Maria Hernandez Finch

Maria Hernandez Finch is an Associate Professor at the Department of Educational Psychology, Ball State University, within the Teachers College. She directs the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) and Masters (MA) Programs in School Psychology and serves as editor of Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education. Her research focuses on play-based interventions in MTSS frameworks, autism spectrum disorder, and home-school collaboration to enhance educational and social outcomes.

Her recent work, including the Parent Play Lab grant (2022), explores leveraging play to optimize inclusive practices for children. She collaborates with the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder, emphasizing neurodiversity and system-level support for Autistic individuals.

Recent publications highlight nonlinear growth modeling for learning disabilities, autism-related adaptive functioning, literacy risks in gifted students, socioeconomic status impacts on achievement, and cross-national academic disparities for immigrant students. Her research spans statistical methodologies, educational equity, and intervention strategies.

Dr. Hernández Finch actively involves students in research and contributes to peer-reviewed journals as an editor and board member. She co-develops frameworks for postsecondary transitions for Autistic adolescents and integrates science of reading with play-based methods in MTSS.