Angela Scarpa, Ph.D.

Dr. Scarpa received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Southern California in 1993.  She is Professor of Psychology at Virginia Tech, Founder and Director of the Virginia Tech Autism Clinic, Director of the VT Center for Autism Research, Director of the Clinical Science Program and Faculty Stakeholder with the Alliance for Neurodevelopment Research. She is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in individual and group behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapy for children, families, and adults. Before coming to Virginia Tech, she held faculty positions at the University of Georgia and Eastern Washington University and obtained postdoctoral training at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Her general interest is in child and adolescent mental health, with over 20 years of experience in the study of developmental psychopathology. Currently, her work is focused on children, adolescents, and young adults on the autism spectrum. She is generally interested in emotional and social development, including the intersection of both biological and socializing influences. She is also interested in evidence-based treatment approaches and early screening, and improving access to services.

Dr. Scarpa also established the Psychosocial Adjustment, NeuroDevelopment, and Autism (PANDA) Lab. The lab focuses on factors related to socioemotional development in autism. More specifically, they have ongoing projects evaluating the efficacy of parent-mediated interventions for children on the autism spectrum, with other projects related to parent-child stress and coping, physiological arousal regulation, and Dr. Scarpa's Stress and Anger Management Program (STAMP). The lab also collaborates with other disciplines on projects that leverage technology to increase accessibility and neurodiversity.