Center Welcomes New Members to its External Advisory Leadership

The Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development benefits from collaborative partnerships with autistic individuals and their families, educators, advocates, business leaders, community stakeholders, and national leaders in autism research. In 2022, we welcomed new members to our two primary external advisory groups, the Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) Advisory Committee and the ACE Community Engagement Advisory Board.

ACE Advisory Committee
The ACE Advisory Committee members serve as advisors to investigators, providing insights across the multiple studies that leverage the ACE award. Most recently, the center welcomed Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, MA, author, advocate, and member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, to this committee.

ACE Community Engagement Advisory Board
The ACE Community Engagement Advisory Board members provide perspectives and advice to support community-engaged research priorities, increasing the impact of scientific discoveries on the lives of autistic individuals. In 2022, the center welcomed three new members to the board: Kristin Bell, EdD, Executive Director, Exceptional Children’s Department, Durham Public Schools; Kerry Morrison, PhD, parent advocate and District Secondary Coordinator at Vance County, NC, Schools; and Melinda Plue, MSW, LCSW, Director of Advocacy and Chapter Development, The Arc of North Carolina.