Dr. Amy-Jane Griffiths

Dr. Amy-Jane Griffiths

Associate Professor
Attallah College of Educational Studies
Expertise: Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health; Autism and Employment; Transition Planning and Support for Youth with Disabilities; Preparing Children from Underserved Populations for Resilient Futures; STEM Education and Career Planning for Underserved Youth; Academic and Social-Emotional-Behavioral Interventions in Alternative Education;
Office Location: Reeves Hall
Scholarly Works:
Digital Commons
Education:
Chapman University, Bachelor of Arts
University of California, Santa Barbara, Master of Arts
University of California, Santa Barbara, Ph.D.

Biography

Amy Jane Griffiths, Ph.D., NCSP, is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 24536) and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She obtained her doctorate in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Griffiths came to Chapman University after working as the director of several clinical and non-public school programs in a non-profit community mental health setting. At Chapman University, Dr. Griffiths is the Assistant Director of the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) program and an Assistant Professor in the Attallah College of Educational Studies. She is a research affiliate at the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability.

Her translational research focuses on how we can help prepare children from underserved populations for connected, engaged, and meaningful adult lives. To answer this question: she looks at two distinct yet overlapping areas: 1) school-system intervention used to enhance student outcomes over the long term and 2) career development and transition supports and services for teens and young adults. 

To address school-based interventions and services, Dr. Griffiths studies intervention impact on underserved youth's psychological well-being and mental health. She evaluates behavioral and academic intervention programs in alternative settings and implements parent and educator training programs to improve collaboration, interventions, and team communication for neurodiverse students. Related to career development and transition support, Dr. Griffiths researches how youth from underserved backgrounds transition to life after high school, with a specific focus on the world of work. She studies the components of assessment, planning, and skill building that facilitate a smooth transition. At the same time, her data analysis considers the evolving needs of the labor market during a time of accelerated change. 

