Staff
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A-SCENE Receives Excellence in Accessible STEM Leadership Award
Dave Thompson received the award on behalf of the A-SCENE project. We are thrilled to announce that the A-SCENE initiative has been honored with the Excellence in Accessible STEM Leadership Award at the Accessibility in STEM Conference hosted by NC State University. This prestigious recognition celebrates efforts… Read MoreFeb. 2, 2026
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FCAI Staff Members Receive Prestigious Nimoy-Knight Foundation Award
Dave Thompson, Project Manager for A-SCENE at FCAI. The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is proud to announce that two of our exceptional staff members, Dr. Jessica Schonhut-Stasik and Dave Thompson, have been honored with the Nimoy-Knight Foundation’s ‘Live Long and Prosper’ Tribute Award for… Read MoreFeb. 2, 2026
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Neurodiverse Technologies Awarded $70,000 Innovation Catalyst Fund Grant for NAVIS Development
The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is thrilled to congratulate our internal partner, Neurodiverse Technologies, along with co-founders Jan Schlueter and Principal Investigator Dr. Nilanjan Sarkar, on receiving a $70,000 award through Vanderbilt’s Innovation Catalyst Fund. This significant funding will advance NAVIS (Advancement of Neurodivergent-Aware… Read MoreFeb. 1, 2026
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FCAI Director of Communications Collaborates with Nature Astronomy on Neurodiversity-Related Features
Dr. Jessica Schonhut-Stasik is a research scientist in astrophysics, the Director of Communications for the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, and the CEO/President of The Neuroverse Initiative, a non-profit that works at the intersection of space science and neurodiversity. The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is proud to… Read MoreJan. 22, 2026
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Frist Center for Autism & Innovation Convenes Inaugural NeuroCorps Cohort
The Frist Center for Autism & Innovation (FCAI) at Vanderbilt University is proud to announce the successful convening of the inaugural NeuroCorps cohort on Monday and Tuesday this week. This brand-new program brings together six neurodivergent leaders, entrepreneurs, and business and non-profit leaders, comprising staff and visiting scholars, to… Read MoreNov. 12, 2025
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Creating a Neuroinclusive Profession: Congratulating Tim Vogus on New JMS “Says” Essay
Dr. Tim Vogus, Deputy Director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation celebrates Deputy Director Dr. Tim Vogus on the publication of his new “JMS Says” essay, “Creating a Neuroinclusive Profession: Overcoming the Double Empathy Problem,” in the Journal of Management Studies. Read MoreNov. 8, 2025
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FCAI Director Keivan Stassun Guests on Imperfect Leaders Podcast
On September 7th, FCAI Director Keivan Stassun guested on the Imperfect Leaders Podcast, hosted by Jeffrey Cohn. From the Imperfect Leaders website: “There is no such thing as a perfect leader. We invite the country’s most admired leaders to talk about their imperfections and leadership journey.” Listen to the… Read MoreSep. 23, 2025
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Building Neuroinclusive Systems: Dr. Timothy Vogus’ Organizational Approach to Long-Lasting Change
For the past 21 years, Dr. Timothy Vogus has brought insight and innovation to Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Named one of the 50 most influential business professors of 2013 by Poets and Quants and recipient of the Excellence of Teaching Award from the Academy of… Read MoreJul. 4, 2025
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Vanderbilt Magazine Article Tells Story of FCAI and Autism Research
Keivan Stassun, left, with Billy and Jennifer Frist, BS’93, who established the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation in 2018 at Vanderbilt University School of Engineering (John Russell/Vanderbilt University) We are thrilled to announce the release of an exciting article in Vanderbilt Magazine celebrating the groundbreaking work of the… Read MoreMay. 24, 2025
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Dr. Tim Vogus to Deliver Jane Hannah Roundtable Talk at Currey Ingram Academy on April 10th — Register Now!
On April 10th, Deputy Director of Business Innovations for FCAI, Dr. Tim Vogus, will deliver a Jane Hannah Roundtable talk at the Annette Eskind Institute of Learning at the Currey Ingram Academy, entitled “Embracing Neurodiversity and Making Organizations Inclusive for All“. The mission of the… Read MoreApr. 3, 2025