Dr. Peter Gerhardt

Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D., The Executive Director of the EPIC School in Paramus, NJ.  Dr. Gerhardt has more than 35-years of experience utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis in support of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in educational, employment, residential and community-based settings. He has authored and co-authored numerous articles and book chapters on the needs of adolescents and adults with ASD. He has presented nationally and internationally on this topic.  Dr. Gerhardt is the Founding Chairman of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research and currently Co-Chairs the Council with Dr. Joanne Gerenser. He is on several professional advisory boards including the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. Dr. Gerhardt received his doctorate from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey’s Graduate School of Education. 

Dr. Amanda Kelly

Dr. Amanda N. Kelly received her PhD in Behavior Analysis from Simmons College in Massachusetts and is the owner and Executive Director for Keiki Educational Consultants, Inc., a private consulting company based on Oahu. Dr. Kelly has been licensed as an elementary education teacher for the past 15 years and certified as a Behavior Analyst for the last 10.

In 2012, Dr. Kelly became the first recipient of the “Jerry Shook Practitioner of the Year Award”, awarded by the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT). In 2014, Dr. Kelly was recognized for her advocacy efforts and was awarded a scholarship from Autism Speaks, which allowed her to attend the Autism Law Summit in Nashville.

Dr. Kelly published two articles in 2015: Effects of Presession Pairing for Children with Autism (Behavioral Interventions) and Blurred Lines: Ethical Implications of Social Media (Behavior Analysis in Practice). Dr. Kelly is also a proud co-author of the 2015 Hawaii licensure for behavior analysts state law. Dr. Kelly teaches for the University of West Florida and George Mason University, offers BCBA Exam Prep courses through the Global Autism Project, serves as ABA Marketing Liaison for Relias Learning, and works part-time as a K8 Counselor at Assets Elementary in Honolulu.

Dr. Allen Karsina

From his Western New England faculty page: I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked with children and adolescents for over two decades, and for much of that time I have also had the good fortune to be able to teach behavior analysis and research methods courses to graduate students.  As Director of Professional Development at NECC, I have a strong interest in research in staff training techniques, but I also have interest in learning more about reinforcement, skill acquisition, and choice.

Dr. Amanda Karsten

Amanda Karsten is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Western New England University. Dr. Karsten serves on the editorial boards for Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior.  Dr. Karsten’s clinical and scholarly interests include early intensive behavioral intervention, professional decision making, and teaching complex social skills. In addition to advising students in the Master’s and Doctoral programs in Behavior Analysis at WNEU, Dr. Karsten collaborates with Dr. Bonni Alpert, Dean of Student Disability Services, to deliver a peer-mediated social and academic support program for college students diagnosed with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Dr. Nicholas Vanselow

From Dr. Vanselow's bio: "I am very interested in the combination of behavior analytic and computer technology for improving socially meaningful behavior. My interests are mostly in the realm of health, wellness, and safety; however, discovering any way to use technology to make people more effective is an exciting prospect. Recently, I created a mobile (Android and iOS) and web application (PHP, HTML, etc.) for tracking Continuing Education Units (CEUs) at conferences called CEUHelper. However, I have been applying technology to aid behavior analysts since my first programming attempt that aimed to make data collection more efficient by creating an app for some of the earliest mobile devices (before smart phones and iPads) using VB .NET. I hope to continue to find ways to combine my interests in behavior analysis and computer programming to improve the lives of others.

Dr. Nick Green

Nick Green, is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and the CEO of BehaviorFit.  Nick focuses on improving the health of others through practice and research. Nick received a degree in psychology from Purdue University, a masters in organizational behavior management from Florida Institute of Technology, and is currently enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of Florida.  

Nick’s previous experiences include five years of clinical work with individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities, working within organizations to evaluate and improve processes, managing and overseeing the training of small teams.  His experience and education bring a unique perspective when designing pro-health solutions.  Nick’s main focus and research interest in reducing sedentary behavior (too much sitting) in the workplace. His passion is: “Improving human performance and health with behavior analysis.”  When Nick is not in a book or writing, he enjoys training his dog Pete, improving productivity, photography, Olympic weightlifting, and CrossFit.

Dr. Judah B. Axe

Judah B. Axe, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is an Associate Professor of Education and Behavior Analysis at Simmons College and the Director of the Special Education Program at Simmons.  Dr. Axe received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from The Ohio State University.  He conducts research with children with autism and related disabilities in the areas of verbal, social, and challenging behavior.  Three current research topics are the effects of problem solving on recalling past events, antecedent and consequent variables influencing social commenting (i.e., tacting), and the effects of presession pairing on compliance and problem behavior.  Dr. Axe's research has been recognized by the California Association for Behavior Analysis and the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT).  He serves on the editorial boards of the The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, Behavior Analysis and Practice, and the International Journal of Behavior Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Dr. Axe serves as the Chair of the Verbal Behavior Special Interest Group of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), the Co-Coordinator of the Verbal Behavior Area for the ABAI Conference, the Chair of the Student Relations Committee of BABAT, and a Trustee and the Continuing Education Coordinator of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies.

Dr. Sandy Jin

Sandy Jin, Ph.D. BCBA-D, currently teaches at the California State University, Northridge. She received her doctoral degree in Behavior Analysis from Western New England University, under the mentorship of Dr. Gregory Hanley, and has been applying the principles of learning to improve the lives of individuals for over ten years. Prior to her current post, she served as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University and co-directed the children’s sleep program at Western New England University. She received her B.S. and M.S. training in psychology with an emphasis in behavior analysis from the University of California, San Diego, and the California State University, Los Angeles, where she worked with Dr. Edmund Fantino and Dr. Hank Schlinger. She has published in areas such as the assessment and treatment of sleep problems in young children and function-based interventions for severe problem behavior associated with autism. Dr. Jin’s scholarly and clinical interests include sleep problems, behavioral medicine, behavioral pediatrics, child development, early life skills, sustainable behavior, and function-based interventions.

Dr. William H. Ahearn

Bill Ahearn joined The New England Center for Children® in August 1996, and currently serves as the Director of Research.  He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in Northeastern University’s graduate program in Applied Behavior Analysis and Adjunct Faculty in Western New England University’s doctoral program.  Bill was named the 2009 American PsychologicalAssociation – Division 25 awardee for Enduring Contributions to Applied Behavioral Research.  Bill is the ACE® coordinator for providing BCBA continuing education at NECC® and for the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy.  He also serves on the Autism Advisory Committees for the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts and the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies.  Bill’s research interests include social skills in children with autism, verbal behavior, assessment and treatment of stereotypy, severe problem behavior, and pediatric feeding difficulties.  He is also interested in resistance to change, behavioral economics, and conditioned reinforcement.  His work has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Behavioral Interventions, Behavior Modification, The Lancet, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and has written book chapters on teaching children with autism and pediatric feeding problems in children with autism.  Bill is currently on the Editorial Boards for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, and Behavioral Interventions and has served as a guest reviewer for several other journals.  He has also been Principal Investigator on a NIH-funded grant with Dr. William Dube, is co-Principal Investigator with Dr. Becky MacDonald on a grant funded by the Organization for Autism Research, and is a past-President of the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy.

Dr. Mallory Quinn

Mallory is a Board Certified Behavior Analysis and holds her Ph.D., as the first graduate of the University of South Florida’s Applied Behavior Analysis Doctoral program. She has her masters in ABA from USF under the advisement of Raymond Miltenberger. Her clinical work in behavior analysis has included parent training for children in foster care, staff training, work with children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, and teaching multiple undergraduate courses in behavior analysis at the University of South Florida, as well as developing online course material for courses in USF’s online Applied Behavior Analysis masters program. Her clinical interests include teaching, disseminating ABA, and staff training.

 During her time in the masters and doctoral program, she conducted research in applying behavior analysis principles to sports training, to enhance the quality of dance training of competitive dancers, and decrease the use of training methods, which focus on the use of aversive contingencies and/or punishment. She wrote a manual titled the POINTE System (POsitive INTerventions to Enhance the performance of dancers), with co-authors Kwang-Sun Blair, PhD, BCBA-D and Raymond Miltenberger, PhD, BCBA-D, so that these procedures can be disseminated to dance instructors in a user-friendly format. She tested the efficacy and feasibility of this manual in a three part study for her dissertation. She currently has three published studies on using ABA to enhance dance performance for competitive dancers in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Journal of Behavior Analysis in Practice, and Behavioral Interventions, and has also supervised multiple studies in this area as well as in the area of teaching dance to individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Additionally, Mallory continues to be an avid musical theater performer in productions across Tampa, Florida, and surrounding areas. She works as a musical theater and dance instructor at two local dance studios and also as a Pure Barre fitness instructor. Periodically she choreographs local musical productions as well. She is also the owner and creator of Applied Behavior Analysis Sports Innovations (ABASI) LLC (abasportsinnovations.com). You can contact her at malloryquinn@abasportsinnovations.com.

Mallory’s passion is to disseminate ABA to less known areas and individuals outside of scientists in our field, and to continue to fuse our science with athletic coaching and lesser known areas of application such as performing arts, to create more positive and effective training procedures for all involved.

Devon Sundberg

Devon Sundberg received her bachelors in psychology from Indiana University Bloomington, IN, and her masters in applied behavior analysis (ABA) from St. Cloud State University, Minnesota. Devon is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She has been practicing ABA as a behavior technician, parent trainer and clinical director for over 10 years. Devon and her husband, Dr. Carl Sundberg, BCBA-D, opened the Behavior Analysis Center for Autism (BACA) in 2009 and serve 120 clients in four different locations through a variety of programs. Devon and Carl are proud of their most important responsibility, their three daughters.

Cormac MacManus

Cormac MacManus is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and an ACE Training and Implementation Specialist at the New England Center for Children (NECC). Cormac works with school districts and special education centers around the north east to support the implementation of a web-based curriculum and assessment platform to teach students with developmental disabilities. Cormac received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and masters degree in applied behavior analysis from Ulster University in Ireland, and is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in behavior analysis at Western New England University. 

Cormac’s previous experiences include eight years of clinical work with individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities at NECC, working across multiple areas and settings within the organization including day, home-based, intensive treatment, and residential programs. Cormac has worked with clients ranging from 4-22 years, moderate to severe needs, in the capacity of a direct care staff and supervisor of a team of 30 staff members.  Cormac’s main focus and research interests include response persistence, assessment and treatment of challenging behavior, play, and verbal behavior. Cormac teaches verbal behavior and concepts and principles of behavior analysis as an adjunct professor at University of Massachusetts Boston. Cormac enjoys reading crime and graphic novels, listening to podcasts, and teaching his toddler and wife 80s and 90s pop culture in his spare time.

Katherine McLaughlin

Katherine McLaughlin, M.Ed. is an expert on sexuality and developmental disabilities, has taught sexuality education to people with developmental disabilities as well as trained them to be peer sexuality educators themselves. She has trained nationally at conferences and workshops, has developed and led parent workshops on Talking to Your Kids with Disabilities about Sexuality, and has trained staff on how to address sexuality with people with disabilities. Katherine has co-authored two curricula for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England: Sexuality Education for Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Sexual Violence in Teenage Lives. Katherine worked as a sexuality educator and trainer for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England for over 20 years. She now leads workshops as a private consultant and also teaches Human Sexuality at Keene State College in NH.

Whitney Hammel

Whitney Hammel is the Executive Director and Co-founder of Autism Compassion Africa located in Cape Coast, Ghana. She has over 9 years of experience directly working in the field of autism, mostly with the New England Center for Children, along with many years of education. Whitney holds a BS in Early Childhood Development and Special Education from the University of Idaho, a MSEd in Severe Special Needs Education from Simmons College, and completed two additional years from University of West Florida to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst specializing in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis service delivery. Her work experience ranges from ages 20 months to 21 years; working in a residential facility, home/community settings with families, consulting in general education classrooms for inclusion, implementing social skills groups, supervising future BCBAs, and working in ABA centers across 4 countries (United States of America, United Arab Emirates, India and Ghana). Whitney's passion has led her to Ghana where she intends to stay to make a lasting impact across West Africa championing human rights advocacy, quality special education services and disseminating the science of ABA.

Dr. James Soldner

Dr. James L. Soldner is an Assistant Professor and core faculty in the Rehabilitation Counseling graduate program within the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development (SGISD). He conducts scholarly research, teaches graduate coursework, and is involved in various service activities within SGISD. Dr. Soldner has published scholarly research on a range of topics generally related to rehabilitation and behavior analysis. He has facilitated 80+ presentations at academic conferences and training seminars at the local, state, national, and international levels. His current research and teaching interests include the applications of behavior analysis to rehabilitation, evidence-based practice in rehabilitation, contemporary issues in rehabilitation administration and leadership, brain injury rehabilitation, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Before joining SGISD, Soldner held faculty appointments at Utah State University and Assumption College. He has an extensive clinical background providing services to individuals with disabilities in a wide variety of rehabilitation and educational settings. Dr. Soldner is a certified rehabilitation counselor, doctoral-level board certified behavior analyst, and licensed applied behavior analyst in Massachusetts.

Amy Weinstock

Amy Weinstock is the Director of the Autism Insurance Resource Center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, and an instructor in the medical school’s Department of Psychiatry. She has an extensive background on insurance issues related to autism and has played a key role in passing several significant pieces of autism insurance legislation in Massachusetts, including the groundbreaking 2010 law requiring health insurance to cover medically necessary treatment for autism. Amy also serves as a Commissioner on the State’s Autism Commission.

