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.
DYLAN ZIMMERMAN, M.ED., BCBA, LBA-UT (they/she)
Dylan Zimmerman, M.Ed., BCBA is a doctoral student at Utah State University in the Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling department. They are currently part of the Research in Education and Behavior Analysis (REBA) Lab studying under Dr. Sarah Pinkelman. Previously, Dylan received their master’s degree in special education at Rutgers University under the mentorship of Dr. Kimberly Sloman. During this time, they worked at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities center teaching students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and assisting in development and implementation of educational programming. Their research included behavioral interventions for decreasing vocal stereotypy and teaching auditory discrimination to students with ASD. Currently, Dylan works with local schools to develop targeted behavior intervention plans for students and support school staff in implementing these programs. They have also helped provide district trainings for teachers on developing successful behavior intervention plans. Their research interests include effective behavioral intervention in public schools, prevention and treatment of problem behavior, and school staff training. Dylan’s post-graduation goals include continuing to help bridge the gap between research and practice through clinical work, teaching others about Applied Behavior Analysis, and research.
In their free time, Dylan enjoys hiking, rock climbing, playing board games, and teaching their dog new tricks.
RACHEL MICKELSON, B.S. (she/her/hers)
Rachel Mickelson is a second-year master’s student at Western Michigan University (WMU) in the Behavior Analysis program. She received her B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Utah State University (USU) in 2021. Rachel was awarded a graduate assistantship where she assists with behavior support initiatives in a local school district. Rachel is passionate about collaboration in educational settings and hopes to cultivate a positive and productive environment in schools through school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS). She is also interested in work related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), specifically through an education lens.
Apart from her studies, Rachel enjoys being in nature, playing board games, knitting, and spending time with her family.
Prakhya Kayal, B.A. (she/her/hers)
Prakhya graduated with her B.A. in Psychology from Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, India in 2020. She then pursued her Post Graduate Diploma in Autism and Behavior Science at George Brown College, Canada in 2021. She worked with young children providing applied behavior analytic services in a clinical setting in Canada. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s in Psychology (Behavior Analysis) at Western Michigan University. She also works as a direct support professional at a day program for adults at the Center for Disability Services, in Kalamazoo. Prakhya is passionate about working with transition age students and implementing behavior analytic services to teach vocational and academic skills for success after school/college.
Outside of work, Prakhya enjoys playing board games, listening to true crime podcasts, being in nature and reading.