Dr. Niager earned her B.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from The University of Georgia. Between her undergraduate studies and her Masters degree from Georgia State University, Dr. Niager served in the United States Air Force as a Captain in the division of Emergency Mobility. She completed several fellowships and internships, including individual, group and family therapy at Odyssey Family Counseling Center, clinical comprehensive psychological screenings of school-aged children at The University of Georgia, and worked in several departments at the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Her work there was in the Child and Family Therapy Clinic, on the behavioral pediatrics consultation team, and with the neurobehavior and severe behavior disorders inpatient units. She also worked as therapist for autistic and intellectually disabled children at Kennedy Krieger Institute School at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Niager assessed and treated children and counseled the parents of at-risk children for the Center for Infant Study at the University of Maryland. She was appointed their Program Coordinator; assessing, consulting and providing therapeutic treatment for children at risk. Earlier in her career, she served as Outpatient Clinic Director at Charter Winds Hospital and a counselor at the Talbot Marsh Recovery Center and the Family Counseling Center of Athens, in Athens, Georgia. In 2002, Dr. Niager realized her vision to create a comprehensive center for innovative therapies for children with autism. She opened Trellis Services, Inc., and it soon became a standard bearer for behavior therapies and progressive treatments through interactive experiences. The organization continues to serve hundreds of autistic children each year. With the growing need for certified autism behavior therapists, Dr. Niager is now working with the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board to ensure clinicians at all levels receive proper credentials to help children and adults across the autism spectrum.

Harry Sadeghi earned his B.S. at California Polytechnic State University and an M.P.H. at the University of Loma Linda. He then earned his A.B.A. to become an Applied Behavior Analyst. Mr. Sadeghi added to his broad education when he received his J.D. from the University of West Los Angeles, Law School. He is a member of the California State Bar, the California Supreme Court, the Federal District Court of Los Angeles, member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, past and current member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International. He is Managing and Supervising Attorney at The Law Offices of Harry Sadeghi & Associates where he handles federal and states cases in corporate laws, insurance laws, education law, serious personal injuries, and employment law. He is also involved in advocacy for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for children with autism. Mr. Sadeghi is a weekly co-host for the Didar TV show discussing and responding to callers about issues of Consent and Ethical duties in rendering professional medical, behavioral and psychological services. He provides legal advice to professionals to how to avoid medical malpractice, and responds to callers to assess cases regarding their legal rights in obtaining behavioral therapy and other professional psychological/behavioral services. Additionally, he served as exam proctor for the California School of Law. Further, he provided legal counsel for Dr. Ali Sadeghi, noted psychologist for California Psychcare. He coordinated and supported Dr. Sadeghi’s efforts to pass SB 946, requiring private health plans to cover autism. His clinical experience includes working as Behavioral Specialist at Inland Empire Regional Center. Under the supervision of Dr. Ali Sadeghi, he provided, assessment, and behavioral intervention and modification services to children with autism, down syndrome, epilepsy and related syndromes at home and school environments.

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.

Sheena Piehota is a Qualified Autism Service Practitioner Supervisor (QASP-S). Mrs. Piehota currently works in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis providing a variety of behavior analytic services to military families. She is currently in the 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). Mrs. 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. Mrs. Piehota focuses her current practice in verbal behavior and functional communication.

Dr. Luna is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of California who earned her B.S. in Psychology from California Lutheran University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is currently the Clinical Director of California Psychcare where she created and developed protocols and systems to ensure a high- quality service delivery model. Her role as director includes providing supervision and trainings, conducting psychodiagnostic evaluations, overseeing and supporting Regional Directors of Clinical Services, as well as, the functions of over 20 offices throughout Southern California. It is Dr. Luna’s responsibility to monitor Behavior Health Treatment, Specialized Individual Training, Insurance, School District, and Psychodiagnostic departments. An important part of her role is ensuring various funding sources are adequate for continuity of care and utilization of services. Dr. Luna has broad clinical experience, having been in private practice since 2013, and prior to that, she worked directly with patients at residential level care for substance abuse disorders at Cliffside Malibu; treated at-risk youth and families through the wraparound program at Tarzana Treatment Centers; and provided psychotherapy to low-income families at Valley Community Clinic. Her expertise also includes educating parents who have children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disability, and other developmental disabilities. She educates parents on the causes, characteristics, and treatment of several developmental disabilities including Applied Behavioral Analysis and other techniques used to modify behavior. She is trained in numerous modalities, including, CBT, motivational enhancement therapy, psychodynamic oriented therapy, mindfulness, Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP), seeking safety, recovery model and conducts full psychological assessments.

With her early background as a classroom teacher in Tennessee, Claire 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.

Within one year of completing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Utah State University, Lauren earned a Master of Arts in special education and also earned her Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credential and became a Qualified Autism Service Practitioner (QASP) that same year. Her dedication and enthusiasm for helping improve the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum led her to work with Reaching Milestones, Inc. where she has served at all levels of care from Behavior Assistant, to Training Specialist, Clinical Director and Learning and Development. Lauren brings a depth of direct clinical care to the QABA Board of Directors, where her input is an invaluable resource to ensure QABA meets the needs of all stakeholders.