Following a successful career in real estate and banking, Amy, the parent of a child on the autism spectrum, decided to merge her personal passions and professional experience. She completed a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) fellowship at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center in 2005. Following this, she served as President of the outreach organization of the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital for two years prior to her appointment as Chair of the Insurance Committee for Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM).

Amy’s work has been recognized through numerous awards including the Margaret L. Bauman Award for Excellence, the Massachusetts ARC’s Distinguished Citizens Award, the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation Essential piece award, and the Northeast ARC’s Edward C. O’Keefe Memorial Award. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and received a Masters of Architecture from Harvard University.

Dr. Mary-Kate Carey

Mary-Kate Carey, PhD, BCBA, LBA is the Clinical Director of the ABA Outpatient Clinic at Glenwood, Inc in Birmingham, AL. Clinically, her interests include providing early-intensive-behavioral intervention to young children with autism, supporting families as they begin ABA therapy, and training new staff to implement behavior analytic techniques. Her research interests have included identifying efficient data collection strategies and investigating the various stimulus functions of tokens. Personally, Mary-Kate enjoys being a Mom to her two-year old little girl, watching Netflix documentaries with her husband, and prepping for the 2018 College Football season.   

Dr. Jamie Hughes-Lika

Dr. Hughes-Lika has been providing evidence-based services for children with autism and related disorders for over 22 years. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) and a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in the state of Nevada. She is also an Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) Certified Therapist. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Psychology and Sociology from Saint Ambrose University, and a Master of Arts degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Ohio State University, studying under Professors Cooper, Heron, and Heward. In 2015, she earned her PhD in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from the University of Kent, in the UK. Her dissertation focused on the development of a 12-week parent-mediated naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI) for toddlers with ASD.

Dr. Hughes-Lika is passionate about the dissemination of behavior analysis. In 2015, she was the recipient of the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA) International Development Grant for her research and efforts to promote behavior analysis in Albania. Additionally, she conducts university lectures on behavior analysis and provides a competency-based supervision model for individuals interested in pursuing BACB certification. Her research interests include the development of systematic supervision programs, the use of technology in competency-based supervision, parent-coaching interventions, and the dissemination of behavior analysis in Southeastern Europe. She presents at national and international conferences and her research studies are currently under review for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Joshua Jessel

Dr. Joshua Jessel completed his master’s degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where he also worked with children with severe problem behavior as a clinical specialist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute on the neurobehavioral inpatient unit. He went on to earn his doctoral degree under the mentorship of Dr. Gregory Hanley at Western New England University with his primary research focusing on the assessment and treatment of problem behavior exhibited by children with autism. Dr. Jessel continued to extend this line of research as a postdoctoral fellow at a clinic in Fort Worth, Texas where he oversaw nearly 100 children with autism admitted to an outpatient program. Dr. Jessel has currently published over 15 articles in multiple peer-reviewed journals including the flagship journal, the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, where he is serving on the editorial board. He has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at four universities and he is currently an assistant professor at Queens

Dr. Sarah Lechago

Dr. Sarah Lechago is an Associate Professor in the Behavior Analysis master’s program at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). She directs the UHCL Verbal Behavior Clinic (VBC) and co-directs the UHCL Connecting the Dots program. Her research interests include verbal behavior, student and caregiver training, motivating operations, and diversity, inclusion, and equity. She has published in numerous journals including JABA, JEAB, and TAVB. Dr. Lechago serves as the founder and chair of the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis (TxABA) organization's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Everyone (EDIE) committee. She is currently an Associate Editor for The Analysis of Verbal Behavior (TAVB) journal. She approaches instruction, research, and clinical supervision from a scientific and equity-minded perspective.  

Dr. Solandy Forte

Solandy Forte, PhD, LCSW, LBA, BCBA-D, is the Director of Consultation Services and Community Outreach at Milestones Behavioral Services.  She is a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst licensed in Connecticut and Massachusetts and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  Dr. Forte provides consultation services to the school programs at Milestones serving individuals with a diverse set of complex learning needs.  In addition to providing direct consultation to children within the private school setting she also has provided consultation to multi-disciplinary teams within the public school setting where she assisted with program development initiatives to promote building capacity for educating children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders within the least restrictive educational setting.  Dr. Forte has experience working with children and young adults with special needs in their homes, schools, and community settings. She is an adjunct professor for the Institute of Autism and Behavioral Studies at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut and the Institute of Behavioral Studies at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. 

Dr. Forte also has experience providing parent training, staff training, social skills training, and in-home behavior analytic services to children living in therapeutic foster homes with a wide range of developmental disabilities, mental health disorders, and autism, and related disorders. She is an active member of organizations advocating for the advancement of the behavior analytic profession. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Behavior Analyst Leadership Council (BALC) and has served on the Executive Council for the Connecticut Association for Behavior Analysts (CTABA). Dr. Forte has presented at regional and national conferences on topics related to staff training, behavioral assessment, navigating through cultural barriers, behavioral consultation, supervision, and ethics to name a few.She is an expert in the field who is committed to improving the quality of life of the individuals she serves.

Dr. Christopher Kearney

Christopher A. Kearney, Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor and Chair of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is also the Director of the UNLV Child School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders Clinic. Dr. Kearney received his B.A. in psychology and sociology from the State University of New York at Binghamton and his M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology from the State University of New York at Albany. He completed his internship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center before moving to Las Vegas.

Dr. Kearney’s research interests include school refusal behavior, selective mutism, posttraumatic stress disorder in maltreated youth, perfectionism, and other anxiety-related conditions in children and adolescents as well as issues of quality of life in persons with severe handicaps. He has published several books and numerous book chapters and journal articles on these topics (see links in left column for full information). Dr. Kearney also conducts workshops for school districts and mental health and other agencies regarding school refusal behavior and selective mutism (contact Dr. Kearney for more information at chris.kearney@unlv.edu).

Dr. Kearney is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 12; Clinical Psychology). He has received the William Morris Award for Scholarship, the Barrick Scholar Award, the Barrick Distinguished Scholar Award, the Harry Reid Silver State Research Award, the Distinguished Teaching Award, the Alumni Association Outstanding Faculty Award, the UNLV Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award, the Academic Advisor Award-Graduate, the Donald Schmiedel Service Award, and a Black Mountain Institute Research Fellow Award from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi.

Dr. Adam Hahs

Dr. Adam D. Hahs is Director of the MS ABA Program in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University and is currently the President of the Arizona Association for Behavior Analysis (AZABA). He earned a PhD from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale where his research foci were language generativity, complex human behavior, and clinical behavior analysis with individuals with autism, traumatic brain injuries, and addiction. Dr. Hahs teaches courses in applied behavior analysis and advanced research methods. His research interests include language assessment and development, the PEAK Relational Training System, Relational Frame Theory, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Hahs has dedicated over 10 years to supporting and training others in a variety of settings via behavior analytic methods, and he views behavior analysis as science capable of facilitating widespread, societal change.

Dr. Justin B. Leaf

Justin Leaf, Ph.D., is the Direct of Research and Training for Autism Partnership Foundation. Justin received his doctorate degree in Behavioral Psychology from the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas. Currently, Justin leads the research team at Autism Partnership Foundation, which conducts research nationally and internationally. His research interests include examining methods to improve social behaviors for children and adolescents with autism and developing friendships, comparing different teaching methodologies, evaluating parameters of reinforcement, and evaluating long term outcomes for individuals diagnosed with autism. Justin has over 75 publications in either peer reviewed journals, books, or book chapters and has presented at both national and international professional conferences and invited events. Justin also recently edited a book entitled Handbook of Social Skills and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Assessment, Curricula, and Intervention. Justin is an Associate Editor for Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Justin also serves or has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disorders, and the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Dr. Jason C. Vladescu

Jason C. Vladescu, Ph.D., BCBA-D, NCSP, LBA(NY) is a partner at North Jersey Behavioral Health Services, an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Behavior Analysis at Caldwell University and a Clinical Supervisor in the Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 2010 with a Ph.D. in School Psychology. Dr. Vladescu completed his pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute. His research interests include early behavioral intervention for children with autism spectrum and related disorders, increasing the efficiency of academic instruction, staff training, applied applications of equivalence-based instruction, and mainstream applications of behavior analysis. He has published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, Behavioral Interventions, Behavior Analysis in Practice, The Psychological Record, Behavior Modification, Teaching of Psychology, Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, and the Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis. Jason is an associate editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and is on the editorial boards for Behavioral Development, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavioral Interventions, and School Psychology Quarterly.

Kim Walter

Kim Walter joined The New England Center for Children (NECC) in 2007 after graduating from Michigan State University.  She has had the pleasure of holding several teaching and clinical positions within NECC’s residential program, gaining experience working with individuals aged 5-22 years in a variety of settings.  In 2010, she earned a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University.  Shortly after, she worked abroad in the United Arab Emirates for a year providing behavior analytic services to a private family through NECC and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  Upon returning to Boston, she began a Ph.D. program in Behavior Analysis through Western New England University, examining behavioral resurgence.  In September 2015, Ms. Walter joined the ACE Department as a Training and Implementation Specialist.  In this position, she provides initial ACE System training and on-going support to clients.  

Dr. Rocio Rosales

Rocío Rosales is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Program Coordinator for the Master of Science in Autism Studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level (BCBA-D) and Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA). Dr. Rosales received her master’s and doctoral degrees from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She has several years of clinical and research working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities, as well as with their caregivers. She has mentored graduate students in their practical experiences in conjunction with coursework at three different universities over the past decade. Her research interests are focused on issues related to staff training and treatment integrity, acquisition of verbal behavior and derived stimulus relations in learners with and without developmental disabilities, and applications of behavior analysis to instructional design in higher education. Dr. Rosales currently serves as Associate Editor for The Psychological Record and for The Analysis of Verbal Behavior and previously served on the editorial board of The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Dr. Stacie Bancroft

Dr. Bancroft has worked at the New England Center for Children (NECC) for the past 18 years. She received her Masters in Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University and her Doctorate in Behavior Analysis from Western New England University. She is a Program Director at NECC and is on faculty in the Western New England University graduate program in behavior analysis. Her research lab focuses on behavior analytic approaches to increasing quality of life and developing broad-based leisure repertoires for individuals with developmental disabilities. Her work has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and Behavioral Interventions. She is also currently the President of BABAT, Massachusetts’ professional organization for Behavior Analysts.

Dr. Berglind Sveinbjörnsdóttir

Dr. Sveinbjörnsdóttir received her Ph.D. from Western New England University and is currently assistant professor at the Department of Psychology at Reykjavik University (RU), Iceland.  She is the director of the MSc in Applied Behavior Analysis at RU and serves as the president of the Icelandic association of Behavior Analysis (ICEABA). Her primary research focus is mainly in the area of problem behavior in transitions, pre-school life skills, and virtual reality.  She also specializes in consultation regarding assessment and treatment of challenging behavior.  

Dr. Casey Clay

Dr. Casey Clay earned his Ph.D. from Utah State University. He is a board certified behavior analyst-doctoral (BCBA-D) and a licensed behavior analyst (LBA) in the state of Missouri. He is also Director of Applied Behavior Intervention Services at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental disabilities. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Missouri. His research interests include reduction of severe problem behavior, functional analysis, choice arrangements for assessing preference, and parent and caregiver virtual reality training.

Kristen Lancaster and Arin Donovan

Kristen Lancaster (she/her) is a BCBA in Orlando FL and currently a doctoral student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her efforts to promote visibility for the gender nonconforming community are inspired by her 17 year old son as well as her co-presenter, Arin Donovan. She was recently part of a widely popular episode of the Behavioral Observations podcast on self-care and work/family balance and will be speaking at the upcoming ACT for Behavior Analysts Bootcamp in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Arin Donovan (they/them) is a BCBA in West Virginia, the owner of ARROW Health and Wellness, and doctoral student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. They recently publicly came out as non-binary in early 2018. Since then, their values of authenticity and being an agent for social change has driven their behavior to promote gender diversity, affirmation, and inclusion through education, language development and committed actions in the workplace and world at large.

Together, Arin and Kristen created the Confessions of a Behavior Analyst Facebook group, a growing community that fosters values based on honesty, humility and kindness through the shared human experience of being a behavior analyst. Those same values are at the forefront of every gender diversity training Arin and Kristen provide as they aim to promote cultural humility in the behavior analytic community. They recently presented a talk on gender diversity and inclusion at ABAI, were featured in an interview for the ACT for ABA Facebook group, and have presented various CEU events and trainings for organizations across the United States.

Dr. Einar Ingvarsson

Einar T. Ingvarsson, BCBA-D, LBA (Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2006) is Director of Clinical Services at Virginia Institute of Autism (www.viacenters.org) and Adjunct Faculty in the Curry School of Education at University of Virginia. He is former associate editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior and currently serves on the editorial boards of those journals, as well as the European Journal of Behavior Analysis and Behavioral Interventions. His research interests fall within the areas of verbal behavior, skill acquisition, and functional assessment and treatment of problem behavior. Einar has published over 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Amy Henley

Dr. Amy Henley, a board certified behavior analyst, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Western New England University. Amy received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California San Diego and her Masters and PhD in Behavior Analysis from the University of Kansas. Amy’s research primarily focuses on the application of behavioral economic methodology to evaluate the influence of choice and decision making on employee performance. Amy has published articles and book chapters on a variety of topics including instructional control, staff training, feedback, incentives, discounting, and demand. She has also served as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, The Psychological Record, Behavior Analysis Research and Practice, and the Journal of Behavioral Education.

