M. Michelle Rowe, Ph.D.

Dr. Michelle Rowe is the Executive Director of the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support and Professor of Health Services at Saint Joseph's University. Dr. Rowe is a biopsychologist who focuses on how the physiology of the brain affects health and behavior. Over the past 15+ years her research has explored how people cope with significant stress, and more recently, how families and service providers cope with the unique demands of living with, caring for, and/or working with individuals with autism. Her hope, in working in the field of autism, is for those with autism to be integrated as valued and contributing members of society, and for their families to see them reach their full potential.

Dr. Rowe received her BS in psychology from Rowan University (summa cum laude), and her Masters and PhD from Temple University. She has been teaching at the college-level since 1990 and joined the faculty at Saint Joseph's University in 1993, where she received both teaching and research awards. Dr. Rowe is also a licensed psychologist.

In 1997, Dr. Rowe developed the undergraduate major in Interdisciplinary Health Services in the Department of Health Services. She also served as Chair of the Department of Health Services and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 2004, she created the Saint Joseph's University Autism Awareness Day, which occurs annually in April. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in autism spectrum disorders, chronic illness and disabilities, health behavior and research design and statistics.

Dr. Rowe's scholarly research articles have appeared in, among other venues, Behavioral Neuroscience, Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Current Psychology, American Journal of Health Behavior, and Journal of Nursing Management. She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed scholarly papers, chapters and presentations.

Dr. Rowe is a distance runner, and spends personal time gardening, traveling, and with her family and friends.

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