BACB GOVERNANCE - Behavior Analyst Certification Board

Board of Directors

The BACB’s Board of Directors is responsible for establishing the organization’s mission and vision, and overseeing its management. Elected directors traditionally serve a three-year term and may serve a second term if reelected. Directors serve in an unpaid, volunteer capacity, and represent a cross section of stakeholders that includes practitioners, consumers, employers, faculty, and administrators. Additional information about the Board of Directors is available in the BACB’s bylaws.

Bridget Taylor, PsyD, BCBA-D

President | Paramus, NJ (term ends August 2020)

Bridget A. Taylor is co-founder and CEO of Alpine Learning Group and is Senior Clinical Advisor for Rethink. She holds a Doctorate of Psychology from Rutgers University, and received her master’s degree in early childhood special education from Columbia University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Psychologist.

Dr. Taylor serves on the Autism Advisory Group for the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. She is the past Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and currently serves on the editorial board. She also serves on the editorial board of Behavioral Interventions. Active in the autism research community, Dr. Taylor has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on effective interventions for autism. She is a national and international presenter, and serves in an advisory capacity for autism education and treatment programs both locally and abroad. Dr. Taylor was recently recognized by the Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International for her outstanding contributions to behavior analysis and was given ABAI’s Fellow designation. Dr. Taylor is considered a leading authority on effective, and innovative interventions for autism.

Jonathan Baker, PhD, BCBA-D

Vice President | Kalamazoo, MI (term ends August 2020)

Jonathan Baker is a Clinical Faculty Specialist in the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University. Prior to joining WMU, he was an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the gerontology certificate program, as well as a faculty member in the behavior analysis and therapy program in the Rehabilitation Institute at Southern Illinois University. He received a certificate in gerontology from the University of Kansas, a master’s in applied behavior science from the University of Kansas, and a PhD from Western Michigan University.

Dr. Baker serves on the editorial board for The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, and Behavioral Development. He is an Associate Editor for Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice and in the AE mentorship program for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. He has served as a guest reviewer for the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias and The Gerontologist. Dr. Baker is the former president of the Mid-American Association of Behavior Analysis and former chair of the Behavioral Gerontology Special Interest Group with ABAI. He was the principle investigator for the Behavioral Residential In-home Care and Supports project evaluation for the Illinois Department of Aging, and was a co-principle investigator for Behavior Analysis and Intervention in Nursing Homes, funded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Baker’s main research interest is behavioral gerontology, including the assessment/treatment of behavioral excesses, and developing programs that remediate behavioral deficits in older adults with a neurocognitive disorder, as well as treatment adoption. His interests also extend to adults and older adults with developmental disabilities and staff training.

Mark Lister, BCaBA

Treasurer | BCaBA Representative | Gainesville, FL (term ends August 2021)

Mark Lister earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Florida and has worked in the field of behavior analysis for 28 years. He has worked in a variety of settings applying his skills as a behavior analyst, including the direct provision of behavior analysis services, supervision of behavior analysts, and the development/management of service delivery programs.

Mark was instrumental in the development of a nationally recognized treatment program for individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome (a genetic disorder characterized by life threating hyperphagia and other serious behavioral issues). In 2004, he co-founded Behavior Analysis Support Services, Inc. (BASS), which currently provides a variety of behavior analytic services, intensive early intervention for children with autism, community based services for persons with development disabilities, parent training for the Department of Children and Families, and the sub-contracting of behavioral services for a large not-for-profit agency. BASS presently has 50 employees, 18 of whom are board certified at the doctoral, master’s, or bachelor’s levels.

Molly Dubuque, MA, BCBA

Co-Secretary | Master's BCBA Representative | Louisville, KY (term ends August 2021)

Molly L. Dubuque oversees early intensive behavioral services at the University of Louisville Autism Center, which serves as the primary clinical training site for the University’s MEd in autism and applied behavior analysis. She previously served as the Practicum Director at Spalding University and as a behavior analyst for Advanced Child Behavior Solutions in Reno, Nevada.

Molly earned her MA in psychology (with an emphasis in behavior analysis) from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2008 and her BA in psychology and BS in speech pathology and audiology in 2005. She has almost 20 years of experience working with children with developmental disabilities in the United States and overseas. Molly is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Analyst (Kentucky), and a member of the Association of Behavior Analysis International and the Kentucky Association for Behavior Analysis. Molly serves as the current President of the Kentucky Association for Behavior Analysis and is an active member of Families for Effective Autism Treatment of Louisville.

Angelika Anderson, PhD, BCBA-D

International Representative | Hamilton, New Zealand (term ends August 2022)

Angelika Anderson is an Associate Professor at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. She earned her PhD in educational psychology at the University of Auckland (New Zealand) in 2002.

Her early work included evaluations of large-scale programs and school-based innovations, and also the development and delivery of the curriculum for Resource Teachers Learning and Behavior (RTLB), a new kind of professional charged with facilitating inclusive education in New Zealand. Her major achievement in her previous position at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, was to establish the first Verified Course Sequence in Australia. Today, Dr. Anderson’s research interests continue at the interface of developmental psychology, applied behavior analysis, and educational psychology. Her primary research interests are in developing and trialing efficient, often technology-based behavioral interventions that can be implemented in low resource environments, and targeting diverse populations that include adults with ASD and typically developing children in schools. She also aims to promote evidence-based practice by engaging with local stakeholders. In her current position, Dr. Anderson is responsible for the behavior analysis programs at the University of Waikato, which lead to dual qualifications in psychology and behavior analysis.