Dr. Gina Green

Gina Green received a PhD in Psychology (Analysis of Behavior) from Utah State University in 1986 following undergraduate and master’s degree studies at Michigan State University. She has been a faculty member in Behavior Analysis and Therapy at Southern Illinois University; Director of Research at the New England Center for Children in Southborough, Massachusetts; Associate Scientist at the E.K. Shriver Center for Mental Retardation in Waltham, Massachusetts; Research Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School; a Lecturer in Public Health and Special Education at San Diego State University; and a consultant in private practice. Currently Dr. Green is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts. She has authored numerous publications on the treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities and brain injuries as well as the experimental analysis of behavior. Dr. Green co-edited the books Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism and Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism and is a co-author of Strategies and Tactics of Behavioral Research and Practice with James M. Johnston and Henry S. Pennypacker. She serves or has served on the editorial boards of several professional journals in developmental disabilities and behavior analysis and the advisory boards of several autism programs and organizations. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, former president of the Association for Behavior Analysis and the California Association for Behavior Analysis, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, a founding Director of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health, and the Association for Behavior Analysis. Other recognitions and awards include Psychology Today’s “Mental Health Professional of the Year” (2000); honorary Doctor of Science degree from The Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland (2005); California Association for Behavior Analysis Award for Outstanding Contributions to Behavior Analysis (2013); New York State Association for Behavior Analysis John W. Jacobson Award for Contributions to Behavior Analysis (2013); Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis & Therapy Sidman Award for Enduring Contributions to Applied Behavior Analysis (2014); Friend of the Kendall Centers, Modesto, CA (2014); Autism Speaks Provider of the Year (2014); Behavior Analyst Certification Board Michael Hemingway Award (2017); American Psychological Association Division 25 Don Hake Translational Research Award (2017); California Association for Behavior Analysis Gerald L. Shook Advocacy Award (2018); and ABA in PA Initiative Trailblazer Advocate Award (2019). Dr. Green lectures and consults widely on autism and related disorders, behavioral research, effective interventions for people with disabilities, and public policies affecting the practice of applied behavior analysis.

Dr. Elizabeth Hughes Fong

Dr. Hughes Fong has over two decades of experience in the fields of behavioral health, education and management. Her educational background is in clinical and counseling psychology and applied behavior analysis. She hold PhD in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology.

In 2011, Dr. Hughes Fong founded Multicultural Alliance of Behavior Analysts (MultiABA), now call the Diversity and Culture SIG. This is a special interest group of the Association of Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Dr. Hughes Fong is the founder of “Diversity in Behavior Analysis” a section in Behavior Analysis Research and Practice, and serves as an Associate Editor for the journal. This section focuses on the diverse application of behavior analysis. Dr. Hughes Fong, also serves on the Executive Committee for the American Psychological Association's (APA) Division 35, as the Website Coordinator. She has been a reviewer for Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and the National Multicultural Conference and Summit. She is also a "Distinguished Scholar" with the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, and a member Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI)  Diversity, Respect, and Inclusion Task Force

In addition to Dr. Hughes Fong activities, she is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and licensed as a Behavior Specialist in Pennsylvania, a trainer in the Pennsylvania Bureau of Autism’s Functional Behavior Analysis training, and has received training certificates in the area of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy Childhood Traumatic Grief. In addition, she received her level one certification in Pivotal Response Training and Gottman Couples Therapy. Her primary areas of interest are in the application of ABA to multicultural populations, telehealth, social validity, health and behavior analysis, and examining child custody and parental competency when a child has developmental disabilities.

Dr. Darren Sush

Darren Sush is a licensed clinical psychologist and a board-certified behavior analyst (doctoral) with over 15 years experience developing and participating in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children and adults diagnosed with autism and developmental disabilities. He is an adjunct faculty member in the Behavioral Psychology program at Pepperdine University, and an associate professor in the ABA and Clinical Psychology programs at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, teaching doctoral and master’s courses on ethics in applied behavior analysis and psychology. He is the co-author of 'A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis' and is a Health Services Senior Advisor, Peer Reviewer with Cigna. Dr. Sush has presented at regional and national applied behavior analytic- and autism-focused conferences, and writes for Psychology Today online, focusing on resources and mental health for parents of children with autism and special needs.

Dr. Adel Najdowski

Adel Najdowski, Ph.D., BCBA-D is an Associate Professor and the Director and founder of the Master of Science in Behavioral Psychology program at Pepperdine University. Dr. Najdowski has over 40 publications including her books, Flexible and Focused! Teaching Executive Function Skills to Individuals with Autism and Attention Disorders and A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis. She currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and has previously served for Behavior Analysis in Practice and as a Guest Editor for a special issue in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Her research interests include teaching higher-order skills to children with autism. She is a frequent speaker at conference and on radio and web-based shows.

Matt Cicoria

Matt Cicoria is a behavioral and educational consultant in private practice, providing services to school and community settings in New Hampshire and Vermont. Matt earned his B.A. in Psychology at the University of New Hampshire, and then his M.S. in Psychology at Auburn University under the supervision of Dr. Jim Johnston. After graduate school, Matt went to work in the field of Developmental Disabilities, with tenures at large organizations such as AdvoServ and the Institute of Professional Practice. In 2002, Matt earned his BCBA certificate, and in 2007, he started an independent consulting practice, Positive Behavioral Outcomes, LLC. His clinical interests include the assessment and treatment of problem behaviors in public school settings, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Precision Teaching.

As a dissemination project, Matt created The Behavioral Observations Podcast, in February of 2016. The podcast publishes long-form interviews with leading behavior analysts, in which current topics in the field are discussed in a casual format. Since its inception, the show has been downloaded over 1.5 million times, and has reached audiences in over 100 countries. Matt, along with Dr. Lisa Britton, is the author of Remote Fieldwork Supervision for BCBA© Trainees. He lives in the Lake Sunapee area of New Hampshire with his wife and three children.

Dr. Adithyan (Dithu) Rajaraman

Dr. Adithyan (Dithu) Rajaraman has been applying the principles of learning to improve socially important behaviors of children with and without disabilities for 12 years. After providing in-home care to young children with autism as an undergraduate, he worked and trained at the New England Center for Children (NECC) in Boston, MA, as well as in Abu Dhabi, UAE. While at NECC, Dithu earned a Master’s degree in severe-needs special education from Simmons College (2014) and obtained board certification in behavior analysis through Western New England University (WNEU; 2016). Dithu recently completed his Doctorate in behavior analysis at WNEU, under the advisement of Dr. Greg Hanley. Dithu’s research and practice interests include the assessment, treatment, and prevention of problem behavior, caregiver training related to the address of problem behavior, and expanding the scope of behavior-analytic services to under-resourced settings. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at UMBC, where he teaches and mentors undergraduate students in basic and applied behavior analysis. 

Dr. John O’Neill

Dr. John O'Neill is Founder and Director of Research at the Contextual Behavioral Science Institute (www.cbsinstitute.org) and has over a decade of experience in research administration. He earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology, a master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida, and a doctoral degree with a specialization in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University. He is a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He has published numerous works including book chapters, peer-reviewed research, and professional magazine articles. His areas of expertise are in the analysis and improvement of police academy training, expert witness testimony, and curriculum development. Dr. O'Neill currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 

Dr. Mary Barbera

Dr. Mary Barbera “fell” into the autism world in 1999 when her first-born son, Lucas was diagnosed with autism. Over the past 2 decades, Mary transformed from a confused and overwhelmed parent to a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and best-selling author of The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders published in 2007. After earning a PhD, Mary launched her first online course in early 2015 and later built a membership program to help both parents and autism professionals.

In her online courses, Mary teaches her unique step by step system and method to help children with autism (or signs of autism) talk more while reducing or eliminating tantrums and other problem behaviors.  Mary is also an expert on increasing language, reducing problem behaviors, and improving sleep, eating and potty training in kids with and without autism. 

Mary is an award-winning online marketer and publishes video blogs and the Turn Autism Around podcast every week.  In addition to appearing as a guest on TV, radio, podcasts, summits and webinars, Mary offers free online workshops for both parents and professionals to learn more about her approach at marybarbera.com/workshops.  Her next book will be published in 2021 by Hay House and will focus on helping parents turn things around for young kids with signs of autism.

The Behavior Chefs (Clint Evans and Tony Chambers)

Clint Evans is the founder and creator and The Behavior Chef. Clint has spent a life of yo-yo dieting and a few years ago hit the highest point in his weight to date. After he and his wife both decided to make a behavioral change, he has lost a total of 60 pounds and continues to keep it off and strives to reach other goals related to weight loss and nutrition. Clint has been in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for the past 7 years. After becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, he noticed the field pushing into Health, Sports, and Fitness, but not much push was seen for specifically nutrition. This is where The Behavior Chef was born. 

Clint created the Behavior Chef to help others change their habits and contingencies surrounding nutrition, cooking, and misinformation that leads people into "fad diets" and away from sustainable, behavior change. He hopes that The Behavior Chef can open doors to avenues between the worlds of Nutrition and Behavior and hopes to inspire and help others change their lifestyles and habits for the better along the way.Tony Chambers is a BCBA living and working in Saint Louis, Missouri as the behavior analyst at Neuwoehner High School, a high school which specifically serves student with a variety of needs. Tony received his master’s in special education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and completed his BCBA coursework through Florida Institute of Technology. Beyond the daily grind of the school walls Tony’s interests lie in how behavior analysis could be utilized to help individuals learn to be better cooks. Increased skills in the kitchen lead to decreasing response effort of healthy food prep and consumption. As an obsessive home cook of 15 years, he joined Clint Evans’ venture, The Behavior Chef, in early 2019. Together they are researching the relationship between behavior and nutrition in hopes to confirm Applied Behavior Analysis as a viable and important role in an individual’s overall wellness journey.

Dr. Francesca degli Espinosa

Francesca began her career in behaviour analysis working as a tutor for a child with autism, in the UK in 1996. During that time she became interested in interventions that could both define and establish generalised learning: the ability to demonstrate novel responses within and across operant classes without each individual response having been previously reinforced. She was the Lead Clinician for the first UK-based EIBI outcome study (Remington et al., 2007) at the University of Southampton and within that context developed the Early Behavioural Intervention Curriculum (EBIC) an intervention framework derived from functional analyses of language to establish generative multiply controlled verbal behaviour, which subsequently formed the principal focus of her Ph.D. (2011).

Her clinical and research interests focus on advanced applications of contemporary analyses of verbal behaviour (Horne & Lowe, 1996; Michael, Palmer, & Sundberg, 2011) as a basis for teaching generalised verbal repertoires, and, thereby, as a means of minimising the need to teach specific individual verbal responses. Currently, she runs a small diagnostic and assessment clinic in the UK and teaches behaviour analysis at the University of Salerno, Italy, her home country.

Dr. James Carr

James E. Carr, PhD, BCBA-D is the Chief Executive Officer of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. His professional interests include behavior analyst credentialing, behavioral assessment and treatment of developmental disabilities, verbal behavior, and practitioner training. Dr. Carr has published over 150 journal articles and book chapters on these and other topics and this work has been cited over 6,000 times. Dr. Carr is a Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and has received awards from APBA, APA’s Division 25, and Autism Speaks. He is the past editor-in-chief of The Analysis of Verbal Behavior and has served on the editorial boards of 11 behavior analysis journals, including 4 appointments as associate editor. Dr. Carr is the past president of the Colorado, Alabama, and Mid-American Associations for Behavior Analysis. He received his doctorate in 1996 from Florida State University under the mentorship of Dr. Jon Bailey and previously served on the behavior analysis faculties at University of Nevada-Reno (1996-1999), Western Michigan University (1999-2008), and Auburn University (2008-2011).

Colleen Callahan

Colleen Callahan has been a special educator in the public school system for 13 years, working with young children who have developmental disorders and challenging behaviors that interfere with their access to school. Colleen has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst for 6 of those years. She really appreciates a well crafted form. When she’s not running the VB-MAPP or creating data sheets, she enjoys cooking, reading, boxing, and listening to music. Colleen lives in Worcester, MA with her husband, two sons, and dog, where she currently misses people and going outside.

Dr. Derek Reed

Dr. Derek Reed is a Scientist in the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment and an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas where he directs the Applied Behavioral Economics Laboratory. He has served as Associate Editor for the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and The Psychological Record. Dr. Reed has over 150 publications, coauthored three edited books, and has won numerous awards for his scholarship, such as the American Psychological Association Division 25 B. F. Skinner Foundation New Applied Researcher Award and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences Early Career Award. He is currently Coordinator of the ABAI Science Board and serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for the Quantitative Analyses of Behavior, of which he was previously Executive Director. Dr. Reed’s research investigates quantitative models of choice and reinforcer efficacy, as well as the role of reinforcer pathologies of health and addictive behaviors. Toward this end, he specializes in the development of behavioral economic measures of substances of abuse and risky health decisions, with the aim of using these concepts and measures to inform treatment and public policy.

Adrienne Bradley + Kat Jackson

Adrienne Bradley graduated from Central Michigan University in 2014 with a Bachelors in Exercise Science, and a minor in Psychology. After college she began working within the public school systems, where she found there was a need for services with students who were diagnosed with Autism. This is where her love for Applied Behavior Analysis began. In December, 2016, Adrienne began her masters at Wayne State University. She graduated in December 2018 with a masters in Education Psychology, and a concentration in Applied Behavioral Analysis, then became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in August of 2018. She has experience working with children and adolescents within the home, school, and clinic settings. Adrienne has experience in teaching coursework within ABA and being heavily involved in the community. Adrienne’s focus has been to provide education, experiences, and dissemination of ABA to under-served communities. As President of Black Applied Behavior Analyst, Adrienne’s passion is supporting communities of color and explosure to ABA.

