Educational Psychologist Erin Rotheram-Fuller

She Loves the Sun (and Her Son)

Educational psychologist Erin Rotheram-Fuller is an associate professor of special education at Arizona State University who has worked with individuals with autism for over 13 years. Before participating in a panel on how to teach children with autism, she talked about both her son—who was born in 2011—and the Phoenix sun, which she is relishing, in the Zócalo green room.

Q:

If you didn’t live in Phoenix, where would you be?


A:

I just moved to Phoenix. I would probably be back in Los Angeles; that’s where I’m from.


Q:

What’s your favorite thing about Phoenix so far?


A:

The sun. It is always sunny here. I was in Philadelphia for the last six years, so waking up every day to sun has been a wonderful change.


Q:

What’s been the most important year of your life so far?


A:

2011. I had my son.


Q:

Whom do you go to for advice?


A:

My mother.


Q:

What’s your fondest childhood memory?


A:

Christmas morning. My family always made it a big deal.


Q:

If you could live in any time period, which would you choose?


A:

The future. Things keep getting better, and I imagine it would be even better in the future.


Q:

What’s your favorite condiment?


A:

Ketchup.


Q:

What’s the fastest way to bore you to sleep—or tears?


A:

Reading really long dissertations.


Q:

What reality TV show would you be on?


A:

Survivor.


Q:

What was the last thing that inspired you?


A:

I think again I go back to my son. He’s probably the most inspiration to me on a regular basis, to think about where he’s going to be in five to 10 years, and what needs to change in education especially when he goes through.


*Photo by Felipe Ruiz-Acosta.
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