Dr. Michael Hannon to Speak at UNC Autism Research Center Conference for Fathers

The third annual University of North Carolina (UNC) Autism Fathers Conference is set for April 30, 2022, on zoom. It will be hosted by Joe Piven, MD, and will feature speakers Robert Naseef, PhD, and Michael Hannon, MEd, PhD, both fathers of children with autism and co-facilitators of a fathers’ group in Philadelphia. The 2022 UNC Autism Fathers Conference is a 2-hour event for fathers who have children of all ages with autism spectrum disorder. This year’s virtual conference will feature in-depth conversations about the lived experience of being the father of an autistic child. The event will provide an opportunity to acknowledge the unique parenting challenges faced by fathers who have children with autism, provide information and access to resources, and help fathers and their families function better.

Dr. Michael Hannon is an Associate Professor in the Counseling Department. He is a highly sought-after lecturer, consultant, and collaborator. He takes great pride in leveraging his lived experiences and his professional counseling experience in K-12, student affairs, and clinical settings in the classroom and to his research. Dr. Hannon’s research primarily focuses on Black men’s wellness, with a focus on the value they derive from their roles as fathers, community leaders, clients, and counselor educators. He has been a featured contributor to media outlets and organizations such as Autism Speaks, Thrive Global, Fusion, Neurodiversity Experts, and Huffington Post. His forthcoming book, Black Fathering and Mental Health will be published by Peter Lang in spring 2022.