Kat Jackson is a BCBA from Birmingham, AL and a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She earned a Master’s Degree in Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Applied Behavior Analysis at Arizona State University. After graduation, Kat launched her career as a BCBA for the Alabama State Department of Human Resources by teaching parenting courses and implementing parent training in the homes of foster, adoptive, and biological parents. She currently resides in Honolulu, Hawai’i where she provides behavior analytic services for the Hawai’i Department of Education. Along with her school and community work, Kat is the Owner of Applied Behavior Care, LLC where she provides ABA therapy, consultation, and supervision in the U.S. and abroad. As part of her mission to support underrepresented populations, Kat serves as Secretary and Mentorship Chair for Black Applied Behavior Analysts, Inc. When Kat is not immersed in her passion for ABA, she enjoys traveling the world and painting portraits.

Dr. Bryon Wine

Dr. Byron Wine received his PhD from Temple University. He has served in a variety of clinical, academic, and leadership roles in behavior analysis. Currently, he has an appointment as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Virginia and serves as the chief operating officer for The Faison Center, a non-profit organization serving individuals with ASD throughout the lifespan. He has over 30 peer reviewed publications, mostly in the area of organizational behavior management (OBM). He is the senior area coordinator for OBM at ABAI, Associate Editor for the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, and serves as the Executive Director of the OBMNetwork.

Dr. Catia Cividini-Motta

Catia Cividini-Motta, Ph.D., BCBA-D is an Instructor and Practicum Coordinator in ABA Program of the Department of Child and Family. Dr. Cividini-Motta coordinates practica of the Master’s program, teaches graduate level courses, and advises master’s and doctoral students. Dr. Cividini-Motta's research includes assessment and treatment of behavior problems, skill acquisition, and teaching procedures. She worked for over 9 years in a residential facility for individuals with disabilities with high intensity needs. Dr. Cividini-Motta is currently a Co-PI/Co-Director for Project EBAS, a personnel preparation project funded by OSEP which aims to prepare behavior analysts and school psychologists to provide evidence-based interventions for children with EBD.

Dr. Paula Braga Kenyon

Paula Kenyon is a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has been working in the field of Behavior Analysis since 1996. She currently serves as guest reviewer for a variety of peer-reviewed research journals, including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and Psychological Records. Her own research can be found in a multitude of peer reviewed journals including the European Journal of Behavior Analysis and Nature. Dr. Braga Kenyon’s research interests include stimulus control and discrimination learning. In addition, Dr. Braga Kenyon serves as adjunct faculty at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. With more than 20 years of professional experience, she has held various leadership positions in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis across the United States and Brazil. Dr. Braga Kenyon has led clinical teams in non-public school settings, served as the director for residential and severe behavior programs, and was responsible for the oversight of clinical teams across several states providing services thru health care funding.

Brian Middleton

Brian is a human. He believes that this view is essential to increase prosocial engagement. Brian is also neurodivergent. He is AuDHD (autistic & ADHD) and has a reading disability and has hearing impairments. Brian worked as a special education teacher for 7 years, 5 of which was as a middle school behavior specialist, before transitioning to being a full-time behavior analyst. He has a dual Bachelor's degree in social science composite and special education and a Masters of Education with administrative endorsement from Southern Utah University, and a post-master's certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from University of Cincinnati. He presently works as a BCBA in disability services and he specializes in assent-based, neurodivergent centered services, and in behavior analytic applications of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory (RFT). Brian started his social media persona, the Bearded Behaviorist, in December 2018. He started it with the intent to make learning behavior science fun and interesting. In January 2020, Brian started the Oh Behave! Podcast with the intent to disseminate behavior science learning with an open-source education approach. He is also the creator of the Functional Contextualist Newsletter.

Denisha Gingels and Arin Donovan (from Beautiful Humans Changecast)

Denisha Gingles is a passionate individual, BCBA, and owner/clinical director of a full service agency located in Baltimore, MD. To date, she has provided clinical services in Maryland, Missouri, and New York, as well as Kenya, Africa. In addition to behavior analysis, Denisha has received master level training in mental health counseling and is also a social justice activist/advocate; her key issue areas include criminal justice reform, education reform, and racial justice. She has served in a leadership and/or organizing capacity with various national organizations including: the Urban League, Gathering for Justice/Justice League NYC, and the Women’s March. Moving in alignment with her passion and values Denisha facilitates anti-oppression workshops which address privilege and social systems with an overarching goal of creating more change agents to work as accomplices for other targeted and marginalized groups in every sector of the human experience. She has successfully planned and executed multiple large scale social justice conferences. In addition, she has bolstered civic engagement by organizing city-wide voter registration campaigns.

Arin Donovan is a BCBA, adjunct faculty member at Capella University, co-owner of BH3, Inc, an organization that provides training, webinars and talks on gender diversity and inclusive practices, BACB supervision with a values-centered approach, and organizational consultation services to cultivate inclusive and affirming environments. They are also the co-founder of the Confessions of a Behavior Analyst Facebook group. Their core values of authenticity and being an agent for social change has driven their behavior to promote cultural humility, gender diversity, and affirmative practices through education, language development and a focus on committed actions in the workplace and world at large.

Dr. Jeffrey Tiger

Dr. Tiger is an associate professor of psychology and the behavior analysis program director at Marquette University. He completed his Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology at the University of Kansas under the guidance of Greg Hanley and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center with Wayne Fisher. Dr. Tiger is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and licensed behavior analyst in the state of Wisconsin. He has served on the board of editors of Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavioral Development, Perspectives on Behavioral Science,  and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA), and he is a current Associate Editor for JABA. He also received the BF Skinner New Researcher Award in 2012, awarded by Division 25 of the APA. Dr. Tiger’s research emphasizes the development of effective intervention practices for individuals with developmental disabilities, while extending our knowledge of the basic processes that result in behavior change. Some examples of his research include promoting delay tolerance following functional communication training, evaluating the value of choice-making opportunities, and developing stimulus control over social behavior through multiple-schedule arrangements.

Dr. Shane Spiker

Shane Spiker is a BCBA in Ormond Beach, Florida. Shane received his MS of Psychology in 2012 and accidentally received a second one in 2017 in Applied Psychology. In May 2019, he graduated with his PhD in Clinical Psychology with a concentration on instructional design. He has provided behavior analytic services for the last 10 years in a variety of capacities, including working with dangerous problem behavior, sexual behavior, and medically complex individuals. He also enjoys a good cup of coffee.

Primarily, Shane serves as the Director of Training and Dissemination at PBS, Corp. Currently, Shane is serving as the Vice President of the Sexual Behavior: Research and Practice SIG through ABAI. Additionally, he serves as a co-instructor at Florida Institute of Technology and Arizona State University, where he teaches graduate level coursework.

Dr. Megan Boyle

Dr. Megan Boyle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education at Missouri State University (MSU). She is a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and is a licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Missouri. She received her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and organizational behavior management from Florida Institute of Technology and her PhD from Utah State University in disability disciplines, with an emphasis in ABA. Dr. Boyle specializes in the assessment and treatment of severe behavior of individuals with autism, and her research agenda focuses on refining methods of functional analysis, functional communication training, schedule thinning, and preference assessments. Her work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavioral Interventions, and The Psychological Record. Dr. Boyle teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in behavior analysis in the Special Education program at MSU and provides supervision to graduate students accruing BCBA hours.

Worner Leland

Worner Leland, MS, BCBA, LBA (they/them/theirs) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a past president of the Sexual Behavior: Research and Practice SIG for the Association for Behavior Analysis International. 

Barb Gross​

Barbara Gross (she/her/hers) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator. She specializes in staff and caregiver training and development of sexual behavior intervention plans for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in school and clinical settings. She also works to coordinate with educators and other helping professionals to promote equity in access to comprehensive sexuality education for people with disabilities. Other areas of practice and research interests include pornography literacy, abuse prevention for children and adults with disabilities, and dissemination of behavior analysis and the potential it offers to promote healthy sexuality for people of all abilities.

Dr. Kelly O'Connell

Dr. O’Connell joined The New England Center for Children in 2005 after graduating from The University of Florida. She obtained a Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University in 2009, and a Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University in 2014. Dr. O’Connell has held many positions in the residential program at NECC before moving into her current department where she serves as the Assistant Director of Client Relations for the ACE® ABA Software System. In this role she helps to oversee and provide initial training and on-going support to ACE clients around the country. She really enjoys the opportunity to work with so many talented educators and clinicians and to support them in providing state-of-the-art educational tools for their learners. She is also an adjunct professor of Applied Behavior Analysis at Simmons University and enjoys presenting research at national and regional conferences. Her research interests include staff training, assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, and increasing compliance with medical and dental procedures.

Dr. Jeanne Donaldson

Jeanne Donaldson earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership at Texas Tech University. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Louisiana State University. Her research focuses on solving problems common in early childhood and assessing child and adult (typically teacher) preference for interventions. She was the 2018 recipient of the B. F. Skinner Foundation New Applied Researcher Award from APA Division 25. She is currently an Associate Editor at the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and a member of the ABAI Science Board. She is a BCBA-D and Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Louisiana.

Dr. Megan Heinicke

Dr. Megan Heinicke received her Ph.D. in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences from Auburn University under the advisement of Dr. James Carr. Dr. Heinicke received her Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and her Master’s degree from Auburn University. Currently, Dr. Heinicke is an assistant professor in the Psychology Department at California State University, Sacramento. Dr. Heinicke teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in applied behavior analysis and developmental disabilities. 

Dr. Heinicke is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral with experience in various settings including neurorehabilitation settings, alternative schools, clinical settings, and foster and adult family home agencies. Dr. Heinicke is currently serves on the advisory council of the Sacramento Head Trauma Support Project and serves as a guest reviewer for several journal outlets. She has published research articles in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis and Practice, The Behavior Analyst, Brain Injury, Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior.

Dr. Darlene Crone-Todd

Darlene E. Crone-Todd (University of Manitoba, 2002) is the Chairperson in Psychology at Salem State University. She designed and coordinates the graduate program in Behavior Analysis, and has presented in over 50 symposia at conferences worldwide, including time spent researching and presenting in Brazil. She has published research in peer-reviewed journals including, The Behavior Analyst Today, The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and Substance Use and Misuse. Dr. Crone-Todd completed a post-doc at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Behavior Pharmacology in 2003. Her current research interests include human choice behavior, computer-mediated learning environments, creative and higher-order thinking, and shaping behavior. Ongoing projects involve behavioral interventions related to wellness, facilitating student success, and instructional design.

Dr. Evelyn Gould

Evelyn Gould is a Clinical Behavior Analyst and Licensed Psychologist at The New England Center for OCD and Anxiety (NECOA). She is also a Clinical Associate at McLean Hospital, Research Associate in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and Assistant Clinical Professor at Keck School of Medicine at USC. Evelyn has two decades of experience working with families of children with autism, OCD, anxiety and other challenges. In addition to clinical work, Evelyn is actively involved in research and dissemination and has published articles and book chapters on parent training, assessment, treatment design, and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). She is also involved in various Special Interest Groups and Task Forces within the ABAI and ACBS communities, and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. Evelyn is committed to addressing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion within behavior analysis, and seeks to promote culturally responsive, affirmative, compassionate and anti-racist practices in all aspects of her work and life.

Tameika Meadows

Tameika Meadows, M.Ed., Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, resides in the Atlanta, Georgia area and has been providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services since 2003. Ms. Meadows obtained her graduate degree in School Psychology from Georgia Southern University in 2008, and she specializes in Early Intervention services, Practitioner Support/Mentoring, and Parent Training.  Ms. Meadows is the creator of the blog & resource website www.ILoveABA.com, which is accessed daily by thousands of people all over the world. Through her website Ms. Meadows provides simple and practical information, strategies, and tips, designed for ASD children, but also helpful for any child with behavioral or learning challenges.  Ms. Meadows currently practices as a freelance Consultant & Behavior Coach for schools, organizations, and adult day programs located both locally, and globally. Ms. Meadows has also authored multiple Applied Behavior Analysis books and entry level manuals, such as: “101 Ways to do ABA”, a resource guide for parents and therapists; “From A to Z: Teaching Skills to Children with Autism”, a resource guide for educators; “A Manual: Creating an Autism Intervention Program”, a resource guide for practice owners; and “The Practical ABA Practitioner”, an invaluable in-the-field resource for ABA practitioners. 

In her free time, Ms. Meadows enjoys reading mystery novels, watching old sitcoms, and lots of baking and cooking.

Dr. Joshua Felver

Joshua C. Felver, PhD ABPP, is assistant professor of psychology at Syracuse University, and director of clinical training for the school psychology doctoral training program. He has published over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and is the co-author of Mindfulness in the Classroom (Soles of the Feet for students). He directs the Mind Body Laboratory (http://mindbodylab.syr.edu/) which researches mindfulness-based programming to support youth and reduce health disparities in school and community settings, and investigates the psychophysiological mechanisms of contemplative practices.

Camille Morgan

My name is Camille “Cammie” Morgan. My pronouns are she/her. I reside in Honolulu, HI by way of metropolitan Detroit, Michigan with my fiancé. I am a Black, lesbian, cisgender woman, and I say this because each of my identities shows up in my work every single day, and representation matters. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), I work closely in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social justice across various communities including the Applied Behavior Analytic community and within the military, specifically in my spouse’s current Army unit. I am also the Regional Director of Diversity + Inclusion of the non-profit, Blvck Womxn Worldwide, the host of the podcast, Love, Sex, and Applied Behavior Analysis, and I am also a love, sex, and relationship coach through my business, Radical Love x Cammie. I am a 15-year ovarian cancer survivor, so my work also includes using behavior analysis to disseminate information and advocating for more awareness and funding for the “silent killer”. I am a student of life, constantly learning and promoting the concept of raising one’s consciousness to question and disrupt everything that we think.

