https://www.pinkelmanlab.com/home daily 1.0 2022-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/1660582859539-AUTHRZS2X1U96650ICGF/unsplash-image-JHOaHuTJVvU.jpg Home https://www.pinkelmanlab.com/about daily 0.75 2023-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/1549394227660-4UXFMPYFJ8SK6J3RED8N/26812228965_5d31984639_o.jpg About https://www.pinkelmanlab.com/contact daily 0.75 2023-11-01 https://www.pinkelmanlab.com/research-areas daily 0.75 2023-11-01 https://www.pinkelmanlab.com/new-page-2 daily 0.75 2019-02-07 https://www.pinkelmanlab.com/new-page daily 0.75 2019-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/1549398913764-XRGXPE5TK67LMSRFY414/Sarah_E__Pinkelman__Ph_D____USU.jpg New Page https://www.pinkelmanlab.com/recent-publications daily 0.75 2025-11-20 https://www.pinkelmanlab.com/test daily 0.75 2026-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/afd49cba-3df6-41f6-9459-2e2daa4f64ea/January+2021.jpeg Our Team SARAH E. PINKELMAN, PH.D., BCBA-D, LBA (she/her/hers) Dr. Sarah Pinkelman is an Associate Professor at Western Michigan University (WMU) and Director of the REBA lab. She entered the field as a special education teacher and has over 20 years of experience working with students with disabilities in school, home, and community settings. Dr. Pinkelman earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Oregon in 2014 under the mentorship of Dr. Rob Horner and her M.S. in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas in 2010 under the mentorship of Drs. Shahla Ala’i and Jesús Rosales-Ruiz. An overarching theme in Dr. Pinkelman’s research and applied work is bridging the research-to-practice gap in public education. She is interested in (a) socially and ecologically valid approaches to improving teacher and staff implementation of behavior analytic interventions, (b) scaling-up effective and equitable programming in school systems, (c) school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS), (d) implementation science as it relates to evidence-based practice in schools, and (e) research ethics and single-case research methodology. See her CV here. Prior to joining the faculty at WMU, Dr. Pinkelman was a faculty member at Utah State University and George Mason University. Outside of work, Dr. Pinkelman enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, yoga, gardening, and cooking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/55254cb9-1981-4d8d-9e74-605ed62485ec/Screenshot+2025-01-27+at+4.03.27%E2%80%AFPM.png Our Team Erin MulCahy Dyer M.S. Ed., BCBA (she/her/hers) Erin is a doctoral student at Western Michigan University (WMU) in the psychology (behavior analysis) PhD program. After graduating with their Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Sociology from Union College in 2019, Erin spent the five years prior to WMU working full-time for The New England Center for Children (NECC). They first worked as a Level II Teacher as a part of NECCs residential team for about two years fulfilling roles as a case manager and shift manager. In 2021, she moved to NECCs Public School Services department where they first worked as a Tutor, and then as Lead Teacher and Coordinator following graduating with her masters and obtaining licensure as a special educator. In their time working at NECC, Erin obtained her Master’s of Science in Education from Simmons University in Spring 2022 and then her Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Regis College in Spring 2024. Starting at WMU in fall of 2024, Erin currently is a graduate assistant. Outside of school, Erin loves to be active and outdoors, learn and try new things, and spend quality time with her friends, family, pets, and partner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/130b610e-dd61-4e64-9a45-888a99e3e0b7/Screenshot+2025-01-27+at+4.01.09%E2%80%AFPM.png Our Team Sydney Hull, B. A. (she/her/hers) Sydney Hull is a doctoral student at Western Michigan University in the behavior analysis program. She received her B.A. in psychology from West Virginia University. Sydney is passionate about teaching and is particularly interested in educating undergraduate students. Her academic and professional interests also extend to conducting research in areas of training (e.g., computerized trainings), skill acquisition, and active-student learning in classrooms. When she is not immersed in the world of behavior analysis, Sydney enjoys baking—particularly from her sourdough starter, and gardening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/3ae3ab5e-612f-42d6-ab9d-22602a413463/Picture1.jpg Our Team Yelba Vallecillo M.S., BCBA Yelba is a fourth-year doctoral student working under the advisement of Dr. Sarah Pinkelman. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in both Michigan and North Carolina, with nine years of experience specializing in early intervention, social and play skills, function-based assessments, behavior reduction, skill acquisition, parent training, and clinical supervision. She is currently finalizing her thesis project, “Video Modeling to Improve Employment-Related Social Skills in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.” This past summer, she published a systematic literature review titled “Video‐Based Interventions for Teaching Individuals With Disabilities Employment Skills: A Systematic Review.” Yelba plans to begin the dissertation process in the spring, with the goal of focusing her research on teaching social skills to children with autism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/e6b223a7-2de6-4835-9cd4-a2f33bb37f0e/Screenshot+2026-09-25+at+12.39.26%E2%80%AFPM.png Our Team Amanda Nelson , B.S. (She/her/hers) Amanda is a first-year master's student in the Behavior Analysis M.A. program at Western Michigan University (WMU). Her advisor is Dr. Pinkelman. She received her B.S. in Psychology from WMU. Her research interests include applying behavior analysis in school settings, class-wide interventions, and culturally responsive classroom interventions. During her undergraduate studies, Amanda worked as a Behavior Technician at the Kalamazoo Autism Center for a year and served as an undergraduate clinician for KRESA Classroom Consultations (KCC) during her junior year. These experiences inspired her to pursue a career in the field. Outside of school, Amanda loves walking the trails around Kalamazoo, spending time with friends, family, and pets, and going to concerts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/fd451b28-2212-45dd-8033-6a2329c35c08/Screenshot+2026-09-25+at+12.42.20%E2%80%AFPM.png Our Team Sekai Beard Jordan (B.A, RBT) Sekai is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in Behavior Analysis at Western Michigan University to pursue her career as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kalamazoo College (2025) and is an alumna of the Posse Foundation Scholars Program. Her professional experience includes work as a teacher's aide and a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), which has informed her research and clinical interests in the reduction of self-injurious behavior and the implementation of school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports (SWPBIS). Outside of her academic work, Sekai enjoys walking, spending time with friends, and exploring film. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c58f54b797f74738f72feaf/70eb3e24-9103-4684-83d6-6094b62853ce/Screenshot+2026-09-25+at+12.47.03%E2%80%AFPM.png Our Team Audrey Knepper, B.S. (she/her/hers) Audrey is a master's student at Western Michigan University in the behavior analysis program. She received her B.S. in Psychological Sciences from Purdue University with a minor in Art History. Prior to starting at WMU, Audrey worked as a paraprofessional in a special education school for children with autism. Her research and professional interests include the application of behavior analysis in public education, training educators to implement behavior analytic techniques, and the use of differential reinforcement in the classroom. In her free time, Audrey enjoys visiting museums, going for nature walks, and spending time with friends and family.