PSU History
Dora M Raymaker has been engaged with the PSU community since 2004, first as a student and research associate. After receiving their PhD in Complex Systems (formerly Systems Science) in 2015, Dr. Raymaker continued as a research professor at the Regional Research Institute for Human Services (RRI) in the School of Social Work. More recently, Dr. Raymaker has started serving as extended faculty in the Complex Systems program in the School of Earth, Environment, and Society.
program in the School of Earth, Environment, and Society.
Experience
Dr. Raymaker is a Research Associate Professor at Portland State University’s Regional Research Institute for Human Services in the School of Social Work and Complex Systems program in the School of Earth, Environment, and Society. Dr. Raymaker is the founding Co-director of the Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE), and an editor for the academic journal Autism in Adulthood. They are a founding member of the International Society for Autism Research's (INSAR) Autistic Researcher Committee (ARC), and a long-term Scientific Review board member for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). Dr. Raymaker is a member of PSU's Social Determinants of Health Initiative (SDHI).
Academic/Research Interests
Dr. Raymaker’s research interests include community-engaged research, systems thinking, measurement, and the dynamics at the intersection of science, society, and disability. In application, Dr. Raymaker conducts services intervention research in collaboration with disability communities to improve employment outcomes, increase self-determination, and reduce discrimination and stigma.
Current Courses
- SSW630 – Philosophy of Science for the Social Sciences (odd-numbered Fall terms)
- SYSC510 – Interdisciplinary Research Design (Winter)
- SYSC513 – Holistic Strategies for Problem Solving (Spring)
- HIP538 – Community Engaged Research (Summer, through OHSU OCTRI’s HIP program)
Past Courses
Personal Interests
In their remaining three minutes of free time, they enjoy writing fiction and making multimedia art. Dr. Raymaker is the author of neurodivergent own voices speculative fiction, including the science fiction mystery novel "Hoshi and the Red City Circuit".