Dr. Jessica Slaton

Jessica Slaton, Ph.D., BCBA, is the Director of Applied Research at Nashoba Learning Group and an adjunct professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis master's program at Regis College.

Dr. Bryan Blair

Dr. Bryan J. Blair is currently an Assistant Professor at Long Island University - Brooklyn where he is also the coordinator of the advanced graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and supervised fieldwork programs. He is a licensed behavior analyst and doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and has worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities and clinical disorders for over 15 years in a variety of settings. He received an M.S. in ABA from Northeastern University in 2007 and a Ph.D. in ABA from Endicott College in 2017. Dr. Blair also provides digital technology consultation related to the practice of ABA. He has presented on topics in ABA and autism spectrum disorder at state, regional, and national conferences and has published research in peer-reviewed journals. His research and professional areas of interest include complex human behavior, improving learning outcomes, verbal behavior, staff training, parent consultation, instructional design, digital learning, and BCBA/Clinical supervision.

Dr. Lesley Shawler

Lesley Shawler is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who received her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Endicott College – Institute for Applied Behavior Studies in 2019 under the supervision of Dr. Caio Miguel. She has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan focusing on decreasing challenging behavior as well as teaching language and other adaptive skills. She is currently a research post-doctoral fellow at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where she is working toward improving treatment outcomes for families with children who exhibit challenging behavior. Lesley has recently accepted an Assistant Professor position at Southern Illinois University in the Behavior Analysis and Therapy department. Her clinical and research interests center around promoting generalization of treatment outcomes for increasing verbal behavior and decreasing challenging behavior, as well as identifying efficient and practical methods for caregivers to effectively implement and adhere to treatment recommendations.

Dr. Erin Michaud

Erin Michaud is the assistant director of the speech & language department at the New England Center for Children. She graduated from Worcester State University with a master’s degree in speech and language pathology, and most recently obtained a doctorate in behavior analysis from Western New England University. Erin is also an adjunct faculty at Assumption College. Erin’s interests are in early language development as well as early intensive behavioral intervention. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors; specifically, skiing, hiking, swimming, yoga, or playing soccer with her husband and two children.

Dr. Cody Morris

Dr. Cody Morris is an Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director of Applied Behavior Analysis at Salve Regina University. He earned his doctorate in Behavior Analysis at Western Michigan University, where he studied under Dr. Stephanie Peterson. Cody’s primary research interest is improving the practice of behavior analysis – which involves improving assessment and treatment techniques for challenging behavior, identifying and addressing barriers to practice, and exploring conceptual issues related to practice. Cody has presented over 50 times at national, regional, and local conferences and workshops. He has published works in prominent behavior analytic journals, including Behavior Analysis in Practice, the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and the Journal of Organization Behavior Management. He served as the Editorial Assistant for the Education and Treatment of Children for three years and has been an assistant reviewer and/or reviewer for multiple behavior analytic journals. Currently, Cody is a Guest Associate Editor for a special issue in the ABAI journal, Perspectives on Behavior Science, and is the host of Behavior Analysis in Practice the Podcast.

Dr. Danyelle Beal

Danyelle S. Goitia Beal, Psy.D., BCBA recently completed her dissertation regarding resiliency in Black American women who’ve suffered childhood trauma. Danyelle obtained her undergraduate degree at CSU Long Beach in Child Development and Psychology with a minor in Communicative Disorders. She went on to obtain a Masters of Art in Teaching (Deaf and Hard of Hearing Studies) with an emphasis in Applied Behavioral Analysis. With over 20 years of experience in behavioral health, Danyelle currently operates a Non-Public Agency named Loving Hands Family Support Services, LLC and provides support in multiple contexts and settings. She works on individual and organizational levels. She has a passion for and a commitment to working with children and their families who are diagnosed with developmental and psychological disorders. She also has a heart for working in marginalized communities and providing education in supporting safe de-escalation techniques for its members. Danyelle currently serves on the board of Black Applied Behavior Analysts as the Secretary. 

Dr. Patricia McConnell

Patricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB is an Ethologist who has consulted with pet owners for over thirty years about serious behavioral problems. She taught "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships" in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for twenty-five years and has spoken around the world about canine behavior and training. Dr. McConnell is the author of eleven books on training and behavioral problems, as well as the critically acclaimed books The Other End of the Leash (translated into 14 languages), For the Love of a Dog, and Tales of Two Species. Her newest book, The Education of Will, is a memoir focusing on healing from trauma in both people and dogs. Patricia and her husband live with their working Border Collies Skip and Maggie, along with cats Nellie and Polly, and a very spoiled flock of sheep. For more information, go to www.patriciamcconnell.com or visit her blog, at www.theotherendoftheleash.com, and follow her on Facebook or on Instagram.

Alan Haberman

Alan Haberman, M.Ed., BCBA is a behavior treatment therapist who recently passed his BCBA exam. Formerly a special educator, he values working with clients and families to build skills for independence and functional living. Alan’s current scope of practice is ABA interventions for autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities. His professional interests include Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions, ACT/RFT, and queer & neurodivergent responses to behaviorism. In his spare time, he is the ABA Inside Track “Book Club Guy”.

Dr. Manuel Rodriguez

Manny has consulted to many Fortune 100 companies, led safety initiatives for an international chemical company, implemented OBM strategies for one of the largest ABA therapy providers, and has help launch startups and grow companies to multi-million dollar enterprises. Manny has co-authored the four-volume book, “OBM Applied! A Practical Guide to Implementing Organizational Behavior Management,” “Quick Wins! Accelerating School Transformation through Science, Engagement, and Leadership” and “OBM Entrepreneur.” He is currently working on 3 books scheduled to be released in 2021-early 2022.
Manny presents regularly at national and international events on subjects such as organizational behavior management (OBM), entrepreneurship and consulting. In addition, Manny had the great honor of serving as President and Executive Director of the OBM Network, a 400+ professional member organization. 

Today Manny works as the Continuous Improvement Manager at Trenton Corporation, an organization providing excellent anticorrosion materials for a variety of environments since 1949. Manny is also CEO of Bueno Ventures, a management consulting and service firm which has dedicated their efforts in bringing behavior analysis and organizational behavior management to the world. Bueno Ventures has launched a OBM Certification program with a unique offering for the professionals career path - from practitioner to expert and executive level consulting.

Manny earned a dual bachelors degree from Florida State University, a Masters degree from Florida Institute of Technology, and most recently after 15 years post masters degree he achieved a Doctorate of Business Administration at the University of South Florida’s MUMA College of Business where he focused his research on ethical workplace cultures.

Dr. Mahshid Ghaemmaghami

Dr. Ghaemmaghami has been applying the principles of behavior analysis to produce meaningful changes in the lives of children and adults with and without developmental disabilities in both home-based and center-based settings for over 10 years. She received a Master of Applied Disability Studies with an ABA specialization from Brock University, Canada (2011) and a Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis from Western New England University (2016) under the supervision of Dr. Hanley, before joining the University of Pacific’s Psychology Department as an Associate Professor (2016-2019).

Dr. Ghaemmaghami has published articles in peer-reviewed journals related to assessment and treatment of problem behavior and has presented in various national and international conferences on ways to design and enhance the efficiency of assessment and the effectiveness of skill-based treatments in clinical and typical settings.  In particular, Dr. Ghaemmaghami’s research has focused on ways to build a repertoire of tolerance for delays and interruptions to reinforcement that relies on differential reinforcement of skills including appropriate and practical communication, toleration, and cooperation in complex social contexts.

Prior to starting her studies at Western New England, Dr. Ghaemmaghami was the Clinical Supervisor in charge of the implementation and evaluation of the Provincial Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention Program for children with autism in Northern Ontario, Canada. This experience has provided her with an appreciation for issues surrounding successful transition of treatment across settings and has inspired her interest in research related to practicality and social acceptability of treatment procedures and effects in order to enhance parent and teacher implementation and maintenance of these procedures and effects. She is currently the clinical director/senior consultant at FTF Behavioral Consulting.

Dr. Christopher Tullis

Christopher Tullis is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) and an associate professor of educational psychology and special education in the Department of Learning Sciences at Georgia State University. His research interests include instructional methodologies that facilitate skill emergence, and the assessment preference for people with low-incidence disabilities.

Dr. Tullis received his doctorate in special education and applied behavior analysis from The Ohio State University. He has published in a number of respected journals in behavior analysis and special education. Additionally, he is on the editorial boards of Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities and Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, as well as serving as an associate editor for the Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Dr. Tyra Sellers

Tyra P. Sellers, JD, PhD, BCBA-D is the Director of Ethics at the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. She earned a B.A. in Philosophy and M.A. in Special Education from San Francisco State University, a J.D. from the University of San Francisco and a Ph.D. from Utah State University. Her professional and research interests focus on professional ethics, training and supervision, assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, variability, and verbal behavior. Dr. Sellers has over 20 years of clinical experience working with individuals with disabilities in a wide variety of settings. She currently serves on the editorial boards for several journals.

Dr. Seth Walker

Seth Walker received his PhD in Disabilities Disciplines from Utah State University in 2020 under Drs. Tyra Sellers and Sarah Pinkelman. Prior to pursuing his Ph.D., Seth worked as a behavior therapist in home settings and as a behavior analyst in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Seth recently served as an Early Career Fellow at the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. He is currently completing a fellowship at the Munroe-Meyer Institute Severe Behavior Clinic. Seth’s primary research interests include assessment and treatment of severe challenging behavior, increasing medical access for individuals with disabilities, and feedback in human service settings.

Dr. David Palmer

Dave Palmer discovered Skinner by reading Walden Two while on a caving trip to North Carolina, because he thought it must have had something to do with his hero, Thoreau. He spent the next decade on a soap box preaching about Walden Two and reading the rest of the Skinner canon. Eventually he realized that he was no Frazier, and he applied to graduate school in behavior analysis under John Donahoe. He was happy in grad school and would be there still if the University of Massachusetts hadn’t threatened to change the locks. He is the co-author, with Donahoe, of Learning and Complex Behavior, a book that attempts to integrate behavior analysis with physiology and to embed the field in the context of the broader study of selectionism. Palmer retired from 30 years of teaching statistics and behavior analysis at Smith College, but he continues to teach verbal behavior in the graduate program at Western New England University and will continue to do so until senility claims him. He continues to puzzle over the interpretation of memory, problem-solving, and, particularly, verbal behavior. He once referred to himself, in a jocular vein, as a goose-stepping Skinnerian, but he found that the label fit, and he now wears it without apology.

Dr. Michael Roberts

Dr. Michael Roberts began work as an occupational therapist on the Oncology Unit at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in 1994.  Since that time, he has worked with adult clients in skilled nursing, home care, long-term care, and long-term acute care hospital settings.  He served as the Program Director for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Lasell College, a Clinical Faculty at the Occupational Therapy Program at University of New England, and as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Tufts University’s historic Boston School of Occupational Therapy.  Since 2015, Dr. Roberts has been employed at Regis College, as the founding Program Director for the Master’s Degree Program in Occupational Therapy.

During Dr. Roberts’s time at Regis, he has led the MSOT program to full accreditation, hired an excellent faculty, presented at state and national OT conferences, and guided several strong cohorts of students to professional success. He has served on national ad-hoc committees on fieldwork evaluation development, and served as the editor of the quarterly for the AOTA Special Interest Section for Education.  He has been published in the Canadian Journal of OT, the American Journal of OT, and several OT textbooks.  He also serves as a content editor for the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, and volunteers in his community with the Animal Rescue League and the Dedham Historical Society.

Dr. Nasiah Cirincione-Ulezi

Dr. Cirincione-Ulezi is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, with a Doctorate degree in Education from Loyola University of Chicago.  She holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.  She is a graduate of the Infant Studies Specialist program at Erikson Institute of Chicago. In addition to her BCBA credential, she is an Illinois licensed special education teacher and an Illinois Early Intervention provider and State evaluator.  Professionally, she has served as a special educator, clinician, educational administrator and professor of special education.  Her clinical experience spans infancy through adulthood.  Currently, she serves as a Faculty Director for the School Social and Behavioral Sciences at Capella University. She is the CEO and Founder of ULEZI, LLC, Co-Founder of Pivot 2 Inclusion and Shaping Leaders. In addition to serving as an Advisory Board member for BABA, Dr. Cirincione-Ulezi is an Advisory Board Member for the NEXT for Autism organization, President Elect for the Illinois Association for Behavior Analysis and an Affiliate Chapters Board Member for the Association for Behavior Analysis International. She is a subject matter expert for the Behavior Analysis Certification Board and has published in the Journal Behavior Analysis in Practice.  She has assisted school districts in the State of Illinois in developing meaningful educational programs to meet the needs of students with autism.  Her research interests include supervision, mentoring, leadership and culturally humble practice within the field of ABA. She is a champion for equity, diversity and inclusion and is deeply committed to using her skills and experiences, paired with the science of applied behavior analysis, to empower the lives of the people she supports and serves, in positive and meaningful ways.

