Meet the Staff | Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis

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Sharon A. Reeve, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Center Director

Sharon A. Reeve, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA (NY) is Professor, and Graduate Coordinator of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Caldwell University where she also serves as Director of the Center for Autism and ABA. She received her Ph.D. in behavior analysis from the City University of New York. She has been active in the field of applied behavior analysis and autism treatment for over 20 years. She also serves as a reviewer and editorial review board member on a number of professional journals in ABA. Sharon conducts research investigating generalization of language, social, and leisure skills for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, and regularly publishes and presents her work on these topics. She serves on various advisory boards for agencies and schools involved with autism intervention.

Tina M. Sidener, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Clinical Supervisor

Tina M. Sidener, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA (NY) is department chair and professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis department at Caldwell University and Clinical Supervisor in the Caldwell University Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Western Michigan University in 2006 under the mentorship of Dr. Jim Carr and completed a pre-doctoral internship at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Sidener has over 20 years of experience providing ABA services and conducting research with individuals with developmental disabilities. She has served on the board of and published in a number of peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, Behavioral Interventions, Education and Treatment of Children, and Behavior Analysis in Practice. Her clinical and research interests include teaching verbal behavior and play skills to children with autism spectrum disorder and assessment and treatment of stereotypy.

Jason C. Vladescu, Ph.D., BCBA-D, NCSP

Clinical Supervisor

Jason C. Vladescu, Ph.D., BCBA-D, NSCP, LBA (NY) is a Professor in the Department of Applied Behavior Analysis at Caldwell University. Jason completed his pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute. He has published 75+ peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters spanning his research interests in early behavioral intervention for children with autism spectrum and related disorders, increasing the efficiency of academic instruction, staff and caregiver training, equivalence-class formation, and mainstream applications of behavior analysis. Jason is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and is on the editorial board for Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, Behavioral Interventions, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, Behavioral Development, and Behavior Analysis in Practice. He is on the Association for Behavior Analysis International Accreditation Board and was the 2020 recipient of the APA (Division 25) B. F. Skinner New Applied Researcher Award.

Ruth M. DeBar, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Clinical Supervisor

Dr. Ruth M. DeBar, BCBA-D, LBA (NY) is a professor in the Department of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Caldwell University and serves as a Clinical Supervisor for the Center for Autism and ABA at Caldwell University. She earned her master’s degree from Northeastern University via The New England Center for Children and completed her doctorate degree in ABA at The Ohio State University. Ruth has been active in the field of ABA and has worked with individuals with autism spectrum disorders for over 20 years. She has published research in journals like Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and in Behavior Analysis in Practice and presented at state, national, and international conferences on various topics relevant to serving individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Ruth currently serves on the Editorial Board of Behavioral Interventions. Her current research interests include functional behavior assessment, preference, choice, social validity and use of video-based instruction to teach a range of adaptive skills including social skills, vocational skills, and leisure skills.

Carleana Hickey, MA, BCBA

Assistant Director of Training

Carleana Hickey, M.A., BCBA is the Assistant Director of Training at the Caldwell University Center for Autism and ABA. She completed her Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at Caldwell University where she is currently a Doctoral student. Carleana completed her clinical training at the Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (CAABA). She is a student member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and New Jersey Association for Behavior Analysis (NJABA). Carleana’s current research interests include the generalization of social and vocational skills and staff training procedures.

Katiana Defendre

Office Manager

Katiana Defendre is the Office Manager of the Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis department at Caldwell University. She received her bachelors of science in Accounting from Rowan University in 2020 and is currently obtaining her master’s degree in higher education at Caldwell University. Katiana’s career goal is to be Dean of Student Life and Activities. She has years of experience in academic office support and service, as well as a commitment to assisting

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