cohenshirley@hunter.cuny.edu
212 772-4708
925 West

Professor Shirley Cohen, whose Ph.D.is in developmental psychology, is a specialist in early childhood special education and autism spectrum disorders. Her experiences include teaching young children, serving as a consultant to school programs, and holding various administrative positions at Hunter College. Dr. Cohen arrived at Hunter College in 1971 to teach two summer courses and was hired a week later to direct the Special Education Development Center, which she did for ten years. She also served as coordinator of the Special Education Program; was the first chairperson of the Special Education Department; and served as Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, and Interim Dean of the School of Education.  Professor Cohen has directed city, state, federal, and foundation grants.

Teaching

Professor Cohen has taught numerous courses at Hunter College over the years, but has recently specialized in teaching a course on autism spectrum disorders, both to students in the early childhood special education program, which she designed, and to new staff of the NYC Department of Education’s ASD Nest program, which she co-designed.

Research

Shirley Cohen is the author of three books, the latest of which—Targeting Autism, University of California Press, 2006—is in its third edition. She is also currently directing three grants on autism spectrum disorders, one from the State for a Regional Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, one from the NYC Department of Education, and one from a private foundation.