Dr. Keira Moore

Dr. Moore has been working with individuals with autism and related disorders for over 15 years in many different settings including residential, clinic-based, home-based, and telehealth. For the last 8 years she has specialized in the assessment and treatment of childhood sleep problems, especially in children with autism and related disorders. She earned her Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis in 2015 from Western New England University, and prior to that, earned a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University. She began her career training with some of the best clinicians and researchers in the field at the New England Center for Children, a world-renowned school for children with autism. In addition to clinical work, Dr. Moore also teaches in Regis College’s online masters in ABA program, consults, and conducts staff training and continuing education seminars for companies all over the world. In addition to focusing on sleep problems, she specializes in treating severe challenging behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injury, tantrums) through functional analysis and functional communication training.

Dr. Patrick McGreevy

Patrick McGreevy received B.S. and M.A. degrees in Psychology and Special Education, respectively, from the University of Iowa. He was a special education teacher for eight years, working with children and young adults with moderate-to-severe developmental disabilities. He received the Ph.D. degree in Education from Kansas University under the guidance of Ogden R. Lindsley. He has served on the faculties of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Louisiana State University, the University of Central Florida, and the Florida Institute of Technology. He is the author of Teaching and Learning in Plain English, an introduction to Precision Teaching, and the founder and first editor of the Journal of Precision Teaching and Standard Celeration Charting. He is the author of ten journal articles and a book chapter on teaching verbal behavior. He is the first author of Essential for Living, a functional skills curriculum, assessment, and professional practitioner’s handbook based on B. F. Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior for children and adults with moderate-to-severe disabilities. For the past 30 years, he has provided consultations for children and adults with developmental disabilities in school districts, residential programs, and hospitals, specializing in the simultaneous management of aggressive and self-injurious behavior and the teaching of communication and language skills to individuals with limited repertoires. He has given hundreds of presentations and workshops, and is the recipient of the Ogden R. Lindsley Lifetime Achievement Award of the Standard Celeration Society.

Dr. Jason Bourret

Jason Bourret is the Clinical Director at the New England Center for Children and clinical adjunct faculty at Western New England University. He teaches courses on designing treatments for severe problem behavior, verbal behavior, and developing mathematical models of behavior analytic functional relations. Jason also operates a lab in which he and his students attempt to solve some clinical problems while simultaneously investigating behavioral phenomena. Their research encompasses a broad array of topics including assessment and treatment of problem behavior, verbal behavior, conditioned reinforcement, and quantitative analysis.

Dr. Julie Slowiak

Julie M. Slowiak, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Executive Director of the Behavior Analysis in Health, Sport, and Fitness SIG, a non-profit organization, and Founder of InJewel LLC, a values-focused coaching and consulting company. Dr. Slowiak earned a BA. in Psychology and Organizational Communication, M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral. Dr. Slowiak’s research, teaching, and applied work focus on designing physical and social environments to support individual and organizational health, performance, and wellbeing. Her research blends her training in applied behavior analysis and organizational behavior management with topics studied in the fields of occupational health psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and applied sports psychology. Dr. Slowiak’s current research interests focus on issues related to worker wellbeing, particularly within human service professions, and specifically as they relate to personal and professional self-care and burnout. In addition, Dr. Slowiak is interested in issues related to psychological safety in sport and how it affects both student-athlete mental health and coach burnout. A newer interest of Dr. Slowiak’s focuses on exploring organizational factors that influence wellbeing and sustained employment of those with invisible and episodic chronic health conditions. Finally, Dr. Slowiak is interested in the integration of Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT Training) to health, behavior, and human performance coaching.

 View Dr. Slowiak's CV 

Email:

Academic: jslowiak@d.umn.edu Business: injewelcoaching@gmail.com 

Social Media Presence

Instagram: @drjulieslowiak

Twitter: @jslowiak_phd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injewelcoaching/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-slowiak-phd-bcba/ 

Websites:

InJewel LLC Website: https://injewelcoaching.com/

Academic Website: http://umn.edu/~wbslab

Dr. Matthew Brodhead

Matthew T. Brodhead, Ph.D., BCBA-D is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University. Dr. Brodhead’s research examines focused social skill interventions for children with autism. He also writes about conceptual issues relating to the ethical and professional behavior of practicing behavior analysts. He currently serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Behavioral Education, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. Finally, he serves as director of First Steps, an in-home early-intervention behavioral program that provides focused behavioral interventions to children on a wait-list to receive comprehensive behavioral services. You can learn more about him and his work at www.mattbrodhead.com

Dr. Sungwoo Kahng

Dr. SungWoo Kahng is Chair of the Department of Applied Psychology, Director of Academic Programs in Autism and ABA, and an associate professor at Rutgers University. Prior to his current position, he was an associate professor at the University of Missouri (MU) where he was also the chair of the Department of Health Psychology, the Founding Director the MU Graduate Programs in Applied Behavior Analysis, and Director of the Applied Behavioral Intervention Service of the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. He was also a faculty member in the Department of Behavioral Psychology and a senior behavior analyst on the Neurobehavioral Unit at the Kennedy Krieger Institute as well as an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Kahng graduated from Kalamazoo College with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and received his Ph.D. in behavior analysis from the University of Florida. He was an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis where he also served on the Board of Editors. Additionally, he is on the Board of Editors for Behavioral Intervention and Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Dr. Kahng is the President of the Board of Directors of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, a member of the Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research, President of the New Jersey Association for Behavior Analysis, and a member of several advisory boards. Dr. Kahng is the recipient of the 2003 B.F. Skinner New Researcher Award given by Division 25 of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Kahng has co-authored over 90 peer reviewed articles and chapters. The focus of his research and clinical work has been on assessing and treating severe problem behaviors exhibited by individuals with developmental disabilities. He is also interested in a broader research agenda, which includes topics related to employment and college supports for adults with autism spectrum disorder as well as obesity and aging. Finally, he has mentored numerous undergraduate, master’s level, and predoctoral students as well as post-doctoral fellows.

Dr. Christopher Manente

Christopher J. Manente, PhD, BCBA is the Founding Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. Dr. Manente is an accomplished practitioner, educator, and advocate who has dedicated his career to helping adults on the autism spectrum succeed within their homes and communities throughout the lifespan and across the contexts of school, work, relationships, leisure, and transportation.

Dr. Jennifer Austin

Dr. Jennifer L. Austin has worked as a behavior analytic researcher and clinician for over 20 years. Her research and clinical interests have focused primarily on behavior analytic applications in schools, as well as applying our science to populations that are relatively underserved by the field, including prisoners, children in mainstream education, and children who have experienced abuse and neglect. Dr. Austin received her Ph.D. from the Florida State University and currently serves as Professor of Psychology and Head of Behavior Analysis at the University of South Wales. In 2020, she received a SABA award for her contributions to the international development of behavior analysis. She is a Past-President of the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis and a former Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior Analysis in Practice.

Dr. Jon Freeman

Prior to starting The Brooklyn Strategist, Dr. Jon Freeman developed and ran a state-of-the-art, neuroscience research facility in a Manhattan-based clinical research organization. In his capacity as Director of Neuroscience Research, Dr. Freeman oversaw the growth and development of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) research practice and is recognized in the field of Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) research as a key opinion leader (Dr. Freeman was invited to present to the FDA regarding the development of a QEEG database).

As Director of Neuroscience Research, Dr. Freeman was responsible for managing over 40 employees and responsible for overseeing scientific and ethical conduct of the early-through-late-phase clinical trial research. Jon also served on the clinical faculty of the Sleep Disorders Institute (SDI) and oversaw supervision and teaching of sleep medicine fellows. As a CNS consultant, Dr. Freeman founded Brooklyn Strategic Consulting, LLC and has advised several of the largest and medium sized pharmaceutical companies regarding study development and data analyses.

During his years of private psychotherapy practice, Jon worked with children, adolescents, adults, families and couples gaining an understanding of the importance of social space within a given community. For Jon, the Brooklyn Strategist represents the ultimate combination of a life-long passion for strategy games, promoting social responsibility and beacon of community.

Dr. Shahla Ala’i-Rosales

Shahla Alai-Rosales, PHD, BCBA-D, LBA is an Associate Professor in the Department of Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas. She has taught courses in Texas, Europe and the Middle East on a variety of topics, including ethics, early autism intervention, parent training, behavioral systems, applied research methods, technology transfer, behavior change techniques, and cultural diversity. Shahla has served on several boards and disciplinary committees and has published and presented research on social justice, ethics in early intervention, play and social skills, family harmony, and supervision and mentoring. Shahla has more than four decades of experience working with families and has trained hundreds of behavior analysts. She has received awards for her teaching, her work with families, and for her work in the community. She is co-author of Building and Sustaining Meaningful and Effective Relationships as a Supervisor and Mentor (LeBlanc, Sellers & Alai, 2020) and Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: Between Now and Dreams (Alai-Rosales & Heinkel-Wolfe, 2022).

Dr. Matthew Normand

Dr. Matt Normand is Professor and Chair of Psychology at the University of the Pacific. His primary scientific interests, broadly defined, are the application of basic behavioral principles to problems of social significance (including obesity and community health issues), verbal behavior, and the philosophy and methodology of science. He is the former Editor of The Behavior Analyst (now Perspectives on Behavior Science), an Associate Editor for the European Journal of Behavior Analysis, a former Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, The Behavior Analyst, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior and Behavior Analysis in Practice, and he serves on the editorial boards of Behavioral Interventions, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, Behavior and Philosophy, and Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB). Dr. Normand was the 2011 recipient of the B. F. Skinner New Researcher Award from Division 25 of the American Psychological Association. You can find more online at www.theskinnerbox.com.

Saundra Bishop

Saundra Bishop, MS, BCBA, LBA is the founder, Clinical Director, and Executive Director of the DC-based BASICS ABA Therapy. She is also the President of DCABA. She has over 20 years of experience working in Applied Behavior Analysis(ABA) and with people with Autism/Autistic people and has been a BCBA for 13 years and is licensed in Virginia and Maryland. She is especially passionate about Trauma-Informed Behavior Management and on using teaching models that focus on self advocacy rather than compliance. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and also certified to give trainings that qualify for Type-2 CEUs, DC Public Schools CEUs, and Child and Family Services foster parent hours. She enjoyed being a foster parent for 7 years and now has 4 wonderful daughters with and without special needs. She enjoys biking and competitive storytelling.

Dr. Jessica Rohrer

Jessica Rohrer is a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Connecticut. She is the Director of Consultation at CCSN, where she provides leadership and program development support to the consultative team at CCSN as well as educational programs. Dr. Rohrer received her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) through Northeastern University and her doctorate in ABA through Endicott College. Dr. Rohrer has worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Saint Joseph and Endicott College, and is a professional member of various professional local and national behavior analytic organizations.

Dr. Rohrer has presented nationally and internationally on topics such as staff training, preference assessments, and increasing independence, and her work has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, the Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders, and the Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders.

Dr. Mary Jane Weiss

Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D., BCBA-D is a Professor at Endicott College, where she directs the Master’s Program in ABA and Autism and is a mentoring faculty member in the Doctoral program. She also conducts research with the team at Melmark. Weiss has worked in the field of ABA and Autism for over 30 years. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University in 1990 and she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2000. She previously worked for 16 years at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University, where she served as Director of Research and Training and as Clinical Director. Her clinical and research interests center on defining best practice ABA techniques, exploring ways to enhance the ethical conduct of practitioners, evaluating the impact of ABA in learners with autism, teaching social skills to learners with autism, training staff to be optimally effective at instruction, and maximizing family members’ expertise and adaptation. She serves on the Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research, is on the Professional Advisory Board of Autism New Jersey, is a regular reviewer for a variety of professional journals, and is a frequent member of service committees for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. She is also a Past President of the Autism Special Interest Group of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, a former member of the Board of the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts, and a former Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Autism New Jersey.

Dr. Denise Ross-Page

Denise Ross-Page, PhD., BCBA-D, is Chair of the University of Wisconsin-System’s Institute for Urban Education, a program housed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she is also Associate Professor of Education. Ross-Page is a certified special education teacher and a former elementary school principal. Her research applies behavior analysis to the development of language and literacy interventions for children with and without disabilities. She has established or led approximately 20 professional development partnerships in school districts in Wisconsin, New York, Chicago, South Florida, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. Ross-Page is a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University and Spelman College.

Dr. R. Douglas Greer

Doug Greer is Professor of Psychology and Education at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Teachers College of Columbia University in the MA and Ph.D. programs in behavior analysis and the education of students with without disabilities. He has served on the editorial boards of 10 journals, published over 200 research and theoretical articles in more than 21 journals and is the author or coauthor of 14 books. Two of his most recent books are translated into Korean, Spanish, Chinese, and Italian. Greer has sponsored 260 doctoral dissertations, taught over 2,000 teachers and psychologists, originated the CABASÒ model of schooling used in the USA, Ireland, Italy, England and founded the Fred S. Keller School (www.cabasschools.org). He has been involved in basic and applied experimental research in schools with students, teachers, parents, and supervisors as well as pediatric patients in medical settings. He and his students and colleagues have identified: (a) verbal and social developmental cusps and protocols to establish them when they are missing in children, (b) conditioned reinforcement by observation and denial conditions, (c) an organizational systems science of schooling, and (d) the stimu.us control for incidental bidirectional naming. Doug is the recipient of the Fred S. Keller Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education from the American Psychology Association, a Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), the ABAI award for International Contributions to Behavior Analysis, May 5 as the R. Douglas Greer Day in Westchester County and the Jack Michael Award for Contributions to Verbal Behavior. He has served as guest professor at universities in China, Spain, Wales, England, Japan, Korea, India, Ireland, Germany, Italy, USA, and Nigeria

Dr. Sarah Campau

Sarah Campau is a behavior analyst and PhD student at the University of Arkansas. She specializes working with adults with significant behavioral challenges. Sarah’s research interests include specialized sex education and LGBTQ+ advocacy for persons with disabilities.

