Appointment of Dr. Celine Saulnier as Chair of the Board
Atlanta Autism Consortium Announces the Appointment of Dr. Celine Saulnier as Chair of the Board
After 12 years of service, Dr. Gregory Abowd, Atlanta Autism Consortium Founder, hands over the role and is appointed Chairman Emeritus
Atlanta, GA (February 23, 2021): The Atlanta Autism Consortium today announced the appointment of Celine Saulnier, PhD as Chair of its Board of Directors. Dr. Saulnier, who joined the Atlanta Autism Consortium board in 2011, succeeds Dr. Gregory Abowd, Atlanta Autism Consortium Founder and Chairman Emeritus, who served as Chairman since the inception of the organization in 2008.
Dr. Celine Saulnier is a renowned clinical psychologist with over 20 years experience in diagnostic evaluations of autism spectrum and related neurodevelopmental disorders for both clinical and research purposes.
“It is an absolute honor and privilege to take on the role of Chair of the Atlanta Autism Consortium,” says Dr. Saulnier. “My first vision as Chair is to ensure that Dr. Gregory Abowd’s visions are carried forward and implemented, and to ensure the integrity of the AAC and what it means for the Atlanta community in his honor. Secondly, I hope to build upon the AAC’s non-profit status by increasing fundraising initiatives, broadening the diversity of the Board of Directors, and creating even more opportunities to promote collaboration and discussion between individuals, families, professionals, and businesses from all perspectives (i.e., advocacy, clinical care, scientific research, community outreach, education, and the workforce, among others). I look forward to working with my fellow Board and AAC members, and the broader autism community here in Atlanta!”
Dr. Saulnier earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology from the University of Connecticut under the mentorship of Dr. Deborah Fein. She then conducted her postdoctoral fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine under the mentorship of Drs. Ami Klin, Sara Sparrow, Fred Volkmar, and Kasia Chawarska. She later became the training director and then clinical director of the Yale Autism Program.
In 2011, she relocated to Emory University School of Medicine and the Marcus Autism Center to help develop and direct a large-scale clinical research program. In 2018, she opened her own diagnostic clinic and consulting company, Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting Services (www.nacsatl.com) in Decatur, GA. Dr. Saulnier remains an Adjunct Associate Professor at Emory University where she teaches an advanced undergraduate seminar on autism, and she conducts national and international trainings to professionals on autism and related disorders. For her teaching, she was awarded the New England Educational Institute Outstanding Educator Award for Mental Health Education. Dr. Saulnier is on the editorial board for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Autism Science Foundation, the field’s leading scientific nonprofit organization.
In addition to co-authoring the gold-standard Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition, Dr. Saulnier has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, and she has written two books, Essentials of Autism Spectrum Disorders Evaluation and Assessment and Essentials of Adaptive Behavior Assessment of Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
About the Atlanta Autism Consortium
Founded in 2008, the Atlanta Autism Consortium is a nonprofit organization that works to connect the full spectrum of the Metro Atlanta autism community, including families, adult individuals with autism, researchers, clinicians, educators and advocates by working to foster better understanding and cultivate more meaningful collaboration throughout the Atlanta area. The AAC produces monthly FREE educational programs and events for the autism community, and partners with many other organizations throughout Atlanta on workshops, retreats, forums and other events.