5 Questions with Alli Gatta

Meet Alli Gatta, Assistant Director of College Support. Alli is a part of the ASPIRE team, a National Certified Counselor, and an ultimate DIY'er.

1. What drew you to the special education/autism field?

When I was a kid, I always said that I wanted to be a teacher. As I got older, I realized that I wanted to work with people in some sort of helping profession. I entered my undergraduate career at West Chester University as a Psychology major and quickly was drawn to the counseling side of psychology. While looking for some work experience during my time at WCU, I was advised to work as a behavioral therapist with children with Autism. I immediately fell in love with working with the population and wanted to do whatever I could to support and advocate individuals with Autism. I feel that as a neurotypical person, I have so much to learn from individuals with Autism and how they interpret the world. I learn something new every day! After working in a college counseling center as well as a college disability services office, the ASPIRE role was perfect for me to combine all of my passion areas.

2. What is your proudest moment at Kinney?

My proudest moments at the Kinney Center are those in which I get to see my students reach their full potential. During this past Spring semester, our ASPIRE students had to quickly adjust to the online learning platform due to COVID-19. While change is often difficult for individuals with Autism, our ASPIRE students did an amazing job transitioning and finishing the semester with great grades. They were also willing and able to continue working on socialization skills while social distancing!

3. What is on your professional wish list for the next few years?

In the next few years, I hope to engage with populations that may not typically study or work with individuals with Autism. While many people think that you have to be an education, psychology, or ABS major to work at the Kinney center and/or be a peer mentor, we always encourage students from other majors and interests to get involved! Especially for our ASPIRE peer mentors, our students love being able to connect with someone who is in the same major as them.

4. What is one thing that surprised you about working at Kinney?

One thing that has (pleasantly) surprised me about working at Kinney is that every day is different. In the ASPIRE office, there is never a dull moment and I am always kept on my toes. I have learned so much from our students and have really enjoyed the appreciation that we get from students, staff, and faculty on campus.

5. What is your favorite thing to do outside of Kinney?

My favorite thing to do outside of Kinney is crafting! I love making custom gifts for people including coffee mugs, wine glasses, home décor, and more. Crafting is really great self-care for me, as it allows me to work with my hands and focus on smaller details.