Dr. Aaron Fischer

Dr. Fischer is the Dee Endowed Professor of school psychology, adjunct associate professor of psychiatry, and director of the University of Utah Technology in Training, Education, and Consultation (U-TTEC) Lab. He is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst. He has worked with individuals with mental and behavioral health concerns, and their families for over 15 years. His research focuses on the intersection of innovative technology, behavior, and school mental health, specifically telehealth and teleconsultation applications to support diverse students, caregivers, and educators.

Ryan Atkinson

Ryan Atkinson received his master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis at Regis College and is currently a doctoral candidate at Simmons University under Dr. Judah Axe. He serves as a fieldwork mentor for graduate students at Simmons University. Ryan began working with children with developmental disabilities 12 years ago, and currently works as a BCBA for a public school district in Massachusetts. His current research interests include problem solving and instructional methods in education. He also focuses on conceptual issues in behaviorism, as well as pragmatism and philosophy of psychology. 

Dr. Dorothea Lerman

Dorothea Lerman is currently a Professor of Behavior Analysis at the University of Houston - Clear Lake, where she chairs the master’s program in behavior analysis and serves as Director of the UHCL Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD). She received her doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Florida, specializing in behavior analysis. Her areas of expertise include autism, developmental disabilities, early intervention, functional analysis, teacher and parent training, and treatment of severe behavior disorders. She currently oversees several programs at CADD, including a focused intervention program for children with autism, a vocational program for adults with disabilities, a student support program for college students with autism, and a teacher training program for local school districts. Dr. Lerman has published more than 100 research articles and chapters, served as Editor-in-Chief for The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior Analysis in Practice and has secured more than $2 million in grants and contracts to support her work. She was the recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Contribution to Applied Behavioral Research Award and the 2001 B.F. Skinner Award for New Researchers, awarded by Division 25 of the American Psychological Association. She also was named a Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis-International in 2008. Dr. Lerman is a Licensed Behavior Analyst and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She is also the author of the upcoming (in 2023) book, “Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Employment: Helping Learners Prepare for Social Demands in the Workplace”. 

Dr. Maranda Trahan

Dr. Maranda Trahan, PhD, BCBA-D was born in Louisiana and attended LSU as an undergraduate student. She attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale for graduate school, receiving a master’s degree in Behavior Analysis and Therapy and a doctorate in Rehabilitation. Dr. Trahan completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. She then started the first ABA clinical practice for individuals with dementia in 2014. In late 2018, Dr. Trahan moved back to Southern Illinois and started work with Abilities Behavior Services. There she serves as the program coordinator for aging-related services, consulting and managing a caseload of senior clients (with and without I/DD). She also develops training materials for clinicians around the country looking to serve our growing population of seniors. Dr. Trahan enjoys being outside, growing vegetables, and spending time with her family and animals.  

Amanda Ripley

Amanda Ripley, BCBA is from Chicago and attended Western Michigan University as an undergraduate student. She attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale for graduate school, receiving a master’s degree in Behavior Analysis and Therapy. Amanda worked in several states, including Michigan, Colorado, and Illinois, providing ABA services to children, adults and seniors. Amanda currently works at Abilities Behavior Services, and co-manages their aging-related programs. She consults with a caseload of senior clients (with and without I/DD). Amanda also helps in the development of training materials for clinicians looking to serve seniors. Amanda is an avid runner and enjoys playing outside with her kids and husband.  

Dr. Johanna Staubitz

Johanna (Joey) Staubitz is a clinical faculty member in Vanderbilt University’s top-ranked Department of Special Education, where she directs the applied behavior analysis program. Before her time in higher education, Joey practiced as a classroom teacher and district behavior analyst. In both roles, she had firsthand encounters with the importance and challenge of providing individualized, integrated supports for academic and social development to children with learning and behavioral difficulties. This experience not only initially drove Joey to pursue doctoral training, but also continues to motivate Joey’s research, training, and teaching endeavors. Her collective efforts are dedicated to developing, adapting, evaluating, and disseminating procedures that are effective, practical, and safe for adoption in schools, to improve the possibility high-quality behavioral services are embedded into the free and appropriate public education to which all children are entitled.

Dr. Kendra Guinness

Kendra Guinness, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA received her PhD in behavior analysis from Simmons University and her master's degree in behavior analysis from Regis College. Her primary research interest is the application of technology-based interventions to teach skills to typically developing adults, including college students, paraprofessionals, and caregivers. Dr. Guinness is a board certified behavior analyst at the doctoral level and a licensed applied behavior analyst in the state of Massachusetts. She is currently a visiting lecturer at Regis College and an associate scientist at the Oregon Research Institute.

Dr. Claudia Dozier

Dr. Claudia Dozier is a Professor in the department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Dr. Dozier’s areas of research include assessment, treatment, and prevention of behavior disorders, as well schedules of reinforcement, and preference for and reinforcer efficacy of social interaction. Dr. Dozier is Co-Director of the Edna A. Hill Child Development Center at the University of Kansas. In addition, she and her graduate students provide consultation services to a large residential program serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She has served as an associate editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and serves on the editorial boards of several other behavioral journals. In 2020, Dr. Dozier received the Steeples Service to Kansans Award for her service to the people of Kansas as a purposeful extension of her teaching and research. In 2022, she received the Donald M. Baer Faculty Fund Endowment Award from her department for outstanding contributions for understanding and improving the human condition. Recently, she and her colleagues received a $2.5 million federal grant to provide telehealth services to families with children with autism who engage in disruptive, repetitive behavior.

Dr. Holly Gover

Dr. Holly Gover has been working to improve the lives of individuals with and without developmental disabilities and their communities for the past decade. She completed her doctoral degree in Behavior Analysis at Western New England University under the advisement of Dr. Greg Hanley, where she conducted research on the assessment and intervention of challenging behavior and food selectivity. Dr. Gover is passionate about evaluating interventions that promote client agency within therapeutic processes and takes a skill-based approach when addressing challenging behavior. She values clinical and research practices that are person-centered, safe, and dignifying. She currently is a faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she serves as an Associate Director of Behavioral Outcomes within Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s (VKC) Treat and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD).

Dr. Amy Odum

Dr. Amy Odum is a Professor in the Department of Psychology. Her research interests are in basic behavioral phenomena, such as response persistence, sensitivity to delayed outcomes, conditional discriminations, and environmental influences on drug effects. Her work has been funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Mental Health. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Vermont’s Human Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory after earning her PhD and MA in psychology, specializing in behavior analysis, from West Virginia University. She received a BS in psychology from the University of Florida. Her teaching interests include basic behavior analysis and behavioral pharmacology. She has served on the board of editors of a number of journals and is a past editor for the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 

Dr. Mirari Elcoro

Dr. Mirari Elcoro is a professor at Framingham State University, a public institution in Massachusetts. She discovered behavior analysis as an undergraduate student at Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, in Caracas, Venezuela. At West Virginia University, she completed a Master’s and Doctoral degrees in the Behavior Analysis program. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA) in Massachusetts.

Kim Heald

Kimberly Heald, MS Ed, BCBA, LABA has over 24 years of experience working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis.  She earned a BA in clinical/counseling psychology and an AS in chemical dependency from Keene State College. She earned her M.S. Ed from Simmons College and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Kim began working with children with disabilities, with a focus in children with autism, while working on her undergraduate degree. Kim has worked with a multitude of children from the age of 15 months to middle and high school students with varying diagnoses in public schools.  After working for the May Institute for three years, Kim launched her private consulting practice in 2005, Heald Behavioral & Developmental Services, which focused on providing services grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis. Throughout that time, she was a guest lecturer at Keene State College and provided numerous workshops on autism and ABA. In 2009, Kim merged her practice with John Moran to form a NH-based consulting group, Constellations Behavioral Services, LLC.  Also that year, she began consulting to Antioch New England on their curriculum committee to help organize the first NH-based behavior analysis certification program.  She went on to teach within the program when it launched that summer.  Throughout the last 14 years, Kim worked alongside her husband and CBS CEO to scale their ABA agency into a multi-state provider working in both the public education and medical insurance platforms before converting their agency into an ESOP (employee stock-owned program).  Over the last 10 years, Kim shifted her focus from client consultation to staff gamified leveling systems, leadership and team development, and coaching.  She is trained in using Predictive Index and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.  In her spare time, Kim enjoys relaxing lakeside with her husband and two children, scuba diving and snorkeling, weight training and is a certified yoga instructor. 

Landria Green

Landria Seals Green is a Founder, Innovator, Speaker, and Trainer. Her clincial experience includes being a dually certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Landria is the CEO of ExcelPrep Schools and The Huddle. Having completed a merger and acquisition of her previous clinical therapy practice, Landria decided to return to one of her alma maters to pursue a PhD in Special Education full-time. Landria has been a speaker for over ten years and has interests in training and development, organization behavior management, social communication, clinical quality, and telepractice. Landria completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign and graduate coursework in speech-language pathology at Northwestern University. Landria is from the Southside of Chicago, lived in Connecticut and Michigan for a number of years. She now resides in Illinois with her husband Alfred and their children Adam and Alison.

Jared Van

Jared is a behavior scientist, a BCBA, and PhD student in special education at Penn State University who focuses on the science of learning and identifying ways measurement can improve student outcomes through precision teaching.

Emily Varon

Emily Varon is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a dedicated focus on sleep-related behaviors. She has worked in the field of behavior analysis since 2000 and has devoted her practice to improving the sleep habits of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder since 2010. Emily takes the complicated issue of pervasive sleep problems and helps behavior analysts develop appropriate and ethical behavior plans for improving the quality of sleep for consumers and their caregivers. Her focus on sustainability of sleep habits versus “good” or “bad” habits offers families and clinicians a broader, long-view perspective of sleep, resulting in more sustainable results over time. By combining the science of behavior analysis with the science of sleep, Emily creates a consumable learning opportunity for BCBAs to enhance their practice by providing context for the way sleep and behavior both complement, and sabotage, one-another. Emily resides in Irvine, California with her husband and two teens. Improving the quality of life for persons with Autism, and their families, has been a passion of hers for over 20 years.

Rose Griffin

Rosemarie Griffin, MA, CCC/SLP BCBA, is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She is the founder of ABA SPEECH. ABA SPEECH offers professional development courses, consultations and products geared towards helping autistic students find their voice. Rose is also the host of the Autism Outreach Podcast, a weekly show all about autism and communication. She is a sought-after speaker who enjoys connecting with audiences at the local, state, and national levels. Rose is passionate about the mission of ABA SPEECH, which is to help all students become more independent communicators.

Ran Courant-Morgan

Ran Courant-Morgan (they/them) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst who holds multiple dog training certifications and has been working professionally with dogs for over twenty years. After years of working with dogs independently, Ran joined with Dr. Stephanie Keesey-Phelan to found the Dog Behavior Institute, whose mission is to provide a behavior analytic approach to dog training to support both families and professionals in living and working with dogs. Their dog behavior services help professionals incorporate evidence-based, data-oriented practices into their work with dogs and their owners, and empower owners to use the principles of behavior to improve their lives with their dogs.

Dr. Stephanie Keesey-Phelan

Stephanie Keesey-Phelan (she/her) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who earned her Masters and Doctoral degrees from Simmons University where she continues to teach as an adjunct faculty member in the Behavior Analysis department. Stephanie has been training dogs professionally since the early 2000s and holds multiple dog training certifications including: Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI), and Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP) and founded The Dog Behavior Institute with her colleague Ran Courant-Morgan. The Dog Behavior Institute provides behavior analytic dog training and behavior consultation services for dog guardians, and online courses in the application of behavior analysis to dog behavior for professionals.

The Dog Behavior Institute

The Dog Behavior Institute was founded in 2021, when Ran Courant-Morgan and Stephanie Keesey-Phelan found a real need for the perfect blend of behavior analysis and dog training.  Although DBI is relatively young, both Stephanie and Ran have been working professionally with dogs since the early 2000s. We both completed Master’s Degrees in Behavior Analysis in 2013, and we are both Board Certified Behavior Analysts.

The Spokesdogs of DBI

Stephanie’s dog Kerberos (aka Kerby) and Ran’s dog Beacon are an important part of the Dog Behavior Institute. They’ve helped ground our training practices and guide conversations about what works for us, for our dogs, and for other people. Our goals for our dogs may not look the same as yours, and that’s okay! Kerby and Beacon remind us regularly that every dog is an individual with their own desires, reinforcers, and environment. Look out for Kerby and Beacon on our Instagram page and in our demonstration videos; they’re still helping us learn and play a big part in our teaching process.

Dr. Bruce Tinor

Dr. Bruce A. Tinor is a dedicated education professional with a wealth of experience working with students facing various challenges. Currently serving as the building Principal at the Career and Child Development Center within the Chester County Intermediate Unit 24 in Pennsylvania. Dr. Tinor specializes in supporting students with autism, behavioral/emotional disorders, and intellectual disabilities. His passion lies in the philosophical and scientific foundations of applied behavior analysis, staff training, ethical decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and helping students reduce maladaptive behaviors and improve their overall quality of life. 

