Faculty Spotlights

EDUCATION:

• Ph.D., Counselor Education, Florida Atlantic University
• M.Ed., Counselor Education, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, Florida Atlantic University
• B.S., Counseling Psychology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

TITLES:

• Associate Professor, Department of Counselor Education, specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

RESEARCH:

• Innovative Approaches to Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation for Individuals with Disabilities
• Advanced Technology Applications in Job Skills Training, including Augmented Reality and Virtual Interventions
• Enhancing Therapeutic Alliance and Client Engagement in Rehabilitation Counseling
• Community-Based Initiatives for Veteran Support and Mental Health
• Culturally-Responsive Counseling and International Rehabilitation Practices

RECENT PUBLICATIONS (PAST YEAR):

• Torres, A., Kearney, K., Downey, A., & Tedesco, C. (2023). Self-determination development among college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A longitudinal study. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. 38(2), 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576221133491
• Torres, A., Kaya, C., & Akinola, O. (2023). Investigating measurement invariance, validity, and reliability of the 8-item vocational rehabilitation engagement scale with a sample of multilingual clients. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552221147217
• Kearney, K., Torres, A., & Quezada, S. (2023). Teaching young adults with visual impairment and intellectual/developmental disability how to determine appropriate job fit. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-230038
• Torres, A., Freeman-Costin, K., Frankel, K. M., & Garbett, D. (2024). Community Engagement Methods Related to Veteran Studies: A Scoping Review. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 16(2), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.54656/jces.v16i2.504

NOTABLE AWARDS (LAST FIVE YEARS):

2023	Presidential Award for Outstanding Faculty-Led Community Engagement	Florida Atlantic University
2023	Researcher of the Year, Assistant Professor	Florida Atlantic University, College of Education
2021	Researcher of the Year, Assistant Professor	Florida Atlantic University, College of Education
2017	Outstanding Dissertation Award	Florida Atlantic University, College of Education

RECENT PROJECTS:

• Torres, Ayse (Principal Investigator). ACCESS-Technology: Advancing Career Choices for Employment Success in Technology. U.S Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration. Funded. $9,961,460. October 2024-2029.
• Torres, Ayse (Principal Investigator). XR-ENABLE: eXtended Reality to Empower Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for Employment. National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILLR). Field Initiated Program (FIP). Funded. $600,000. September 2024-2027.
• Torres, Ayse (Principal Investigator). Augmented Reality Enhanced Supported Employment for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Switzer Research Fellowships Program. Funded. $70,000. September 2023.

THOUGHTS TO SHARE:

The underlying theme of my research encompasses life transition counseling among vulnerable populations. Throughout our lives, we experience many transitions; some are predictable, such as transitioning out of school, entering into adult life, and some are unpredictable, such as acquiring a physical or mental disability due to a traumatic accident. There are also major transitions that impact communities at large, but are not well-understood, such as military veterans’ reintegration into civilian life. Adaptation to changes can be challenging and may lead to less than optimal mental health, which is detrimental to the individuals’ wellbeing. Appropriate rehabilitation services to help prepare individuals for change or adaptation are critical, especially for individuals with disabilities and their families.

My research has evolved in the following areas: youth with disabilities entering into workforce, veterans reintegrating into civilian life, and community-based programs for people with disabilities.