Fernanda Castellón, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of clinical psychology in the Department of Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology at UC Santa Barbara. She is also the associate director of the Koegel Autism Center where she runs the Autismo en Confianza Lab. Castellón’s research is focused on Latine/x family experiences with autism and autism services, along with culturally sustaining autism intervention. She has a particular focus on the role of autism in migration and the provision of services for autism in Mexico. Her work is distinctly cross-cultural and cross-national, specializing in service-access advocacy interventions for minority families of children with autism. Her work is driven by a commitment to dismantling barriers that prevent underserved communities from receiving quality support for individuals with developmental disabilities. Through community-based participatory research, Castellón ensures that the voices of families and individuals with autism remain at the center of intervention development and implementation. As a sister of two autistic adults, she brings a unique personal perspective that informs her dedication to family- and person-centered practices. Her approach prioritizes addressing the specific concerns and priorities identified by the communities themselves, creating meaningful partnerships that translate research into real-world impact for those who need it most.
Castellón completed her doctoral training in human development and psychology with an emphasis in special education and disability at UCLA. She received the UC President's postdoctoral fellowship and completed her postdoctoral training at UC Riverside’s Autism S.E.A.R.C.H. Center. She joined the UC Santa Barbara faculty and Koegel Autism Center leadership team in 2025.