BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Robert Isenhower, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA (NJ)

President

Robert W. Isenhower (he/him), Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA (NJ), is an associate teaching professor at Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP). He is the director of graduate student training at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC), coordinating the center’s supervised fieldwork training program. He earned his doctorate in experimental psychology at the University of Connecticut in 2010. He has more than 10 years of graduate teaching experience and 15 years of experience working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities in clinical, school, and home-based settings. Dr. Isenhower has published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and the Journal of Behavioral Education. He has presented at conferences, including the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), NJABA, and Autism New Jersey. His research interests include preference and reinforcer assessments, cultural responsiveness, staff training, and assessments and interventions to improve the lives of adolescents and adults with autism. (Term Ends: June, 2027)

Ruth M. DeBar, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA (NY)

President-Elect

Dr. Ruth M. DeBar, BCBA-D, LBA (NY & NJ) is the Chair and Professor in the Department of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Caldwell University and a Clinical Supervisor in Caldwell University’s Center for Autism and ABA. She earned her master’s degree from Northeastern University via The New England Center for Children and completed her doctorate degree in ABA at The Ohio State University. Ruth has been active in the field of ABA and has served individuals with autism spectrum and related disorders for over 20 years. She has authored and coauthored empirical research and book chapters across a range of topics relevant to serving autistic individuals and their caregivers. Ruth currently serves on the Editorial Board of Behavioral Interventions and Behavior Analysis in Practice. Her current research interests include training first responders on engaging with autistic individuals, staff training, trial-based functional analysis, preference, choice, social validity, and optimal arrangements for skill development. (Term Ends: June, 2027)

Frances A. Perrin, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Past-President

Frances Perrin earned her B.S. in Psychology from Stockton College, followed by an M.S.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Temple University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Temple University. She has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2002. Currently, Dr. Perrin serves as the Executive Clinical Director for Brett DiNovi and Associates, LLC. She previously coordinated the Master’s in Applied Psychology (MAP) Applied Behavior Analyst program at Rider University for 12 years. Before that, Dr. Perrin spent 15 years at Bancroft’s Lindens program, where she completed her supervised experience, advanced to a behavior analyst role, and eventually became the Clinical Director. Her clinical and research interests encompass functional assessment methodology, treatment development for severe challenging behavior, staff training, behavioral economics and preference assessments, as well as behavior analytic approaches to health and physical activity.

(Term Ends: June, 2027)

Lauren K. Schnell-Peskin Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA (NY, NJ) 

Treasurer/Finance Chair

(Term Ends: June, 2027)

Anthony Villone, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Secretary

Anthony Villone is a BCBA, LBA with over 15 years’ experience working with persons on the autism spectrum and other intellectual/developmental disabilities. He currently leads a developing team of Behavior Specialists and Board Certified Behavior Analysts as Devereux New Jersey’s I/DD Clinical Administrator. Anthony strives to support the team developing into credentialed roles in behavior analysis, including RBTs and BCBAs, with practical and efficient supervision. He has worked in a variety of disciplines of behavior analysis, including in-patient, intensive behavioral crisis units, in-home, public/private schools, day habilitation and residential settings. He currently serves as Devereux New Jersey’s Behavior Support Committee Chairperson, is a Community/Well-Being/Belonging Committee member, and is part of Devereux’s National BCBA Webinar Committee and is chair of Devereux’s National BCBA Supervision Subcommittee.

Anthony was recognized as a Devereux Healthcare Hero in Action in November 2020 and was recipient of the Cultural Engagement Award in 2024. He earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology – Child Behavioral Services from Rowan University in 2014 and his graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with emphasis in Autism in 2016 from Ball State University. He was inducted into Psy Chi (Psychology Honor Society) at Rowan University in 2013 and Golden Key Honor Society in 2016 at Ball State University.

In addition to his current role, Anthony serves as a BCBA consultant within family homes at Proud Moments ABA, providing direct supervision to Behavior Therapists and RBTs, as well as parent training to guardians of youth under the age of 21. Notably, he is one of the sole BCBA providers actively working on the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) in New Jersey, assisting children of military personnel in transitioning from previous placements.  (Term Ends: June, 2027)

