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Kari Sherwood

Dr. Kari Sherwood

Assistant Professor of Education (Rehabilitation and Human Services)

304A CEDAR Building
University Park, PA 16802

Department(s)

  • Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education

Program(s)

  • Rehabilitation and Human Services
  • Counselor Education

Biography

Kari Sherwood, PhD, LMSW, is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education and the Social Science Research Institute at Penn State. Dr. Sherwood teaches courses in the Rehabilitation and Human Services and Counselor Education programs, covering topics such as disability culture, medical and psychosocial aspects of chronic illness and disability, and employment strategies for people with disabilities.

 

Dr. Sherwood completed her doctoral education at the University of Michigan, receiving a joint PhD in Social Work and Psychology. She is also a Licensed Master Social Worker and received Master of Science in Psychology and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Michigan, as well as a Master of Education in Special Education from Bowling Green State University, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership Studies from Oklahoma State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science from Oklahoma State University.

 

Dr. Sherwood directs the Elevating Life, Expression, Validation, Autistic Thriving, and Empowerment (ELEVATE Autism) Research Lab in the College of Education. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating interventions on belonging and mental health at school and work for autistic teens and young adults, taking into account ableist microaggressions commonly experienced in these settings. She utilizes participatory action research methods, which value the lived experiences of individuals from marginalized groups, as well as mixed methods and implementation science.

 

Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Autism, the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Journal of Special Education Technology,  the Journal of Disability Policy Studies, Frontiers in Psychiatry, and the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, among others.

 

Publications:

Sherwood, K., Erickson, D., Burke-Miller, J., & Smith, M. J. (2026). “I try to act like a neurotypical so it makes customers more comfortable”: A mixed methods analysis of autistic camouflaging at work. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-026-07476-0

 

Sherwood, K., Smith, M. J., Ross, B., Johnson, J., Trautwein, A., Landau, M., & Hume, K. (2024). Implementing Virtual Interview Training for Transition-Age Youth: Practical Strategies for Educators. Intervention in School and Clinic, 59(4), 281-286, https://doi.org/10.1177/10534512231156879

 

Sherwood, K., Smith, M. J., Ross, B., Johnson, J., Harrington, M., Blajeski, S., Dawalt, L., Bishop, L., Smith, J. D. (2023). Mixed Methods Implementation Evaluation of Virtual Interview Training for Transition-Age Autistic Youth in Pre-Employment Transition Services. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 58(2), 139-154, https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-230004