Scientific Council

Our Scientific Council is comprised of 20 leading autism and medical professionals from across the U.S. Together they serve as an expert information resource for us on matters related to research and current practice. In that regard, the Council assists our Board of Directors in developing its research strategy, near term priorities, and long-range research objectives. The Council also provides program guidance and oversight for the annual research competition and plays a central role in ensuring the highest quality reviews for prospective OAR research studies.

PeterGerhardt

Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D.
Executive Director
EPIC School
Paramus, NJ
Chair, Scientific Council

02JoanneGerenser

Joanne Gerenser, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Executive Director
Eden II Programs
Staten Island, NY
Vice Chair, Scientific Council

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Shahla Ala’i, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Associate Professor, Department of Behavior Analysis
University of North Texas
Denton, TX27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

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Kevin M. Ayres, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Professor, Co-director, Center for Autism and Behavioral Education 
University of Georgia
Athens, GA

Teal Benevides, Ph.D., MS, OTR/L
Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
Augusta University
Augusta, GA
27-icon-linkedinLinkedIn

03JonathanCampbell

Jonathan Campbell, Ph.D.
Professor and Director, PsyD Program, Department of Psychology
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

Kara Hume, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, School of Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

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SungWoo Kahng, Ph.D., BCBA-D
 Chair, Department of Applied Psychology
Rutgers University
Piscataway, NJ
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27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

06GeraldKoocher

Gerald P. Koocher, Ph.D.
Faculty, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA27-icon-linkedinLinkedIn
27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

suzanne

Suzanne Letso, M.A., BCBA
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
Milestones Behavioral Services
Milford, CT

 

08MichaelLondner

Michael Londner, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
Berkeley Medical Center WVU East
Martinsburg, WV
27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

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James A. Mulick, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Psychology
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

11DanielOpenden

Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA-D
President & CEO
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
Phoenix, AZ
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Dora M. Raymaker, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Portland State University
Portland, OR27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

12PaulShattuck

Paul Shattuck, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow
Mathematica
Portland, ME
Website

Rachel Taylor, Ph.D., BCBA-D
 Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Center for Applied Behavior Analysis
Founder, CABA Consulting
Los Angeles, CA
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27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

14MaryWeiss

Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D., BCBA
Professor of Education and Director of Programs in ABA and Autism
Endicott College
Beverly, MA

Oliver Wendt, Ph.D.
 Director of the Research Lab on Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Assistant Professor, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
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27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

15PatriciaWright

Patricia Wright, Ph.D., MPH
Clinical Evaluator
Behavioral Health Center of Excellence
Los Angeles, CA
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16ThomasZane

Thomas Zane, Ph.D.
Director
Online Applied Behavior Analysis Programs
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
27-icon-cvCurriculum Vitae

Meet the OAR Staff