Nicole L. Stewart, M.S.Ed., BCBA, LBA-NY

Government Affairs Chair

Nicole L. Stewart, MSEd, BCBA, LBA-NY, is a behavior analyst, educator, and advocate in the field of ABA. Nicole’s extensive background includes working in various settings, such as residential, public schools, private schools, home-based, community-based, and center-based programs, where she has gained valuable expertise in supporting individuals with autism, developmental delays, rare genetic disorders, ADHD, and emotional regulation. In addition to running her own private practice, Nicole is the co-owner of Supervision Reimagined, a company focused on improving the quality of supervision within the ABA field. She also serves as an adjunct professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at CUNY Hunter College. Nicole is deeply committed to advancing the field of ABA, supporting continued growth of funding options and ensuring compliance with licensure requirements.  (Term Ends: June, 2027)

Cara L. Phillips, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA (MA)

Membership Chair

Cara L. Phillips, Ph.D., BCBA-D received her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida State University in 2005. She earned her Ph.D. in the experimental analysis of behavior from the University of Florida in 2012. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral Inpatient Unit, then stayed on as a Senior Behavior Analyst. She has worked with children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across a variety of settings including residential, in-home, and public and non-public school placements. Prior to her teaching position at Rutgers, she was the executive director of a private severe special education program in Massachusetts. Her interests broadly lie in both skill acquisition and the assessment and treatment of problem behavior in individuals with ASD. Specifically, she has studied stimulus control of verbal behavior, generalized skill repertories,  and methods to assess idiosyncratic functions of behavior. More recently, she has developed interest in the impact of restricted and repetitive interests on individuals with ASD and the relationship between research and practice.  She has taught as an adjunct at the undergraduate and graduate level and published articles in several peer reviewed journals. (Term Ends: June, 2027)

Marlene Brown, M.S., BCBA, LBA-NY

Events Co-Chair

Marlene Brown is the Associate Director of Consultation and Communications at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.  Marlene 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 10 years of experience in statewide advocacy, influencing policy development, and working with learners with autism spectrum disorders. Marlene has specialized in working with children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorders in employment, educational, community, and home settings for over 25 years. Marlene currently serves as a board member of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Marlene has also presented at local and national conferences on various topics surrounding home-based services, consultation with public schools, and support for families of learners with ASD. Her clinical interests include the application of behavior analytic principles with families in community-based settings. (Term Ends: June, 2027)

Quintara Tucker, M.S., BCBA, IBA, LBS, LBA

Events Co-Chair

Quintara Tucker is currently working on a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Capella University. She obtained her Master of Science degree in Child Psychology and Development from Southern New Hampshire University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychological and Social Sciences from Pennsylvania State University (Abington College).

Quintara is the Owner of QB Consulting, LLC, and provides behavior analytic and organizational behavior management services to clients in school, home, clinic, and community settings within the tri-state area. She mentors, supervises, and tutors graduate-level students pursuing the behavior analyst certification and is also an assistant instructor at Capella University. Her research interests focus on promoting cultural humility in ABA, and her work has been presented at academic conferences and featured in publications.

In addition to her professional work, Quintara is an award-winning volunteer, serves on the board of her undergraduate alma mater, and mentors first-generation college students of color. She frequently speaks at university events, encouraging undergraduate students to become compassionate, ethical, thought-leaders in ABA.

(Term Ends: June, 2028)

Laurie Gabriel, M.A., BCBA

Continuing Education Chair

Laurie Gabriel is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and currently works full time in Madison NJ Public Schools. Prior to Madison, Laurie worked for 8 years in Roselle Park NJ Public Schools in which she assisted in the development of ABA programs, creating policies and procedures, provided staff training, and collaborated extensively with other disiplines and families in order to best serve the students. Prior to these experiences, she worked in Bernard’s Township as a teacher and paraprofessional. Laurie has over 10 years experience, additionally working throughout the years assisting in homes through private companies and through the state. She received her Masters of Arts in Education and Teacher of Students with Disabilities from College of Saint Elizabeth and completed her coursework towards her BCBA at Caldwell University. Laurie began her work in the field in Bernard’s Township during her undergraduate studies and returned as a teacher after student teaching. Laurie has extensive experience working with clients as a child study team member and working alongside multidisciplinary teams. Her main areas of interest are in collaborating with other fields and sharing the benefits of Applied Behavior Analysis, ethics, supporting families, and providing teacher and paraprofessional training.

