I joined the OS faculty at UNC in 1996 as an assistant professor following completion of my dissertation and doctoral degree in Developmental Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. During the past few years, I was tenured and promoted to full professor. I continue to teach graduate students at the masters and doctoral level, and mentor post-docs. My interdisciplinary research program focuses on early identification of sensory processing and social-communication features in children with autism, and our wonderful UNC research team has several well-funded projects on this topic. I have worked collaboratively with several centers here at UNC including the Center for Development and Learning, the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Center (now the Carolina Institute on Developmental Disabilities), as well as several national and international organizations focused on autism research. In 2001 my husband, Paul Frellick, and I opened the Deep Dish Theater Company in Chapel Hill and he continues to serve as its artistic director. Our family has been extra blessed with the arrival of our son, A.J. He is a wonderfully engaging and happy boy who promises to keep us young! In our spare time, we enjoy traveling, visiting with friends and extended family (Chicago and Indiana), cooking, recreational sports (canoeing, hiking, skiing, volleyball, tennis), beach trips, playing baby games, and catching up on our sleep whenever possible!