Shahla Ala'i-Rosales, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Shahla Alai-Rosales received her B.S. from Southern Illinois University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas and the director of the North Texas Autism Project (NTAP). NTAP is a service, training and research program working in cooperation with several global partners, with applied anthropologists, and with Easter Seals North Texas. Shahla teaches classes on ethics, autism intervention, parent training, applied research methods, and behavior change techniques. Shahla served on the governing board of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) and as a subject matter expert on supervision and on ethics. She has published and presented research on ethics in early intervention, play and social skills, change agent training, conditioned reinforcement, and evidence-based practice. She was awarded an Onassis Foundation Fellowship for her work with families and was also the recipient of the “Fessor Grahm” award, UNT’s most cherished teaching award. She is currently collaborating on a book to guide the training of supervisors in behavior analysis and another book that explores the role of love and science in autism interventions.

Ramona A. Houmanfar, Ph.D.

Dr. Houmanfar is a Professor of Psychology and serves as the Director of the Behavior Analysis Program at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), Editor of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, editorial board member of Behavior and Social Issues, trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, and Chair of the Organizational Behavior Management Section of Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. Dr. Houmanfar is also the former senior co-chair of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Director of the Organizational Behavior Management Network and President of the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis.

Dr. Houmanfar has published over 60 peer reviewed articles and chapters, delivered more than 100 presentations at regional, national, and international conferences in the areas of behavioral systems analysis, cultural behavior analysis, leadership in organizations, rule governance, communication networks, instructional design, and bilingual repertoire analysis and learning. She has published co-edited books titled “Organizational Change” (Context Press) and “Understanding Complexity in Organizations” (Taylor & Francis Group). Her third co-edited book titled “Leadership & Cultural Change” was recently published by Taylor & Francis Group.

Mark Mattaini, DSW, ACSW

Mark Mattaini, DSW, ACSW, is president of the Association for Behavior Analysis: International, and holds an emeritus appointment at Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was previously director of the doctoral program. He has chaired 25 dissertations related to responses to social issues. Most of his PhD graduates are engaged in research and practice with marginalized populations, including those victimized by-and perpetrating-violence, and in developing evidence-guided supports for young people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion. Dr. Mattaini is author or editor of 13 books, two of the most recent being Strategic Nonviolent Power: The Science of Satyagraha, and Leadership for Cultural Change: Managing Future Well-Being, as well as numerous other publications. Editor of the interdisciplinary journal Behavior and Social Issues since 2001, Dr. Mattaini has served on the editorial boards of multiple journals in behavior analysis and social work, and has been a long-time member of the Board of Planners for Behaviorists for Social Responsibility. He has developed, implemented, and researched behavioral strategies for individual, family, organizational, community and policy level intervention, increasingly emphasizing advocacy, accompaniment, and activism in recent years. Consistent with that emphasis, his recent scholarship has focused on nonviolent action supporting social justice, and behavioral systems science at the cultural level.

Carol Pilgrim, Ph.D.

Dr. Carol Pilgrim is professor of psychology and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Dr. Pilgrim has contributed substantially to behavior analysis through her leadership, teaching and research. She has served as president of its major organizations, including ABAI (as well as its Southeastern ABA chapter), the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, and Division 25 (Behavior Analysis) of the American Psychological Association. She also served as secretary of the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, and as a board member of that organization for 8 years. She has advanced the dissemination of behavior analysis and the vitality of its journals in her roles as chair of the Publication Board of ABAI, editor of The Behavior Analyst, co-editor of the Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin, and associate editor of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. She has served on the board of directors of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies and other organizations, and chaired numerous committees. Dr. Pilgrim is known, in addition, as a stellar teacher and mentor. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including the North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching and the ABAI Student Committee Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award. Dr. Pilgrim’s research expertise and contributions traverse both basic experimental and applied behavior analysis. Her health related research has brought behavior analysis to the attention of scientists and practitioners in cancer prevention, and she is noted for her innovative work on the development and modification of relational stimulus control in children and adults.