Program Faculty and Professional Staff

The program faculty described below all hold the doctorate in psychology with a specialization in behavior analysis and teach one or more program courses.

Jennifer Gillis (Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Binghamton University (State University of New York). In 2006, Dr. Gillis completed a clinical psychology internship at the Brown University Training Consortium. Currently, she is an assistant professor of psychology at Auburn University. Since 2003, Dr. Gillis holds a national certification in Behavior Analysis (issued by the BACB). Her primary research area is Autism, Asperger’s Disorder, and PDD-NOS. Her research interests include the investigation of psychophysiological and attentional processes in children with social skills and interaction deficits, mental health issues in families with children with developmental disabilities, comorbidity issues in developmental disabilities and anxiety disorders, and development of interventions for anxiety disorders in individuals with ASD. Her clinical interests include intensive behavioral interventions for young children with ASD, anxiety disorders (including OCD), and medical-related issues of young children with chronic illnesses, including ASD. She is also interested in public policy issues related to early intervention.

Jim Johnston (Ph.D. University of Florida, 1970; Professor) Dr. Johnston has conducted laboratory and field research with both human and non-human species on a variety of topics. His present activities focus on longstanding interests in the area of developmental disabilities. He serves as director of the Department's Master's specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disabilities and has for some years been involved with the Alabama Department of Mental health and Mental Retardation in facilitating the delivery of sound habilitative services, following similar involvement in Florida's mental retardation system while on the faculty of the University of Florida. He has served as editor of The Behavior Analyst and on the editorial boards of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, among others, and has also served as president of the Association for Behavior Analysis, as well as for regional and state affiliate chapter organizations, and is currently president of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. In addition to authoring journal and technical publications in areas ranging from rumination to canine olfaction, he has co-authored a text in research methods for studying behavior, now in a two-volume second edition, and has additional teaching interests in applied behavior analysis and in conceptual issues in the study of behavior.  He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Chris Newland (Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology, 1982; Professor) Dr. Newland's research activity is focused on the application of basic research in behavior analysis to the examination of exposure to toxic substances or drugs that act on the nervous system. In particular he is examining experimental models of abnormal development. This includes the long-term effects of heavy metal exposure, including methylmercury, lead, and manganese, as well as behaviorally active drugs. He has worked with both human and animal models. At present his laboratory is examining the consequences of exposure, during gestation, to methylmercury, omega-3 fatty acids, and selenium (alone and in combination) on development and aging. These substances are thought to impair neural development by their presence (methylmercury) or absence (omega-3 fatty acids, selenium). Dr. Newland's group is reporting that these substances can also accelerate the course of aging, even if exposure occurs only during development.

In addition, the following individuals are employed as full-time professional staff in the practicum component of the program.

Ken Atkins (MS, BCBA, Auburn University, 2007) Practicum Coordinator

Caron Cosser (MS, BCBA, Auburn University, 2007) Practicum Coordinator

Ginger Totherow (MS, BCBA, Auburn University, 2006) Practicum Coordinator

Finally, the following individuals are doctoral students in the Department of Psychology and are substantially involved with the practicum component of the program.

Kim Smith (MS, BCBA, Auburn University, 2005)

Amy Polick (MS, BCBA, Florida State University, Panama City, 2004)

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Last updated on March 31, 2004