Leadership and mentorship are highly correlated with an organization's success. ASAI has the great honor of turning to leaders in the field of behavior analysis to help us more forward in meeting our mission.
Laura J. Hall, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Dr. Laura J. Hall, BCBA-D is Professor and Chair of the Department of Special Education at San Diego State University where she has been a faculty member since 1998. Laura began her work with individuals with autism forty years ago as a Child Therapist at the Princeton Child Development Institute where she received invaluable training from Drs. Krantz, McClannahan, and Fenske. While at SDSU she created the M.A. Degree/Autism specialization program which has been supported by five awarded personnel preparation grants from the US Office of Special Education Programs that she directed or co-directed since 2003.The focus of her current research and teaching has been on the transfer of research into practice, or facilitating the implementation of evidence-based practices by supporting families, educators and paraeducators. She is the site Co-PI on the IES funded multi-site Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism that has recently completed an RCT evaluating a comprehensive multicomponent intervention for students across the autism spectrum in 60 high schools (20 in San Diego) and is conducting a follow up study of the students post graduation. She has published her work in journal articles and in a widely used text, Autism spectrum disorders: From theory to practice, 3rd edition. Her collaborative work is formally supported through grants as PI from the Gates Foundation for participation in the US PREP coalition aimed at transforming teacher preparation, and from OSEP to work in collaboration with faculty from community colleges who prepare early childhood educators to increase the competence of their students to work with young children with disabilities including dual language learners. for both grants. She is also the department liaison (VCS Coordinator) with the Behavior Analysis Certification Board®.
Claire L. Poulson, Ph.D.
The Graduate School of CUNY
Claire L. Poulson, Ph.D. is Professor Emerita of Psychology at Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY) and member of the Doctoral Faculty of the Learning Processes and Behavior Analysis Program of CUNY. She is also a member of the Doctoral Faculty of Applied Behavioral Science of the University of Kansas. Dr. Poulson is the former director of the Advanced Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis Program at Queens College and former director of the Behavior Analysis and Child Development Research Laboratory there. She has served two terms on the editorial boards of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and three times on the editorial board of The Behavior Analyst. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, and a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis and the Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Poulson serves as consultant on the treatment of people with autism to the New York Child Learning Institute (NYCLI) under Director and Principal Susan M. Vener, Ph.D. NYCLI has been supported by Christopher Weldon, Director of AABR, for over 25 years.
Barbara C. Eztel, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita
University of Kansas
1926-2019
ASAI will be forever grateful to Dr. Etzel for her involvement with our organization. Dr. Etzel was a valued Advisory Board Member, offering her wisdom and mentorship to our organization and its members. Dr. Etzel influenced each of us and shaped our careers as behavior analysts. We remain dedicated to pursuing excellence in our work at ASAI in memory of this extraordinary scientist, mentor, and friend.