Recent Creative, Scholarly Work and Publications

Diamond, E.M., Hart, S., Griffiths, A.J., & Brock, S. (2023). Psychology in the Schools: Addressing the Learning, Behavior, and Mental Health Needs of Students. New York: Routledge.
Cadondon, S., Dawson, M., and Carriere, J.A., Griffiths, A.J., & Gehricke, J.G. (2023) Short Report: Efficacy of a Brief Career Development Program for Autistic Young Adults. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4354117
Palma, C., Abdou, A., Danforth, S. &, Griffiths. A.J. (2023). Are Deficit Perspectives Thriving in Trauma-Informed Schools? A Historical and Anti-racist Reflection. Equity & Excellence in Education. DOI: 10.1080/10665684.2023.2192983
Griffiths, A.J., Baker, D., Brady, J., & Kennedy, K. (2023). Increasing Collaboration and Knowledge in School Communities to Enhance Outcomes for Autistic Students. Advances in Autism, 9 (2), 176-191. https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-03-2022-0014
Abdou, A., Brady, J., Griffiths. A.J., Burrola, A., & Vue, J. (2023). Restorative Schools: A Consultation Case Study for moving from theory to practice. Journal of Education and Psychological Consultation, 33 (4), 421-448. DOI: 10.1080/10474412.2023.2192205
Griffiths, A.J., Hurley-Hanson, A.E., Giannantonio, C.M., Hyde, K., Linstead, E., Wiegand, R., & Brady, J. (2023). Enhancing employment outcomes for autistic youth: Using machine learning to identify strategies for success. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 59 (2), 153-168. DOI:10.3233/JVR-230034. (Editor’s Choice)
Griffiths, A.J., Miles Nash, A., Maupin, Z., Mathur Kohli, S., & Rohm, R.(2022). Creating Career Opportunities for Women with Autism in STEM. In Hurley-Hanson, A.E., & Giannantonio, C.M., (Eds.), Generation A: Research on Autism in the Workplace (Chapt. 1). Emerald Publishing.
Griffiths, A.J., Wiegand, R., & Tran, C., (2022). Using Positive Student Engagement to Create Opportunities for Students with Troubling and High-Risk Behaviors. In S. L. Christenson, A. L. Reschly, & C. Wylie (Eds.), The Handbook of Research on Student Engagement- Second Edition (Chapt. 15). New York, NY: Springer Science.
Griffiths, A.J., Baker, D., Brady, J., & Kennedy, K., Valladolid, A., Wiegand, R., & Delgado, R. (2022). Increasing Collaboration and Knowledge in School Communities to Enhance Outcomes for Autistic Students. Advances in Autism, https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-03-2022-0014
Giannantonio, C.M., Hurley-Hanson, A.E., & Griffiths, A.J. (2022). Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Forgotten Minority in the Workplace, Research in Human Resource Management.
Griffiths, A.J. & Wiegand, R.(2022). Evaluating a Comprehensive Career Exploration Experience: E-Prize Report. Orange, CA: Chapman University, Attallah College of Educational Studies.
Griffiths, A.J., Diamond, E.L., Maupin, Z., Alsip, J., Keller, M., Moffa, K., & Furlong, M.J. (2021). School Safety, School Climate, and Student Mental Health: Interdependent Constructs Built Upon Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Planning. In Lazarus, P., Suldo, S. & Doll, B. (Eds.), Fostering the Emotional Well-Being of our Nation's Youth: A School-Based Approach. New York, New York: Oxford University Press.
Griffiths, A.J., Cosier, M., Wiegand, R., Morgan, S., & Mathur Kohli, S. (2021). Developing Strong Transition-Focused IEPS Using Labor Market Data. Support for Learning, 36(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9604.12383
Griffiths, A.J., Alsip, J., Kennedy, K., Diamond, E., Palma, C., Abdou, A. S., Wiegand, R., & Brady, J. (2021) Families and Schools Together: Designing a Model for University-Community Partnerships to Support Home-School Collaborations. Contemporary School Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-021-00358-5
Griffiths, A.J., Brady, J., Riley, N., Alsip, J., Trine, V., & Gomez, L (2021). STEM for Everyone: A Mixed Methods Approach to the Conception and Implementation of an Evaluation Process for STEM Education Programs for Students with Disabilities. Frontiers in Education, 5, 312. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2020.545701
Griffiths, A.J., & Brady, J (2020). The Implementation of a Regional Education Network Through the Application of the Developmental Evaluation Process: A Case Study, School Leadership Review, 15 (1), Article 9. Available at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/slr/vol15/iss1/9
Hurley-Hanson, A.E., Giannantonio, C.M., & Griffiths, A.J. (2020). Autism in the Workplace: Creating Positive Employment and Career Outcomes for Generation A. Palgrave Macmillan, UK.
Griffiths, A.J. & Dang Hoang, M. (2020) Mental Health and Psychopathology. In Hass, M. (Eds.), The Vietnam School Psychology Book. Vietnam National University Press.
Griffiths, A.J., Hurley-Hanson, A.E., Giannantonio, C.M., Hyde, K., & Linstead, E. (2020). Developing Employment Environments Where Individuals with ASD Thrive: Using Machine Learning to Explore Employer Policies and Practices. Brain Sciences, 10 (9), 632.
Cardinal, DN, Griffiths, AJ, Maupin, ZD, & Fraumeni-McBride, J. (2020). An investigation of increased rates of autism in U.S. public schools. Psychology in the Schools.
Griffiths, A. J., Miles Nash, A., Maupin, Z., & Mathur, S. K. (2020) Her voice: Engaging and preparing girls with disabilities for science, technology, engineering, and math careers, International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 12 (3), 293-301.
Hurley-Hanson, A.E., Giannantonio, C.M., Griffiths, A.J. (2020). The Role of Image Norms in the Careers of Individuals with ASD. The Journal of Business Leadership, 28(1): 56-66.
Griffiths, A.J., Alsip, J., Hart, S. R., Round, R. L., & Brady, J. (2020). Together We Can Do So Much: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Framework of Collaboration in Schools. Canadian Journal of School Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0829573520915368
