Christopher J. Manente, Ph.D., BCBA, is the Founding Executive Director of the RCAAS and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice at the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied Professional Psychology (GSAPP). Dr. Manente's previous roles included serving as an Assistant Professor of Education at Caldwell University, as a consultant supporting students with ASD in schools throughout New Jersey, and serving as the Senior Program Coordinator of Adult Services at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC) at Rutgers University.

Dr. Manente has authored articles in peer-reviewed journals, coauthored book chapters, and has presented at numerous local, national and international conferences on a variety of topics related to the advancement of community-based educational, vocational, and residential opportunities for older learners with autism.