Meet the Research Team!
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Yarin Cohen, MSW
Graduate Research Assistant
PhD Candidate
Resia M Cooper, LMSW
Graduate Research Assistant
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PhD Student
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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Abigail Reza, MA
Graduate Research Assistant
PhD Candidate
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Kiley Huff, BSW
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Graduate Research Assistant
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MSW Student
Margaret Janse van Rensburg,
PhD, MSW, RSW
Principal Investigator
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Margaret Janse van Rensburg, MSW, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work. Her research focuses on enhancing outcomes for Autistic people and their communities of care through local and community-engaged approaches. Her dissertation research investigated how human service workers support Autistic adults in overcoming barriers to their mental health in collaboration with the Ottawa Adult Autism Initiative in Ottawa, Canada. She grounds her scholarship in her lived experiences as a service user and service provider, and in research, she values partnering with lived experience experts. Her long-term goal is to build resilient communities that advance Autistic individual and collective well-being, allowing her program of research to evolve alongside the priorities and methods identified by the communities she serves.
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https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/socialwork/faculty-staff/rensburg_margaret.php
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0780-7945
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Asabea Twum, MsC
Graduate Research Assistant
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PhD Student
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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