Marlene Brown, M.S., BCBA

Master's BCBA Representative | Hackensack, NJ (term ends August 2022)

Marlene Brown has worked at the Douglas Developmental Disabilities Center for over 10 years. She has a BS in psychology from Rutgers, The State University of NJ, and a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis and autism from Sage College. She has over 25 years of experience in statewide advocacy, influencing policy development, and working with learners with autism spectrum disorders.

Marlene has also presented at local and national conferences on a variety of topics surrounding home-based services and supports for families of learners with ASD. Her clinical interests include the application of behavior analytic principles with families in community-based settings.

Ivy Chong, PhD, BCBA-D

Boston, MA (term ends August 2020)

Ivy Chong is the Senior Vice President of Home, School, and Center based Services at the May Institute. She previously served as the Director of Autism Services and Training at the Scott Center for Autism Treatment for nine years and Associate Professor in the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts at Florida Institute of Technology.

She has specialized in the assessment and treatment of individuals with ASD and developmental disabilities for 20 years, holds a doctorate in psychology specializing in behavior analysis from Western Michigan University, and completed an MBA in healthcare management in 2016. Professional interests include early detection, diagnosis and evaluation of autism, linking assessment to treatment, and the development of training systems. Dr. Chong is on the editorial board for Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, an APA online journal, and has served as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Interventions, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, and Behavior Analysis in Practice. She has presented at numerous conferences, and maintained leadership roles on local and national boards.

Kristin Etherton, MS, RBT

RBT Representative | Gower, MO (term ends August 2021)

Kristin Etherton earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Park University and her master’s degree in counseling with a specialty in elementary school counseling from the University of Central Missouri. She has worked in the field of education and applied behavior analysis for seven years, providing services to children with behavior disorders, autism, and other related disabilities. Kristin has worked as an RBT at KidsTLC since 2017. Professional interests include crisis intervention, working with multi-cultural populations, and ethics.

SungWoo Kahng, PhD, BCBA-D

New Brunswick, NJ (term ends August 2020)

SungWoo Kahng is an Associate Professor and Director of Academic Programs in Autism and ABA in the Department of Applied Psychology 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 of 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.

Prior to moving to MU, he was 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's degree in psychology and received his PhD in behavior analysis from the University of Florida. He was an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis where he also serves on the Board of Editors. Additionally, he is on the Board of Editors for Behavioral Intervention and has served as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous other journals. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Dr. Kahng serves on the Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research. He 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 70 peer-reviewed articles and chapters, and has focused his research and clinical work on assessing and treating behaviors exhibited by individuals with developmental disabilities. He is also interested in a broader research agenda, which includes topics related to obesity and aging. Finally, he has mentored numerous undergraduate, master’s level, and predoctoral students as well as post-doctoral fellows.

James Moore, PhD, BCBA-D

Purvis, MS (term ends August 2022)

Jim Moore is the Director of Autism Solutions for Canopy Children’s Solutions. Prior to his appointment at Canopy, Dr. Moore was the Director of Training for the master’s training program in applied behavior analysis at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Dr. Moore holds a PhD in school psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi, and completed a pre-doctoral internship in pediatric psychology from the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center and the Marcus Behavior Center through Emory University. He was the Director of School Consultation and Applied Research at the May Institute in Atlanta, Georgia, before returning home to work as both an academic counselor and Assistant Dean of Students at Pearl River College. He has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2002 and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Mississippi since 2015. His research has been published in such journals as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavior Modification, Child and Family Behavior Therapy, Journal of Behavioral Education, Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, Proven Practice, Focus on Autism and other Developmental Disabilities, School Psychology Review, and School Psychology Quarterly.

Jennica Velasquez-Nill

Consumer Representative | Center Moriches, NY (term ends August 2021)

Jennica is the mother of three. Her son, Dustin, was diagnosed with Autism in 2001. Since his diagnosis, she has dedicated herself to becoming an educated consumer and advocate of applied behavior analysis through networking with parents and professionals, attending workshops on behavior analysis and autism, and writing informational literature for consumers and educators.

Jennica is a 2004 graduate of the Partners in Policymaking program, an innovative national model of leadership training for people with developmental disabilities, parents and family members. She applied this advocacy training in providing testimony before New York state officials and committees in support of behavior analysis and the recognition of BACB certifications. In 2006-2007 she successfully completed the Special Education Advocate Training, an intensive education advocacy project of the USC UCEDD and COPAA. Since 2009, she has been employed at the Long Island Advocacy Center as an education advocate, parent trainer and intake coordinator. Jennica previously served as Consumer Representative to the BACB Board of Directors from 2005-2012. She wrote the article, “Professional-Consumer Partnership," which was published in the March 2006 BACB Newsletter.

Francisco-Javier Virues-Ortega, PhD, BCBA-D

International Representative | Auckland, New Zealand (term ends August 2021)

Javier Virués-Ortega is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Applied Behavior Analysis program at the University of Auckland (New Zealand). Before his tenure in Auckland, he was an Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba (Canada), post-doctoral researcher at the Insitituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain), and clinical psychology resident (Spain Health Ministry competitive residence program).

He completed pre- and post-doctoral scholarships at the University of Hawai’i and the University of Florida under the supervision of Drs. Stephen N. Haynes and Brian A. Iwata, both renowned scholars in the field of behavioral assessment. His research focuses on the neural, emotional, and behavioral factors of problem behavior, particularly among individuals with developmental disability. He also has an interest in the extension of behavior analysis applications to general clinical psychology and complex language processes. His work has been supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and other reputed international agencies. He is the author of over 80 specialized publications.

Board of Directors

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