معرفی
Kristie Patten, PhD, is a Professor of Occupational Therapy at NYU Steinhardt and Counselor to the President of NYU. She oversees presidential priorities and serves as a key liaison to the Office of the Provost. Her academic roles include former Vice Dean of Academic Affairs and Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy. Dr. Patten’s research focuses on strength-based practices in inclusive education, particularly for autistic students. She leads the ASD Nest Program, the largest inclusion program for autistic students in NYC public schools, and co-founded the NYU Connections program for neurodivergent students. She co-chairs the Global Center for Inclusion’s Research Collaborative and is a Co-PI on an NSF grant mentoring autistic students in STEM.
Education: Dr. Patten holds a PhD and is a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA). Her work emphasizes shifting paradigms from impairment-focused approaches to inclusion-centered strategies. She has been recognized with the 2022 Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship, the highest honor in occupational therapy.
Research Interests: Dr. Patten’s work spans strength-based interventions, autism inclusion in schools, and neurodivergent student support. She examines peer engagement, executive function development, and STEM accessibility for autistic learners. Her programs leverage students’ strengths to foster social competence and career pathways.
Grants & Awards: Current grants include an NSF project on STEM mentoring. Notable awards include the 2022 Slagle Lectureship for her transformative work on professional bias and systemic change in occupational therapy.
Labs/Teams: Directs the ASD Nest Program, NYU Connections, and collaborates with the Moses Center. These initiatives prioritize inclusive education, mentorship, and neurodiversity advocacy.