 (Term Ends: June, 2028)

Amanda Austin, Psy.D., BCBA, LBA

Communications Co-Chair

Amanda Austin, Psy.D., BCBA, LBA is a certified school psychologist and board certified behavior analyst, and is a current postdoctoral fellow at North Star Family Autism Center. She also works as a behavior analyst for Children’s Specialized ABA. She has worked with individuals with autism and their families for over 8 years in school, clinical, and home settings, and she completed her doctorate in school psychology at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology of Rutgers University. Her primary areas of interest include supporting families navigating new autism diagnoses, providing psychoeducation and therapy to siblings of individuals with autism, early intervention, and compassionate care in behavior analytic supervision. (Term Ends: June, 2028)

Kellie Goldberg, M.S. Ed., BCBA

Service Delivery Chair

Kellie Goldberg currently serves as the Director for Bancroft’s ABA Center of Excellence where she focuses on the clinical training and supervision of BCBAs and trainees, as well as clinical quality and standards. Kellie earned her Master of Science in Special Education, specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis, from Temple University.  Kellie has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for more than 20 years with a variety of client populations and settings but has a proclivity for working with behaviorally acute adults in residential settings.  Ms. Goldberg is currently an adjunct instructor at Rider University and an Instructor at the Florida Institute of Technology.

(Term Ends: June, 2028)

Jessica Day, PhD, BCBA-D

University Program Liason

Dr. Jessica Day is an Assistant Professor at Rider University. Dr. Day is an advocate for the broader application of behavior analysis to mainstream populations. Her work addresses a broad range of infant safety topics. Dr. Day collaborates with a team of researchers and clinicians in the Mid-Atlantic region to provide community-based safe infant sleep trainings to caregivers to reduce the risk of a Sudden Unexpected Infant Death. Dr. Day has presented her research at regional and international conferences in the field of behavior analysis and is a member of the American Association of SIDs Prevention Physicians.

(Term Ends: June, 2028)

Joseph Schwartz, M.S., BCBA, LBA

Representative-At-Large

Joseph Schwartz is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, helping adults in group home and vocational settings increase their independence and achieve daily goals. Schwartz earned his BCBA credential in 2018 and joined Devereux New Jersey in 2019, working tirelessly to support and advocate for the individuals he serves every day. Prior to working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, Schwartz served as an educator throughout the Garden State. He earned his undergraduate degree in education from Montclair State University and his master’s degree in psychology from Purdue University. (Term Ends: June, 2028)

Christopher J. Perrin, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Representative-At-Large

Christopher J. Perrin, Ph.D., BCBA-D is an associate teaching professor at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University. He holds a B.A. in Biology and an M.S.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Temple University, and earned his Ph.D. in Special Education/Applied Behavior Analysis from The Ohio State University. Dr. Perrin serves as the Program Director and Practicum Coordinator for the ABA-track within GSAPP’s Master of Applied Psychology program at Rutgers-Camden. Prior to joining the Rutgers faculty, he held clinical leadership positions at several programs serving children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and was an associate professor of psychology at Georgian Court University. His research interests include the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, as well as the application of behavioral principles to enhance academic performance and professional skill development in college students. He has published in peer-reviewed journals, co-authored several book chapters, and presented his work at both regional and international conferences. (Term Ends: June, 2028)

Brian D. Greer, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Representative-At-Large

Brian D. Greer, Ph.D., BCBA-D directs the Severe Behavior Program within the Children’s Specialized Hospital–Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH–RUCARES). He is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics and a core member of the Brain Health Institute. He received a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Florida, a Master of Arts in applied behavioral science and a Ph.D. in behavioral psychology, both from the University of Kansas. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is a current associate editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, past associate editor for Behavioral Development, and has served as a guest associate editor for the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Perspectives on Behavior Science, and Learning and Motivation. He is the 2013 recipient of the Baer, Wolf, and Risley Outstanding Graduate Student Award; the 2019 recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Heartland Association for Behavior Analysis; the 2019 recipient of the B. F. Skinner Foundation New Researcher Award; and in 2020, he was awarded the Contribution of the Year from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Dr. Greer is former Executive Director of the Society for the Quantitative Analyses of Behavior and a three-time recipient of the Loan Repayment Program Award from the National Institutes of Health. He and his colleagues have been supported by over $15 million in federal research grants. (Term Ends: June, 2027)

Courtney Kane, M.A., BCBA

Student Representative

Courtney Kane, M.A., BCBA, is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Caldwell University and is an assistant clinical supervisor at the Caldwell University Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis. She earned her master’s of arts degree in ABA also from Caldwell University. She graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Special Education.

She currently serves as the student representative to the New Jersey Association for Behavior Analysis executive board and president of Caldwell University’s Student Association for Applied Behavior Analysis. Her current research interests include best practices and application of preference assessment or choice, vocational skills training, and best practices for teaching valuable, socially valid, skills to for young adult learners. She is also passionate about promoting the skill development of graduate students in the field of behavior analysis.  (Term Ends: June, 2026)