Board of Directors

Maggie Fitch, MS, LABA, LBA, BCBA, currently works as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at Boys and Girls Village in Milford, Connecticut. At the Charles Hayden School, a therapeutic day program for children with emotional disturbances and other disabilities, she oversees school-wide behavior management systems, develops individualized behavior contracts, and conducts comprehensive assessments to support each student's success.

Maggie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Fairfield University and completed her Master's degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, where she also fulfilled the requirements to become a BCBA in 2013. She is presently pursuing a PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis at Cambridge College, focusing her research on using interactive computer-based training to enhance paraprofessional data collection skills.

Over the course of her career, Maggie has provided behavior analytic services in diverse settings, including in-home programs, public schools, and private schools. She has supported individuals with Autism, Down Syndrome, Smith-Magenis Syndrome, emotional disturbances, and other developmental disabilities. Her work began as an ABA Therapist providing Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention to students ages 7–12 before extending her services through Connecticut's Birth to Three system.

In addition to her clinical work, Maggie is an Adjunct Teacher and Program Supervisor at Bay Path University, where she has supervised Master's-level students since 2016. In 2024, she presented at the BABAT Conference on identifying and addressing skill deficits in staff performance prior to retraining.

From 2020 to 2022, she served on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Association for Behavior Analysis (CTABA), and she continues to provide trainings for parents, medical professionals, and emerging practitioners.

Amy worked as an education professional for almost 20 years. Amy began her career working with children in a residential setting while obtaining her undergrad degree in Psychology. During this time, she developed a passion for working with children with behavior challenges. She then received a Master's Degree in Elementary Education and cross-endorsed in Special Education. While working as a Special Education teacher, Amy taught children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. During this experience, Amy developed a strong interest in Behavior Analysis. In an attempt to learn more, Amy also worked under a BCBA as an in-home Behavior Therapist. This experience prompted Amy to continue to take coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis and obtain her Board certification.

After working as a BCBA in the school system and in-home for private companies, Amy opened an in-home and center-based ABA company.

Erica Bauer, M.S., BCBA, LBA (CT, NY), has worked with children with autism for 14 years. She completed her undergraduate studies at Northeastern University, and earned her Masters of Science in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Saint Joseph in 2015. During her last semester as a graduate student, she was honored to receive the CTABA Outstanding Student Award for her commitment to her studies in behavior analysis. Erica's career began in the field as a 1:1 ABA Therapist, implementing ABA programming in public school, home programs, and in a private special education school. She received her BCaBA certification in 2014, and became a BCBA in 2015. She joined the ACES SAILS program, a life skills program for teenagers and transition-aged special education students housed in the ACES Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders in 2015, serving as a classroom-based BCBA for students presenting with complex behavioral and educational needs. Within her role, she provided ongoing supervision to classroom staff and students pursuing certification as behavior analysts, and designed individualized life skills programming in collaboration with special education teachers, related services therapists, families, and school administrators for 5 years before being promoted to the Lead Behavior Analyst for the program in 2020. In her role as the Lead BCBA, Erica focuses on the use of Behavioral Skills Training to provide ongoing clinical support and supervision to BCBAs, RBTs, and students pursuing certification, and facilitates collaboration among the classroom teams on a building-wide level. Outside of her position at ACES, she provides in-home clinical behavior support to families of transition-aged clients, focusing on home-based and community-based life skills. She has a passion for supervision and leadership, and participates in various special interest groups that focus on the development of resources for newer BCBA supervisors, for school-based stakeholders who are seeking BCBA support in their programs, and for BCBAs who aspire to become school leaders. on researching and delivering effective training services to school-based personnel, families and community service providers to increase the integrity with which evidence-based practices are used to support individuals with additional needs.

Ruel Dixon., M.B.A., BCBA, LBA (CT and MA)- Is a Behavior Analyst serving in a public school district facilitating the growth of a service model. He graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelors in Marketing then matriculated in Albertus Magnus College where he graduated with a Masters in Business Administration. Ruel then changed course and attended Westfield State University where earned a Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis after some years of practicing in the field. Ruel is currently in an Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Delaware State University. His research interest is looking at how behavior analytic principles can help with exclusionary discipline in our public school systems, especially as it relates to minority students. Ruel's goal is to make impactful and meaningful changes and experiences for minority students in education.

Bio coming soon.

