Dr. Sandra B. Vanegas, PhD is a bilingual (English/Spanish) developmental psychologist and holds multiple roles at TCDS. She is a Research Assistant Professor in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, Clinical Training Director for the Autism Consortium of Texas LEND, and Director of Research for TCDS. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Illinois LEND program at the University of Illinois at Chicago and her PhD in Developmental Psychology from Loyola University Chicago.

Her work focuses on identifying and addressing disparities that impact children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities from racial/ethnic minority and low resource communities. She is currently the PI for the ASD Screening and Parent Engagement (ASPEN) Intervention Program Study (funded by NIDILRR 2019 - 2022, https://www.aspenprogramtx.org/) and the Diverse Language Experiences Project.