Laura Alba, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School Medical School Department Psychiatry Biography Download Curriculum Vitae Dr. Laura Alba completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at San Diego State University, followed by a Master’s in Neuroscience and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her master’s research concentrated on how early caregiving adversity affects brain development and mental health. Dr. Alba then pursued a Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, where she expanded her research to examine the influence of adverse childhood experiences on mental health. Throughout her doctoral studies, she also investigated equitable assessment practices, autism spectrum disorders, and social justice issues in schools. Dr. Alba is currently affiliated with the Center for Autism Care, where she serves as a bilingual psychologist specializing in autism evaluations for culturally and linguistically diverse children. Her research is dedicated to advancing social justice within the field of autism diagnosis, with a particular focus on evaluating the validity of autism-specific assessment tools for Spanish-speaking populations. Through her work, Dr. Alba aims to enhance diagnostic practices' accuracy and cultural relevance for children from diverse backgrounds. Education Internship Lewisville Independent School District Graduate School University of California, Riverside (2022) Medical School University of California at Riverside (2022) Fellowship UTSOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER (2023) Research Interest Adverse Childhood Experiences Autism Spectrum Disorder Social Justice Special Education Publications Featured Publications Emphasizing the Experiences of Spanish-Speaking Families of Children in Special Education: A Review Alba LA Journal of Latinos and Education 2024 1-16 Sensory processing challenges as a novel link between early caregiving experiences and mental health. Méndez Leal AS, Alba LA, Cummings KK, Jung J, Waizman YH, Guassi Moreira JF, Saragosa-Harris NM, Ninova E, Waterman JM, Langley AK, Tottenham N, Silvers JA, Green SA, Dev Psychopathol 2023 Oct 35 4 1968-1981 Barriers to Inclusive Learning for Autistic Individuals. Waisman TC, Alba LA, Green SA, Pediatrics 2022 Apr 149 Suppl 4 Parents’ Perspectives about Special Education Needs during COVID-19: Differences between Spanish and English-Speaking Parents Alba LA, Mercado Anazagasty J, Ramirez A, Johnson AH Journal of Latinos and Education 2022 3 21 239–250 A systematic evaluation of restorative justice practices: School violence prevention and response Katic B, Alba LA, Johnson AH Journal of School Violence 2020 4 19 579–593 Working memory moderates the association between early institutional care and separation anxiety symptoms in late childhood and adolescence. Alba LA, Flannery J, Shapiro M, Tottenham N, Dev Psychopathol 2019 Aug 31 3 989-997 Repetitive behaviors in autism are linked to imbalance of corticostriatal connectivity: a functional connectivity MRI study. Abbott AE, Linke AC, Nair A, Jahedi A, Alba LA, Keown CL, Fishman I, Müller RA, Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2018 Jan 13 1 32-42 Results 1-7 of 7 1
