Desiree Jones
Bio
Desi Jones (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland. She received her Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2023 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Maryland from 2023 to 2025.
Dr. Jones’ research examines how autistic people are perceived by their peers, and how these perceptions shape social outcomes and well-being. She is especially interested in how race and other social identities influence stigma, belonging, and well-being in Black autistic adults. Her work often incorporates mixed-methods and emphasizes an intersectional approach to understanding bias and social interaction. Importantly, Dr. Jones’ research is guided by community priorities and aims to create accessible, affirming environments for autistic people.
Dr. Jones has been recognized through Forbes 30 under 30, Spectrum’s 40 under 40 “Rising Stars” in Autism Research, and Dissertation Awards from the International Society for Autism Research and UT Dallas, and her work has been supported by an American Psychological Foundation Visionary Grant. More about Dr. Jones and the SHINE (Stigma, Human Interaction, and Neurodivergent Experiences) Lab can be found at https://desi-jones.weebly.com/.
Desiree Jones
Assistant Professor
| BPS 3127
| drjones@umd.edu