michigan State University's College of Education. She serves as director of the Rehabilitation Counselor Education doctoral program, the Rehabilitation Counseling master’s program, and the Counselor Education and Supervision PhD program. Her research focuses on psychosocial adjustment of caregivers and individuals with disabilities, particularly those with autism spectrum disorders, emphasizing transition services, family systems, and mental health interventions.

Lee holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her work bridges clinical and policy research, addressing caregiver strain, healthcare access for rural veterans, and vocational rehabilitation efficacy. She has pioneered school-based social skills interventions for autistic youth and developed assessment tools like the Challenges and Needs Survey for ASD caregivers.

Her research explores multifaceted topics including aging attitudes among disabled adults, resilience during crises, and global autism caregiving challenges in Uganda. Lee’s studies consistently emphasize stakeholder collaboration, with a focus on aligning family expectations, practitioner practices, and policy frameworks to improve outcomes for neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan. Key contributions include evidence-based interventions for emotion regulation, mindfulness-based anxiety reduction, and transition planning for young adults with disabilities.

In terms of professional contributions, Lee has published extensively on disability-related counseling practices and co-authored the textbook Family Adaptation Model for Caregivers. She advises on federal disability policy initiatives and chairs interdisciplinary task forces addressing systemic barriers in educational and healthcare systems for marginalized populations.