Dr. Tinor's journey in education began as a special education teacher in the Allentown School District. He later worked in the Phillipsburg school district in New Jersey as an early childhood special education teacher. Dr. Tinor then joined the Washington Borough School District, where he initially taught early childhood special education and later transitioned to the role of district section 504 coordinator. Subsequently, he took on his first school administrator position as the elementary autistic support supervisor at the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, overseeing approximately 40 classrooms. Following this, he served as the Program Administrator/Principal for the intensive emotional support program at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 23 in Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Tinor's educational journey reflects his commitment to continuous learning and professional growth. He earned his undergraduate degree in Early Childhood with a concentration in Special Education from East Stroudsburg University. Additionally, he holds a Master's degree in Secondary Education from the same institution. Dr. Tinor pursued further education at Centenary College of New Jersey, earning two more Master's degrees - one in Special Education and the other in Education Leadership. He also obtained a Post Master's degree as an Education Specialist in Education Leadership from Liberty University. As a testament to his expertise in applied behavior analysis and autism, Dr. Tinor obtained his doctorate degree in Special Education, with a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis, from Slippery Rock University. 

To further expand his knowledge and skills, Dr. Tinor completed the BACB-verified course sequence at the Florida Institute of Technology, becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). 

Through his diverse experiences and comprehensive education, Dr. Bruce A. Tinor continues to make a significant impact in the field of education, particularly in the lives of students with special needs.

Dr. John Guercio

Dr. Guercio has spent much of his career researching effective staff training protocols and behavior intervention strategies for staff and clients in settings where severe aggression is present. Since obtaining his master’s and doctoral degrees in behavior analysis and therapy from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Dr. Guercio has worked in settings serving as Director of Behavioral Services for the Missouri Department of Mental Health, and as Vice President of Clinical Services and Research at the Judevine Center for Autism/TouchPoint Autism Services in St. Louis. He also serves as adjunct faculty in the behavior analysis department at Washington University, St. Louis University and Central Missouri University. He has also given more than 500 presentations at behavioral conferences and authored and/or co-authored over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals as well as written several book chapters related to the treatment of intensive behavioral issues. He has authored or co-authored 4 books; Assessment of Adult Core Competencies: Teaching Skills to Adults with Autism and Severe Behavioral Challenges; Behavioral Relaxation Training Clinical Applications with Diverse Populations; . Dr. Guercio serves on the Board of Editors of Behavior Analysis Research and Practice and a guest reviewer for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. In his career, Dr. Guercio has helped design and run a program for individuals with sexually deviant behavior and substance abuse issues and has developed an entire treatment protocol based upon that program. In his current role at Benchmark Human Services, Dr. Guercio serves as the Clinical Director. He develops and delivers behavioral services for clients with significant aggression and high risk behavioral needs, many of whom have been institutionalized for more than 15 years, often under restraints and heavy medication. Through Dr. Guercio’s leadership, many clients’ medication dosages have decreased and, they have developed positive compensatory behaviors and are being integrated into the community. Dr. Guercio currently serves on the ABAI Licensing Committee and is a board member of the Missouri Association for Behavior Analysis.

Dr. Noor Syed

Dr. Noor Syed (she/her) is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Applied Behavior Analysis, as well as the founding Director of the Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports (CAARES) with SUNY Empire State University. She has also been named the Turben Director of Autism Advocacy. CAARES’ primary initiative is to help SUNY Empire become a fully inclusive and supportive college for those who identify as neurodiverse through a multi-tiered system of support framework; the university was recently designated an Autistic Supportive institution. In addition, Dr. Syed is director of Anderson Center International, an organization dedicated to providing training in evidenced-based strategies for scholars from under-resourced areas globally, an Adjunct Doctoral Advisor in ABA with Endicott College, and a certified general and special education teacher. She serves on the ABA Ethics Hotline, is President-elect of the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis, serves on the Scientific Council with the Organization for Autism Research, and co-facilitates the AUCD ABA Workgroup.

Dr. Maeve Donnelly

Dr. Maeve Donnelly is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral and holds licensure as both an Applied Behavior Analyst (MA) and Special Education Administrator (MA - all levels). She maintains the qualifications to serve as a BACB® Supervisor. Dr. Donnelly has 20 years of clinical and applied research experience with children and young adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities, including assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior. She has supervised and worked within multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive services for her students and clients across public and private educational settings as well as in homes and local communities. Dr. Donnelly is a core faculty member and the Director of Supervision in the Applied Behavior Analysis programs at Northeastern University. Her research interests include practitioner-related topics such as evaluating behavioral technology for teaching self-care skills; assessing variables that affect application of evidence-based technology in practice; and training of parents, staff, and graduate students to implement assessment, intervention, and educational protocols. Dr. Donnelly has served as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, and Routledge. She has also provided volunteer service for the Association for Behavior Analysis International, BABAT, and the Massachusetts Association for Applied Behavior Analysis. Currently, she serves on the BABAT Board of Directors.

Dr. Linda LeBlanc

Linda A. LeBlanc, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Licensed Psychologist is the President of LeBlanc Behavioral Consulting and the past Editor in Chief of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.  Her 30 year career has included academic positions at Claremont McKenna College, Western Michigan University and Auburn University before becoming the Executive Director of Trumpet Behavioral Health, a large human services organization. She established LeBlanc Behavioral Consulting in 2017 and consults to technology companies, universities, and behavior analytic human service organizations. Her professional interests include behavioral treatments, supervision and mentoring, and ethics. She has over 120 publications, is a Fellow of ABAI, and a recipient of the APA Nathan H. Azrin Award for Distinguished Contribution in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Alex Astrella

Alex is a visual artist based out of Orange County, California. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 2, Alex was told that he’d never be able to hold a job as an adult. 24 years later, Alex has won numerous awards and has garnered nationwide praise for his documentary films and screenplays.  You can follow him on Instagram or his website, Blue Star Productions.

Michelle LaFrance

Michelle LaFrance (M.Ed, BCBA, LABA) is a neurodivergent BCBA born and raised just south of Boston, Massachusetts. She has a BA in music with a minor in psychology, a M.Ed from Bridgewater State University and completed a Graduate Certificate in ABA from Umass Lowell. She is a current BCBA and holds Massachusetts licenses in Applied Behavior Analysis and Teaching (Moderate Special Education preK-8). Michelle has worked in a variety of roles and settings within the field of ABA but is most passionate about working as a BCBA in public schools with students with a variety of diagnosis’ and behavioral needs. She incorporates and disseminates trauma informed and neurodiversity affirming ABA practices into her daily work. She also supervises neurodivergent graduate students in ABA programs both in person and virtually. Michelle lives near Boston with her husband and dog & is a very proud auntie to 6 year old twins. In her spare time Michelle enjoys sewing, crafting and singing with BSU’s alumni chorus. 

Dr. Kate Chazin

Kate Chazin is a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at TRIAD – The Autism Institute at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. She completed her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Special Education at Vanderbilt University, with concentrations in Early Childhood and ABA. She serves as a researcher and consultant on capacity-building projects for caregivers and teachers of young Autistic children. She is also an integral part in coordinating TRIAD’s Autistic Advisory Network, which incorporates feedback from Autistic and Neurodivergent individuals to guide practice and research. Her current research primarily centers on (a) self-determination in early childhood, (b) assessing and honoring child assent/dissent, and (c) collaborating with autistic adults to improve social validity of behavior analytic practices. Kate identifies as Neurodivergent (medical diagnoses of ADHD and postpartum psychosis) and Allistic (scoring on the cusp of autism screeners). She has lived experiences receiving coercive and restrictive procedures (e.g., restraint, extinction) while in psychosis, and strongly supports the Mad Pride and Neurodiversity movements. She is the proud parent of two amazing young children, and she credits her behavior analytic training with giving her practical tools and strategies to be a more heart-centered, kid-centered caregiver. 

Dr. Camille Kolu

Dr. Kolu has about 20 years of autism treatment experience, including ten years of experience practicing under the supervision of or in collaboration with Board Certified Behavior Analysts and BCBA-Ds in Texas, New Jersey and Colorado. Kolu has collaborated with or worked for nonprofits, families, diverse educational facilities, and groups in Texas and Colorado to provide effective autism treatment and support for those affected by developmental or other disabilities. Dr. Kolu works in the Colorado community with behavioral agencies, families, universities, and human health and service agencies. She teaches in the behavior analysis course sequence at University of Colorado Denver  instructing Principles in Applied Behavior Analysis, and Ethics and Professionalism. Current emphases of her work include functional behavior assessments and transition supports for clients with concurrent mental health and behavior challenges, and families experiencing early intervention, foster care,  adoption and/or behavior challenges. Dr. Kolu is involved in her community as a board member of the Broomfield Early Childhood Council, active member of the Four Corners Association for Behavior Analysis, and  an Advisor for the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. Dr. Kolu founded Cusp Emergence in 2012 in Denver, Colorado to provide services to individuals of all ages and to support the growth of trauma-informed behavior analysis.

Dr. Anita Li

Anita Li is currently an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at University of Massachusetts Lowell. She has been a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst since 2013 and has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings. Anita has presented more than 30 papers and workshops, including invited addresses, at both national and international conferences in behavior analysis and has published her research in several journals, including Behavior Analysis in Practice, Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, and Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Additionally, Anita has served as guest editor on two special sections of Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice devoted to the experimental analysis of behavior. Her research interests include equity issues in behavior analysis, instructional design, and promoting worker well-being.

Amanda Ralston

Amanda (“Mandy”) Ralston is a queer, neurodivergent serial Founder. She is a 25-year veteran practitioner and has been certified as a behavior analyst since 2002. During her career she has founded two clinics that provided applied behavior analysis services to hundreds of families, schools, and individuals with autism or other developmental or intellectual disabilities. She successfully exited to the 4th largest ABA provider group in 2019. Mandy has served as a Subject Matter Expert to several international workgroups and panels related to Behavior Analysis, Ethics, Outcomes, and Practice. She is a featured speaker in several mediums globally.  She has twice been nominated for Small Businessperson of the Year in 2015 and 2017.  She was the recipient of the Autism Innovation Award at the Autism Investor Summit in 2023. She is a frequently invited speaker for her work in the autism spectrum and “#ItsNotBinary:  Avoiding binary thinking in work, life, and social media.” She was most recently invited to speak at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2024 in Cannes, France. Her most recent venture is NonBinary Solutions - a data analytics and technology firm making Clinical Decision Support Systems for providers and other constituents of Applied Behavior Analysis and neurodiversity. Ralston creates unique solutions by synthesizing her own history of reinforcement and punishment with evidence-based practices, Clinical and Business Intelligence, and Technology to further support clinicians, funders, families, and founders in changing the world for Quality of Life, Outcomes, neuro/diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Her behavior continues to be shaped by its impact on a world where autism exists, and the field of behavior analysis.

Dr Erin Leif

Dr. Erin Leif is a Behaviour Analyst and Senior Lecturer in the School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, at Monash University. Erin’s work places a strong emphasis on the critical importance of upholding and safeguarding the inherent dignity, equality, and freedoms of every individual. At the core of her research lies a deep commitment to promoting social justice and inclusivity, ensuring that the rights of all people, but particularly people with disabilities, are recognised and protected. Erin’s current research focuses on ways to help parents, teachers, and behaviour support practitioners use positive, preventative, evidence-based practices when supporting people with diverse learning needs in home, school, and community settings. Her research interests include positive behaviour support, multi-tiered systems of support, trauma-informed behaviour support, and universal design for learning.

Dr. Cory Whelan

Dr. Cory Whelan graduated from The George Washington University with Bachelor and Master’s degrees in speech-language pathology and studied applied behavior analysis at UMASS Boston. A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA), he obtained his doctoral degree in behavior analysis at Western New England University under the advisement of Dr. Gregory Hanley. His clinical experience includes delivering speech and behavior analytic services in public schools, private residential schools, and adult day programs. Cory serves as the Director of Clinical Services for the Developmental Services and Brain Injury divisions at Vinfen, a multi-state human service agency for people with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. He is also the Co-Founder of Seasons Behavioral Services, an agency that provides ABA services for children and adults on the North Shore of Boston.  His research interests include the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, training staff to implement Practical Functional Assessments and Skills-Based Treatments, and evaluating strategies for delivering effective services that result in long-term, generalized effects. His research has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA), Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Child and Family Behavior Therapy.  He has served as a guest reviewer for several behavior analytic journals including JABA, Behavioral Interventions, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

How To ABA (Shayna Gaunt + Shira Karpel)

Shayna Gaunt, MA, BCBA, RBA (Ont.) is a dedicated professional in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and co-founder of How to ABA, an online resource and community supporting ABA professionals. With over two decades in the field, a Master's Degree in ABA from the University of Nevada Reno, and extensive international experience, Shayna brings a vast expertise across diverse settings.  She emphasizes collaborative excellence in direct therapy, supervision, and training, striving to deliver high-quality services and resources to clients and fellow ABA practitioners. Through How to ABA, Shayna aims to make ABA principles accessible and practical, fostering a community where professionals can share, learn, and grow together.

Shira Karpel, MEd, R.B.A (Ont), BCBA is the co-founder and director of How to ABA, an online resource and community for ABA professionals. Shira has a Masters in Special Education and has been in the field of ABA since 2011, receiving her BCBA in 2014. Together with Shayna, they trained and taught many therapists, clients, and parents and collected a massive bank of ABA programs and resources. In an effort to give back to the field, Shira and Shayna decided to create How to ABA as a way of sharing our collection of resources with others.  As a former teacher, her passion is in using ABA in classrooms in order to create positive and comprehensive learning environments for all students. She is the Clinical Director at a private school in Toronto and is loving getting to make a difference in the lives of children and families daily. She is passionate about making the principles of ABA practical, doable and relevant to every child in any situation.