Author: BACB NEWS

Anita Li, PhD, BCBA-D

Anita Li, PhD, BCBA-D

Lowell, MA

(term ends August 2028)

Anita Li, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA, is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She completed her Ph.D. from Western Michigan University in 2020. She has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2013 and has worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings.

Anita has written over 30 research articles and chapters and presented more than 50 papers and workshops, including invited addresses, at both national and international conferences in behavior analysis. Her research interests include organizational practices and equity practices in ABA, instructional design, and translational research examining productivity and training effects. She is on the conference committee board for the Women in Behavior Analysis, the DEI board for the Association of Behavior Analysis International, and serves as a subject matter expert for the BACB.

Chrissy McNair

Chrissy McNair

Consumer Representative | Portland, OR

(term ends August 2027)

Chrissy McNair is a Neurodiversity and Developmental Disabilities Advocate and Consultant specializing in the areas of DEI, accessibility, strategic planning and public policy advocacy. She is mother to three boys, one of whom is a young adult on the Autism Spectrum. Chrissy has served on boards and committees, including Autism Living (Columbus, OH) The Autism Society of Nebraska, FEAT of Nebraska, The Munroe Meyer Institute’s Autism Center Strategic Planning Committee, the CDC’s State Act Early Team, and is currently the Interim Executive Director for PHAME, a performing arts school for adults with developmental disabilities located in Portland, OR.

Chrissy is the former Director of Employment Services at Embracing Autism (Columbus, OH) where she led the organization to find meaningful employment for adults experiencing developmental disabilities. She is passionate about supporting parents and caregivers of loved ones with special needs, is a public speaker in the areas of relationship building between families and teachers/therapists, as well as improving self-care for the caregiver. Chrissy enjoys hiking, tennis, paddle boarding, is an avid podcast listener, and fully into the pickleball craze. She lives in Portland, OR with her husband, sons, two loyal dogs, a feisty rescue cat, and three backyard chickens.

Nicole Sorensen, MS, BCBA

Nicole Sorensen, MS, BCBA

Master’s BCBA Representative | Milwaukee, WI

(term ends August 2028)

Nicole Sorensen, MS, BCBA, IBA, LBA, is the Director of Therapeutic Practices at MyPath Support Services in Wisconsin. With over 16 years of experience, she has worked across diverse settings, including residential programs, international clinics, and multidisciplinary teams. Nicole began her career at the New England Center for Children (NECC) and later contributed to ABA services in the UAE, Ohio, and Kentucky, where she expanded programs for foster care and traumatic brain injury populations.

Currently, Nicole focuses on trauma-informed ABA practices and reducing coercive interventions while maintaining clinical effectiveness. She has taught at Simmons University and Purdue Global University and collaborates with organizations to promote ethical, client-centered care. Her research interests include organizational behavior management and non-aversive behavior systems.

Nicole is actively involved in professional service, having served on the Wisconsin Association for Behavior Analysis Board and chaired committees on diversity and inclusion. She is committed to equity, mentorship, and advancing compassionate ABA practices. Nicole received the 2023 WisABA Award for Significant Contributions to Behavior Analysis.

Rebecca Womack, MS, BCBA

Rebecca Womack, MS, BCBA

Master’s BCBA Representative | Stilwell, OK

(term ends August 2027)

Rebecca has extensive experience in applied behavior analysis (ABA), serving diverse populations across various settings. She is committed to developing, disseminating, and upholding standards of care having served as a member or board of director for various non-profit organizations within the profession of ABA.

Rebecca has been privileged to deliver ABA services to children, adolescents, and adults both in the United States and overseas. She enjoys providing education and consultation services to ABA professionals and organizations. Through her advocacy efforts and dedication to quality, her ultimate goal is to make a significant impact through effective and efficient services utilizing the science of behavior analysis.

Now Available: March 2025 Newsletter

Updated on 4/8/2025

The March 2025 Newsletter is now available! This issue includes important updates on changes to the 2027 BCBA and BCaBA coursework and CEU requirements, answers to frequently asked questions about the RBT Criminal Background Check and Abuse Registry Check, and updates to the Multiple Certifications Policy. Stay informed—take a moment to check it out.

In our latest Inside the BACB podcast episode, CEO Dr. Jim Carr provides additional context about the recent changes and the reasons behind them.

2025 BACB Board of Directors Election Results

We are pleased to announce the results of our recent Board of Directors election: Anita Li, BCBA-D and Nicole Sorensen, BCBA were elected to serve three-year terms on the Board. We offer our congratulations to the newly elected Directors and extend our gratitude to all of the candidates for running. Thank you to all of the certificants who participated in this important election.

We also wish to congratulate and thank Breanne Hartley, BCBA-D who was appointed by the Board to serve a second term.

The 2025 Michael Hemingway Behavior Analysis Award

Each year, the BACB honors an individual with the Michael Hemingway Behavior Analysis Award to commemorate the life and contributions of Michael Hemingway, who played a central role in the development of behavior analyst certification in Florida before serving as a founding member of the BACB Board of Directors. Michael’s commitments to the profession of applied behavior analysis and to increasing access to services are reflected in the behavior of the individual who receives the award named after him.

Eric V. Larsson, PhD, BCBA-D

We are pleased to announce that the 2025 recipient of the Michael Hemingway Behavior Analysis Award is Margaret “Misty” Bloom, Esq. Misty has been an integral part of the BACB’s history, first as external legal counsel starting in 1998 and later as a full-time staff member from 2008 to 2024. Her contributions have been pivotal in shaping the BACB’s organizational infrastructure, particularly its legal, accreditation, and ethics systems. Misty played a leading role in the development and evolution of the BACB’s ethics standards, including overseeing the development of the first fully enforceable ethics code and establishing the system for processing ethics complaints. When behavior analyst licensure activity gained momentum in the late 2000s, Misty provided input on dozens of licensure bills based on her prior expertise in the integration of professional certification and state licensure. Once state regulators were appointed to implement these new laws, she provided ongoing support to them through consultation, education on regulatory law developments, and the creation of various resources. Misty’s activity in the area of behavior analyst licensure was instrumental in helping to produce a relatively unified licensure landscape with good interstate mobility for practitioners. Misty Bloom’s remarkable career at the BACB has left an enduring legacy that continues to benefit our profession. Thank you, Misty!