Dr. Amy Vaughan Van Hecke, Ph.D.

Dr. Amy Vaughan Van Hecke is a developmental psychologist and neuroscientist, a Professor of Psychology at Marquette University, Director of Research of the Next Step Autism and Trauma Clinic, and co-founder of the On Your Marq college autism support program at Marquette. She studies the effects of evidence-based interventions and therapies, for preschoolers, adolescents, and young adults on the autism spectrum, on relationship development, well-being, mental health, and brain development and function.

Dr. Van Hecke is also the co-developer of a health ambassador and workforce development program to train medical professionals in autism diagnosis, to improve access to autism assessment and supports for underserved children and families, including families who speak first languages other than English, and families of Native American/Indigenous descent. Dr. Van Hecke mentors undergraduate and graduate students in clinical, school, and counseling psychology, nursing, speech pathology, and occupational therapy; is Past President of the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of Southeast Wisconsin; and has served on the Steering Team for the Wisconsin Community of Practice on Developmental Disabilities, and the Treatment and Intervention Advisory Committee for the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services.

Originally from Canton, Mississippi, Dr. Van Hecke has enjoyed making Milwaukee her home and getting to know its wonderful people (which includes her husband, two daughters, and goldendoodle Bear).

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