Griffiths, A.J. & Flannery, D. (2020). Transition Transformed: Finding Our Place in a Changing World. Thompson Policy Institute Disability Summit Fifth Annual Report. Orange, CA: Chapman University, Attallah College of Educational Studies.
Griffiths, A.J., Diamond, E.L., Grief-Green, J., Kim, E., Alsip, J., Dwyer, K., Mayer, M., & Furlong, M. (2019). Understanding the Critical Links between School Safety and Mental Health: Creating Pathways toward Wellness. In Osher, D., Jagers R., Kendziora, K., Mayer, M. & Wood, L. (Eds.). Keeping Students Safe and Helping Them Thrive: A Collaborative Handbook for Education, Safety, and Justice Professionals, Families, and Communities (2 vols.). New York, New York: Praeger.
Hyde, K., Griffiths, A.J., Giannantonio, C., Hurley-Hanson, A., Mathur Kohli, S., & Linstead, E. (2019). Exploring the Landscape of Employers for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 2019 18th IEEE International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA), Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2019, pp. 1961-1967, DOI: 10.1109/ICMLA.2019.00315.
Griffiths, A.J., Diamond, E.M., Alsip, J., Furlong, M., Morrison, G., & Do, B. (2019). School-Wide Implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports in an Alternative School Setting: A Case Study. Journal of Community Psychology, 47(6), 1493-1513. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22203
Hurley-Hanson, A.E., Giannantonio, C.M., Griffiths, A.J., & Cardinal, D. (2019). A Look at Autism in the Workplace Today. The Journal of Business Leadership, 27(1), 57-66.
Griffiths, A.J., Izumi, J., Alsip, J., Furlong, M., & Morrison, G. (2019). Positive Behavior Supports in the Alternative Education Setting: Examining the Risk and Protective Factors of Responders and Non-Responders. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 63(2), 149-161. DOI: 10.1080/1045988X.2018.1534224
Griffiths, A.J. Cosier, M., & Morgan, S. (2019). Research-to-Practice Brief: Using Labor Market Projections for Successful Transition Planning. Research Brief: Thompson Policy Institute Disability Summit Fourth Annual Report. Orange, CA: Chapman University, Attallah College of Educational Studies.
Hyde, K., Griffiths, A.J., Giannantonio, C., Hurley-Hanson, A., & Linstead, E. (2018). Predicting employer recruitment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders with decision trees. Publication in Proceeding of 2018 17th IEEE International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA), Orlando, FL, pp1366-1370. DOI: 10.1109/ICMLA.2018.00222
Griffiths, A.J. & Miles-Nash, A. (2019). Making STEM Education Inclusive: Opening Doors to Engage Girls and Women With Disabilities. Thompson Policy Institute Disability Summit Fourth Annual Report. Orange, CA: Chapman University, Attallah College of Educational Studies.
Griffiths, A.J. (2018). Connection, Collaboration, and Co-Creation: Developing meaningful employment opportunities for youth with diverse needs. Thompson Policy Institute Disability Summit Third Annual Report. Orange, CA: Chapman University, College of Educational Studies.
Griffiths, A.J. & Trine, V. (2018). STEM3 Academy: Year 2 Report. The Help Group. Los Angeles, CA.
Griffiths, A.J. & McIntyre, M. (2018). Autism Community Toolkit Prong 3: Increasing collaboration in the schools- Year 3 Report. Unihealth Foundation Grant Report. Orange, CA: Chapman University, College of Educational Studies.
Griffiths, A.J. (2017). Research in Action: The Transition Initiative. Thompson Policy Institute Disability Summit Second Annual Report. Orange, CA: Chapman University, College of Educational Studies.
Griffiths, A.J. & Round, R.L.(2017). Autism Community Toolkit Prong 3: Increasing collaboration in the schools- Year 2 Report. Unihealth Foundation Grant Report. Orange, CA: Chapman University, College of Educational Studies.
Griffiths, A.J. & Riley, N. (2017). STEM3 Academy: Year 1 Report. The Help Group. Los Angeles, CA.
Griffiths, A.J., Giannantonio, C.M., Hurley-Hanson, A.E., & Cardinal, D. (2016). Autism in the Workplace: Assessing the transition needs of young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Business and Management.
Griffiths, A.J., & Hart, S. (2016). DSM-5 and School Psychology: Conduct Disorder. NASP Communiqué.
Griffiths, A. J. (2016). Debating what is driving high autism rates in orange county. Interview on Airtalk SCPR. Retrieved from http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2016/05/11/48751/debating-what-is-driving-high-autism-rates-in-oran/
Griffiths, A.J. (2016). Autism in the Workplace. Thompson Policy Institute Disability Summit First Annual Report. Orange, CA: Chapman University, College of Educational Studies.
Griffiths, A. J. (2014). Six tips for an autism transition plan that works. Children’s Hospital of Orange County Blog. Retrieved from https://blog.chocchildrens.org/six-tips-creating-autism-transition-plan-works/
Brady, J., Kennedy, K., & Griffiths, A.J. (2014). Needs Assessment: Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders of Southern California.
Hanson, T., Griffiths, A. J., & Furlong, M. (2012). The Impact of Safe Schools/Healthy Students Funding on Student Wellbeing: A California Consortium Cross-Site Analysis. The Handbook of School Violence and School Safety: International Research and Practice (2nd Edition).
Griffiths, A.J., Lilles, E., Furlong, M., & Sidwha, J. (2012). The Relations of Adolescent Student Engagement with Troubling and High-Risk Behaviors. In S. L. Christenson, A. L. Reschly, & C. Wylie (Eds.), The Handbook of Research on Student Engagement (chap. 27). New York, NY: Springer Science. 2012
Morrison, G. M., You, S., Sharkey, J. D., Felix, E. D., & Griffiths, A. J. (2012). Mediation of school bonding and peer norms on the reciprocal effects of friend victimization and problem behavior. School Psychology International, 1–20.

Faculty Directories by School or College