Clinical Providers
Laura K. Hansen, PhD
Director and Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Hansen is the Director of the UA-ASD Clinic and an associate clinical professor in the Department of Psychology. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi after completing a pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. Dr. Hansen also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical child psychology with a specialization in the assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. From September 2020 to April 2024, Dr. Hansen served as the Director of Psychology at Mitchell’s Place, a comprehensive ASD treatment facility in Birmingham, AL. She joined the UA-ASD Clinic staff in spring 2024. Dr. Hansen’s psychology department listing.
Rebekah Whitt, MA, CCC-SLP
Licensed Speech and Language Pathologist and Clinical Supervisor
Rebekah Whitt is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinical Supervisor at the UA-ASD Clinic. In this role, she provides speech-language therapy to children with autism and clinical education to graduate students in the Department of Communicative Disorders. Rebekah received her Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Alabama in May 2020. She also graduated summa cum laude from UA with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communicative Disorders in December 2017. Prior to graduating from UA with her Master’s degree, Rebekah completed an internship at the UA-ASD Clinic. After graduating with her Master’s degree, she completed her Clinical Fellowship in Speech-Language Pathology at Child’s Play Therapy Center in Hoover, AL where she provided clinical services to a variety of pediatric populations. Rebekah returned to the UA-ASD clinic in the Fall 2021. Rebekah’s special interests include Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Pragmatic Disorders, Expressive Language Delays, and Fluency Disorders.
In her free time, Rebekah enjoys spending time with her family and friends, kickboxing, cheering on the Crimson Tide, and spoiling her Goldendoodle.
Nicole Powell, PhD, MPH
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Powell is a clinical child psychologist at the UA-ASD Clinic and is the Associate Director of the UA Center for Youth Development and Intervention (CYDI). She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Alabama and completed her pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology at Lurie Children’s Hospital in 2000. Dr. Powell served as staff psychologist, assessment coordinator, and clinical supervisor at Brewer-Porch Children’s Center from 2000-2015. She joined the UA-ASD Clinic staff in August 2026.
Office Staff
Debbie Kofman
Clinic Coordinator
ddkofman@ua.edu
(205) 348-3130
Debbie has served as the UA-ASD Clinic Coordinator since 2016. In her role as Clinic Coordinator, Debbie provides support to clinicians, students and clients.
Debbie Kofman received her Bachelors of Science degree in environmental science from the University of West Alabama (formerly Livingston University). She has worked as an office manager and accounting assistant in various offices since 1992 including the University of Alabama Moundville Archaeological Park, the University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business, and PanAmerican.
Kim McWhirt
Medical Insurance Specialist
ksmcwhirt@ua.edu
Kim McWhirt joined the UA-ASD Clinic as the Medical Insurance Billing Clerk in October 2024. In her role, she submits claims for payment, obtains doctor referrals, and supports families by answering questions and explaining insurance coverage. She has worked in Insurance and Billing since 2018. Kim, originally from Muncie Indiana, lives in Vance with her husband Paul and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Allie. She is an advocate for autism awareness and loves to cheer on the Tide.
Trainees
Paige Hemming
Paige Hemming is a third-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program, child track, at The University of Alabama and a current graduate trainee in the UA-ASD Clinic. In this role, she will conduct diagnostic evaluations and provide other family support, such as therapeutic services, under the supervision of Dr. Laura Hansen. She has experience working with autistic youth and their families across clinical settings. She works under the mentorship of Dr. Susan White at the Center for Youth Development and Intervention and focuses much of her research on autism, neurodevelopment, emotion regulation, and the development and implementation of intervention programs. Outside of academics, Paige enjoys hiking with her dogs, traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Ramya Manikkan
Ramya Manikkan is a 5th-year Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a current graduate trainee in the UA Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic. In this role, she conducts diagnostic evaluations and provides neuroaffirming family support services under the supervision of Dr. Laura Hansen.
Ramya earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Studio Art from New York University in May 2022, where she also completed an Honors Thesis examining how infants’ actions with objects and their locomotion shape verb learning, under the mentorship of Drs. Karen Adolph, Cathie Tamis-LeMonda, and Kelsey West.
She went on to earn her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the University of Alabama in May 2025. As a member of the Bama Baby Lab mentored by Dr. Kelsey West, Ramya’s research focuses on developmental cascades between motor and language development in autism, specifically, how changes in motor skills ripple across language and communication development in autistic infants and their caregivers. Her dissertation looks deeper into social contingency across autistic and neurotypical populations, the nuances of language learning, and vocal turn-taking dynamics between toddler-cargiver dyads
In her free time, Ramya enjoys playing golf, throwing pottery on the wheel, exploring new restaurants, pampering her dog, and traveling.
Peter Xu
Peter Xu is a fifth-year doctoral student in the clinical child concentration, working with Dr. Bradley White. Peter completed his BS in Shanghai, China. He then attended the University of Toronto, where he completed his MEd in developmental psychology. He is interested in research regarding intervention and cultivating empathy in individuals with Callous-Unemotional traits. He loves hiking, watching movies, and travelling in his free time.
