Meet the Research Team!
Robert Hock, PhD, LiSW-CP
Principal Investigator
Dr. Hock is an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina in the College of Social Work's Children, Youth, and Families specialized practice area. He has previously served as the social work discipline director for the South Carolina Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities. His publications focus on the treatment of autism spectrum disorder, and children and families in mental health settings.
Dr. Hock received his Master of Social Work, with a certificate in Clinical Social Work with Families, from Michigan State University, where he also earned his Ph.D. in social work.
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Tamara Grimm, LISW-CP
Graduate Research Assistant
Tamara is a PhD student at the University of South Carolina, College of Social Work. She also completed a graduate certificate in Women & Gender Studies at USC in conjunction with her PhD coursework. Her research areas include gender related health disparities, gender bias in medicine, and the use of holistic health practices as adjunctive treatment for mental health disorders. Prior to beginning her PhD, she served as Lead Women Veterans Program Manager for the VA Healthcare System serving Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan for over 8 years. She has also worked in community mental health, holding various roles such as: clinical supervisor for a criminal justice ACT team, clinical supervisor for a case management team, and case manager. Tamara is currently a therapist in private practice and teaches MSW level courses at the USC.
Tamara received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and comparative religion, with a minor in Women’s Studies, from Miami University in Oxford, OH (2003). She completed her MSW at the University of Cincinnati in 2006.
In her free time, Tamara enjoys teaching yoga and spending time with her two rescue pups, Harry and Eddie.
As part of the Autism and Family Lab team, he is currently involved in a study on the caregiving experiences of aging parents (54+) of adults (22+) with ASD, examining demographic differences, support needs, resource engagement, access barriers, caregiver health, challenges, and resilience strategies.
Abigail Reza, MA
Graduate Research Assistant
Abigail is a PhD student in Social Work at the University of South Carolina. They earned their bachelor’s degree in Criminology with minors in Psychology and Japanese from the University of South Carolina, their master’s degree in Human Rights & Rule of Law from Regent University, and a certificate on human trafficking from Arizona State University. Abigail has over six years of experience providing victim advocacy and social services to children and youth across the East Coast, specializing in serving minor victims of exploitation and trafficking. Their research interests focus on trauma and identity development in neurodivergent youth and adults.
As an autistic person, Abigail is familiar with the strengths and challenges of being neurodivergent. They proudly advocate for person-centered autism research in academia and increased access to support for children and families to improve their quality of life. In their free time, Abigail enjoys reading about history, connecting with nature, and spending time with loved ones.
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Yarin Cohen, MSW
Graduate Research Assistant
Yarin is a PhD student at the College of Social Work. He earned his BSW and MSW from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.​ His research focuses on mental health in aging, previously exploring grandmotherhood and now primarily studying the narratives of Holocaust survivors.​ In practice, Yarin has worked with adults with autism and individuals facing mental health challenges. More recently, he has worked with Holocaust survivors in Israel.
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As part of the Autism and Family Lab team, he is currently involved in a study on the caregiving experiences of aging parents (54+) of adults (22+) with ASD, examining demographic differences, support needs, resource engagement, access barriers, caregiver health, challenges, and resilience strategies.
Asabea Twum, MsC
Graduate Research Assistant
Asabea is a PhD student at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Development Policy and Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, West Africa. She previously worked as a teaching and research assistant in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at KNUST. She also served as a field coordinator for a research project aimed at integrating individuals with intellectual disabilities into economic enterprises in Ghana. Asabea brings experience as a research associate in the non-governmental sector, where she contributed to projects addressing social issues affecting marginalized families. She is passionate about advancing research that supports families navigating complex caregiving roles, particularly within underserved communities.
Meet the Parent Support Team!
Anja Wilson
Social Media Coordinator
Anja is Founder of M.A.D. Mom’s Advocating Daily for Autism, Cortland’s Corner, Anja’s Advocacy Avenue, and author of “Unapologetically Embracing Autism”, and “Cortland's World”.
Born in Columbia, SC she is a single parent to son, Cortland who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of three. An alumna of the University of Tennessee, her passion for advocating for Autism was born because of Cortland’s journey. A passion that is built on a foundation of advocacy, where she aims to be a powerful and strong voice for those that cannot advocate for themselves by promoting the embodiment of advocacy, empowerment, education, commitment, and community.
Carissa Stevens, MA
Support Group Leader
Carissa is the mother of three. Her desire to advocate for families and children with autism began after her son was diagnosed with autism in 2017.
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Carissa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Arts from Webster University in Management and Leadership.
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