Dear Marquette community,
I recently had the chance to visit with Dr. Amy Van Hecke, professor of psychology, and undergraduate and graduate psychology students in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, to learn about the Marquette Autism Initiative, for the first installment of a new presidential video series, Campus Connections. You can watch the video here.
During the visit, we played a spirited game of Jenga that Dr. Van Hecke explained is used to assess social interaction skills and reactions to potential anxiety. Eighty percent of persons on the autism spectrum also experience anxiety and experience challenges with conversations and interactions. The exercise is part of the Coping with Uncertainty in Everyday Situations intervention program that was developed by researchers in the United Kingdom. We should be proud that Marquette is the first U.S. institution to use CUES in its work with parents and children.
I’m excited to share additional encounters with members of our Marquette community in future Campus Connections videos. These experiences demonstrate our Catholic, Jesuit mission in action by highlighting how our students’ lives are transformed at Marquette, as well as faculty research and scholarship that advances new knowledge to make the world a better place.
We Are Marquette!
Dr. Kimo Ah Yun
President
Marquette University