Dr. Antonia Giannakakos-Ferman, Ph.D., BCBA-D, received her doctorate at Caldwell University and gained postdoctoral experience at Université de Montréal. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctorate level. Antonia is currently an assistant professor at Western Connecticut State University. She is passionate about disseminating the science of behavior analysis. Antonia's research interests include staff training, supplemental statistics for single-case designs, and the development of procedures to better teach safety practices to children. Antonia has published several studies in peer-reviewed journals and co-authored a book chapter on teaching safety skills. She has also served as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals. She has over 12 years of clinical experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis working in clinical and home-based settings. With her husband, she enjoys watching tv, reading, playing video games and spending time outside.

Dr. Ashley Creem, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA is a passionate advocate for the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and is dedicated to ensuring meaningful, high-quality care through the application of evidence-based practices. Actively involved in CTABA since 2018, she has served on the Public Policy Legislative Outreach (PPLO) Committee, Conference Committee, and Technology Committee, as well as on the Board of Directors from 2019 to 2024. She currently holds the role of ACE Coordinator. Beyond her contributions to CTABA, Dr. Creem is committed to advancing the field through research, teaching, and clinical leadership. As the Founder and Executive Director of IRIS Behavioral Health Services LLC, she leads an organization devoted to providing compassionate, high-quality ABA services for children with autism. She has presented at national ABA conferences, served as an adjunct professor in Endicott College’s M.S. ABA program, and has published several research articles and book chapters on social skills training and evidence-based interventions for individuals with ASD.

Katie Jacobs, M.S., BCBA, LBA is a Senior Behavior Analyst and Supervision Coordinator at Prism Autism Center in Farmington, CT. Katie received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Disorders from Southern Connecticut State University. While working in the field of speech pathology, she discovered her passion for working with children with autism and behavioral challenges. She went on to complete her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Saint Joseph. While pursuing her graduate degree, she worked in a private special education school implementing ABA programming with elementary and highschool aged students. Upon receiving her board certification in 2018 she went on to work as a BCBA in a home-based program and now in a center setting, providing early intensive ABA services for young children. In her current role, she oversees the fieldwork supervision program for students pursuing certification as behavior analysts. Katie is committed to achieving the most socially significant outcomes for her clients and their families and sparking passion in those new to the field of ABA.

Joanna Parenteau, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA is the Clinical Director of ABA Services for Synct Collaborative Therapy (formerly known as A Piece of the Puzzle Behavioral Interventions). She earned her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arizona in 2015 and her master's degree in Autism and Developmental Disabilities from University of Texas at Austin in 2016. Joanna completed her practicum and obtained her board certification while working at Central Texas Autism Center, where she received extensive training in the implementation of ABA services with a Verbal Behavior approach. During that time, Joanna was also a graduate research assistant for the Transition Research Excellence for Life Long Independence with Supports (TRELLIS) project under the UT Austin Texas Center for Disability Studies. She moved to Connecticut in early 2018 where she began working as a BCBA supervisor for in-home ABA services; her role evolved into Clinical Director in 2020 as she led the opening of center-based services. Joanna supervises a team of BCBAs, RBTs and students pursuing certification; she provides ongoing direction and support in pursuit of meaningful client outcomes.

Joanna is committed to eliminating barriers for families to access high-quality, evidence-based, ethical ABA services across Connecticut. Through her everyday work in center, home, and school settings, she values collaboration with other professionals and is eager to continue learning from others. She is passionate about the continued growth of our field and the dissemination of positive changes.

I am a clinician, professor, and scholar with 30 years of experience in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis. I currently serve as a Visiting Associate Professor at Southern Connecticut State University. Within the field, I have developed and taught higher education programs (certificate and master’s degrees) in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis at the graduate level. At the University of Saint Joseph, I led the Institute for Autism and Behavioral Studies which initiated research, community partnerships, higher education programs, and supported a multi-million dollar Department of Economic and Community Development grant for the Center for Applied Research and Education. This expanded the opportunities for behavior analytic training at the University. Within the clinical community, in partnership with the Hospital for Special Care, I launched the Autism Outpatient Clinic and supported the development of the Autism Inpatient Unit. Most recently I led the process to start an Approved Private Special Education Program based on behavior analytic principles. 

Edward Sanabria holds a Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Simmons University and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with licensure in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He is currently a Doctoral Candidate at The Chicago School in the ABA-Online program. He is conducting his dissertation on the effects and social validity of interdisciplinary collaboration in the development of training materials. