Ashleigh Hillier, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
University of Massachusetts Lowell

 


Programs for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The Network

A Monthly Social Networking Program
for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.

SoundScape

 Music Program for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.
Creative music exploration and composition using iPads and an exciting range of music apps.

Movie Club

Movie Club for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.

 

Steampunkinetics:

Building Art into Science

An art program including technology and engineering focused on the Steampunk art movement.

 

Programs only for UMass Lowell Students:

 

Connections

A support group for UMass Lowell students with Asperger's syndrome. Inlcudes weekly social events and monthly "Reconnections" meetings.

 

UMass Lowell Student to Student Mentoring Program

A one-on-one mentoring program for UMass Lowell freshman registered with Student Disability Services.

 

 


Dr. Hillier's
Course Pages

General Psychology

Seminar in Clinical Psychology 47.475

Community Service 47.486

Interdisciplinary Minor in Disability Studies

Specialization in Developmental Disabilities

 


Useful Links

UML Department of Psychology 

UML Library 

American Psychological Association

Association for Psychological Science

APA style

 

 

Contact

Office: 1 Mahoney

Phone: (978) 934-2930

 

Email Dr. Hillier

 

Office Hours

Monday 12.30-2.30pm; Tuesdays 4.00 - 5.00 PM; and by appointment

 


Education
 

Psychology University of Lincoln, U.K.

Post-doctoral fellow, The Ohio State University Medical Center
Department of Neurology.

 


 

Professional Interests

 

Dr. Hillier’s main research interests include neuropsychology, psychophysiology, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The focus of her research is the processing and understanding of affective material among those on the autism spectrum.

Dr. Hillier’s research includes investigations of emotional memory, physiological responsiveness and subsequent memory for emotion eliciting stimuli, and the effects of psychosocial stress on cognition among those with ASD.

Dr. Hillier is also interested in pharmacological modulation of cognition among various patient populations including those with Broca’s aphasia, mild cognitive impairment, and drug abusers. Dr. Hillier’s interests in neuroimaging have included collaborating on projects using fMRI to identify critical functional areas prior to brain tumor resection, examining functional connectivity associated with semantic and phonological processing, and evaluating pharmacological interventions using fMRI.

Dr. Hillier’s applied research program focuses on programs for adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum including "The Network" Program, the "SoundScape" music program, a Movie Club, a college preparation mentoring program "Horizons", a support group for UML students with Asperger's Syndrome "Connections", and a mentoring program for UMass Lowell students registered with Student Disability Services.

Dr. Hillier's Curriculum Vitae.