Claire Norris
Board President

With her early background as a classroom teacher in Tennessee, Claire Norris, QBA, has specific knowledge of the various learning styles and individualized needs of all students. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Austin Peay State University, and a Master of Art in Teaching with a focus in Applied Behavior Analysis. As a Behavior Interventionist at Autism Behavior Services, Inc., Claire implemented behavior and treatment plans, collected and graphed behavior data. After becoming a masters-level BCBA, she performs behavior assessments and develops treatment and behavior plans for individuals across the autism spectrum. Claire has a deep commitment to the practice of applied behavior therapy; she joined the QABA Board to make sure that all certified clinicians meet the strictest standards in order to provide consistent, high-quality care. QABA is fortunate to have such a qualified clinician as Claire to serve on our Board of Directors.

Dr. Sheena M. Piehota
Board Vice President

Dr. Sheena Piehota, QBA, BCBA, currently works in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis providing a variety of behavior analytic services to military families. She completed her Ph.D. (I/O psychology) program at Capella University where she also received her M.S in Psychology with a focus in Applied Behavior Analysis (2014). Dr. Piehota earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida (2012), and has over 9 years experience working with children with disabilities. Prior to her work in Applied Behavior Analysis, she worked in education with children in PK-12th grades. Dr. Piehota focuses her current practice in verbal behavior and functional communication.

Dr. Liliane de Aguiar-Rocha
Board Director/International Liaison

Dr. Liliane Rocha, DBH, QBA, BCBA, completed her graduate training in behavior analysis at the Graduate Center (CUNY), and her doctoral degree in behavioral health, with a focus on integrated care at the Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health. She has broad interests in Behavior Analysis, particularly in how behavior analytic strategies can be used in large scale to improve systems in healthcare. She is interested in improving the care for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) starting at the pediatrician’s office. 

She has worked with behavior analysis, in a variety of settings, including a Psychiatric Hospital leading a team of behavior analysts who designed behavior interventions to decrease the use of restrictive interventions during acute psychiatric admission. At the hospital, she also had the opportunity to work in performance management and quality improvement projects where she had the opportunity to exercise her OBM (Organizational Behavior Management) skills. She is a certified ACT Matrix facilitator and uses the Pro-social Matrix in crisis-management trainings.

At this time, she is a faculty member and student advisor in the doctoral of Behavioral Health program at Cummings Graduate Institute in Arizona. She is a consultant who provides consultation to local schools and hospitals, as well as international consultation in Brazil, her native country. She is interested in ways to bring behavioral analytic treatment to areas with difficult access to quality services. To that end, she has developed a telehealth practice, where she supervises behavior analysts serving children with ASD in Brazil.

Dr. Daniel Yang
Board Director

Dr. Daniel Yang, Ed.D., Th.D., QBA, BCBA-D, KBA-D, is the Head Professor at Aba Korea Academy and a Professor Emeritus at Baekseok University's Graduate School of Education. Dr. Yang participated in translating projects for QABA exams into Korean as a member of QABA Translation Committee. He has collaborated with several universities to gain approval as a QABA Coursework Provider. He has taught ABA-related courses at Dankook University, Honam University, Daegue University, Baekseok University, Seoul National University, and others. Dr. Yang has recently been interested in exploring both low-tech and high-tech methods to improve group and individual instruction effectiveness, as well as to support the application and retention of newly acquired verbal behavior skills. The Grandfather and the lifetime Board member of the Korean Association for Behavior Analysis, which was the first nationwide organization in the field of ABA in Korea, has authored or translated several bestsellers in ABA, including "VB-MAPP" and the third edition of "Applied Behavior Analysis“, the so-called "Cooper Book."

Eric Linder
Board Director
Eric Linder has a wealth of experience across both public and private enterprise. He has developed and implemented community outreach strategies for hundreds of organizations and worked with community leaders and elected officials regarding policies for children with special needs. From 2012-2016, Mr. Linder served as Assemblymember in the California State Assembly, where he represented the interests of approximately 500,000 residents of the 60th Assembly district (Riverside County). A real estate professional with almost 20 years experience, Mr. Linder developed a specialty in finding ways to incorporate technology into the profession and produce efficiencies in the real estate marketplace. Later, he took his technology background and founded the online communications firm eMotiv Marketing, where he remains company president. Mr. Linder is committed to the idea that education should be exceptional, accessible and affordable. He has been one of the most powerful voices in California government in keeping down tuition costs and allowing local school districts to determine how their funds are spent. As Assemblyman, Mr. Linder helped push for funding for the new UC Riverside School of Medicine, the state’s first new public medical school in 40 years. This was one of Mr. Linder’s top priorities, because it ensures that the region will have more physicians and better health care access for residents, while simultaneously establishing an economic anchor and stimulating the local economy as much as $150 million every year.
Dr. Matthew W. Kirkhart
Board Director

Dr. Kirkhart graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology from West Virginia University. He also earned his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University, then completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His pre-doctoral internship was at the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at Shands Hospital, University of Florida College of Health Professionals. Dr. Kirkhart is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and is past Chair of the Psychology Department and a past interim Chair for the Department of Teacher Education, both at Loyola University Maryland. His two primary research interests are in medical/health psychology, primarily focusing on those with serious or chronic medical conditions such as factors that affect general adaptation and adjustment to the medical conditions (i.e., adjustment to chronic pain conditions, adaptation to lifestyle changes in managing diabetes, etc.), and in the prediction of adjustment and adaptation to future medical procedures (i.e., predicting adjustment post organ transplantation). His second primary research interest is in basic research examining learning and memory, in the conscious and unconscious learning and memory, rule-governed behavior, and a functional analysis of language in efforts to understand how verbal behavior affects other behavior. Additionally, he has research interests in mentoring and teaching in psychology, adult psychopathology, and interpersonal psychotherapy models and methods.

Jessica Swanson
Board Director

Jessica Swanson is one of the first Qualified Behavior Analysts (QBA) in the country. She also has her Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credential, is a licensed behavior analyst (LBA), and a certified autism specialist (CAS). Additionally, Jessica earned a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in autism.

Jessica entered the field of ABA after her then 2-year-old daughter was diagnosed on the autism spectrum.  Jessica works as a behavior analyst while running the company she founded, Summit Health Services Inc., which provides ABA services to clients in four states.

When not working in the field of ABA, Jessica spends time with her husband of nearly two decades, her 9-year-old daughter, and 7-year-old son.  Jessica is a military spouse who currently resides in the Washington, D.C. area.

Open Position!
Parent Advocate

We're looking for a passionate Parent Advocate without a clinical background but with firsthand experience in navigating the challenges and successes of raising a child with autism to join our Board of Directors. This role is crucial for those who have a child benefiting from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, aiming to amplify the family perspective within the ABA community.

Requirements:

  • Must be a parent/legal guardian of a child with autism who has received/is receiving ABA services.
  • A passion for supporting autism families and advocating for their needs.
  • Strong communication and teamwork skills.
  • Commitment to monthly board meetings and active participation in discussions. Meetings are in English, requiring proficiency.

Term: 2-year term, renewable, with monthly meetings.

To Apply: Send a letter of interest with your connection to ABA, advocacy experience, and reasons for joining the board to info@qababoard.com