Dr. Jessica Riordan (nee Johnston) is an early career researcher with a passion for conducting neurodiversity-affirming research, translating research into practice, and inspiring positive societal change through community-led advocacy and education.

Current Position

Drawing on her research background in developmental psychology and lived experience of neurodivergence, Jessica co-founded the University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project in 2023 and is currently serving as the Project Leader for Staff and Student Wellbeing. Led by a team of neurodivergent academics, this multi-faceted, interdisciplinary initiative aims to better support neurodivergent staff and students at the University of Melbourne through: improving the understanding of neurodiversity and neurodiversity-affirming teaching and learning practices across the university, building a stronger sense of community for neurodivergent staff and students, connecting neurodivergent staff and students with support services within the university, and conducting world-class, neurodiversity-affirming research.

Research

Jessica's research primarily focuses on:

Neurodiversity across the lifespan,
Neurodiversity-affirming education
Psychological wellbeing, self-efficacy, and self-determination,
Parenting, and
The development and evaluation of preventive interventions that help to support young people and their families through key life transitions.

Of note, her PhD thesis (thesis title: Let's talk: Investigating adult-child interactions within the home-literacy environment to better support children's developing oral language and early-literacy skills) was awarded as an exceptional thesis for being one of the top 5% of theses awarded at the University of Otago. She has also helped to conceptualize, manage, and evaluate two successful parenting programs for preschool-aged children and a workshop series for supporting the mental health and well-being of undergraduate students. Finally, to better inform policies and practice within institutes of higher education, Jessica recently conducted one of the largest known needs-analysis of neurodivergent university students and is currently developing a neurodivergent-led peer-peer mentoring programme for incoming neurodivergent undergraduate students.

Advocacy

Jessica is passionate about outreach, education, and advocacy, and her contributions in these spaces have been acknowledged by a variety of leadership awards (e.g., the University of Otago Leadership Award and the University of Otago Division of Sciences Outreach Award). She also enjoys challenging stereotypes and correcting some of the misinformation related to neurodiversity through her invited talks and keynote presentations.

Dr

Jessica Riordan

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Learning Intervention

Faculty of Education

Dr

Jessica Riordan

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Faculty of Education

Dr

Jessica Riordan

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Jessica's Short Profile

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