Michael Alessandri, Ph.D.

PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ASSISTANT CHAIR, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

malessandri@miami.edu

Dr. Michael Alessandri is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychology with a secondary appointment in Pediatrics.  He is also the Executive Director of the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD).  Dr. Alessandri has been a professor at UM since 1996 and has worked with individuals with autism and their families since 1981 in various capacities. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Rochester.  Dr. Alessandri obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Rutgers University.  He completed his clinical internship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  At the University of Miami, Dr. Alessandri, in addition to his other roles, also serves as the Department of Psychology’s Assistant Chairman for Community Outreach and Engagement.

Dr. Alessandri has received several notable awards within the field including the Autism Society of America’s Wendy F. Miller Autism Professional of the Year Award and National Autism Program of the Year for CARD.  He is also the recipient of numerous other community service awards, including the March of Dimes Community Excellence in Health Care Award (2007), the Health Services Coalition Outstanding Community Leader Award (2009), and the Parent to Parent of Miami Excellence in Family Advocacy Award (2010). He was also named the Dewar's 12 Man of Distinction (2007) and one of the Ronald McDonald House's 12 Good Men (2008). In 2012, he was selected by the Children's Trust as the David Lawrence Champion for Children, and in 2016, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce named him their Visionary Leader of the Year. Recognizing his outstanding career achievements, his alma mater, The University of Rochester School of Arts and Sciences, named him the Distinguished Alumnus of 2022. In 2025, he was named as the recipient of the Educator Award by the Coral Gables Community Foundation.  For more information about Dr. Alessandri please click here.

Jennifer Durocher, Ph.D.

PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
DIRECTOR

jstella@miami.edu

Dr. Jennifer Durocher is the Director of CARD. She has worked with individuals with autism and their families since 1992. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Rutgers University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Miami, where she obtained both her M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.  Dr. Durocher is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics at the University of Miami. 

Her clinical and research interests include improving the early detection of ASD and understanding how individual differences in ASD can be used to design and evaluate more effective interventions.  Dr. Durocher has published and presented on topics related to assessment and intervention in autism, both locally and nationally.  In addition, she has received several community services awards, including the CARD Founder’s Award (2010), the Tropical Nights Community Leadership Award (2017), and the In the Company of Women Award in the Education & Research category (2023). For more information about Dr. Durocher please  click here.