STEM Student Success Stories

CITRUS COLLEGE ALUMNA EXPLORES AUTISM IN NEW RESEARCH

Nearly two decades after graduating from Citrus College, T.A. Meridian McDonald, Ph.D., has addressed some of the biggest questions surrounding autism in a theoretical model published in the journal "Medical Hypotheses."

In her research, Dr. McDonald, a research instructor in neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, described a sub-population of people who have a combination of socially valued or broader autism phenotype constellations (BAPCO) traits. These include sustained attention, increased memory and nonconformity, among others. When people with a BAPCO personality have children, the traits can intensify or occur with a different disability and, thus, lead to autism.

A 2003 Citrus College graduate, Dr. McDonald's latest work is the culmination of decades of autism research.

"I was so pleased to learn of Dr. McDonald's recent journal publication, and I commend her on her research efforts," said the college superintendent/president. "Her hard work is not only an inspiration to faculty and staff, but to current and future generations of Citrus College students."

Reflecting on her time at Citrus College, Dr. McDonald said she had fond memories of the college's Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) program; EOPS, CARE and CalWORKs Director Sara Gonzales-Tapia; and mathematics instructor Mohamad Trad, among several other Citrus College programs and employees.

"He was, by far, the best math teacher I have met," Dr. McDonald said of Mr. Trad. "He helped me develop the skills and confidence I needed to be successful from community college to my Ph.D. program."

Dr. McDonald also praised the college's Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) program for providing meals while she attended Citrus College.

Looking to the future, Dr. McDonald said her next step will be to create a measure of BAPCO traits to test the hypotheses.

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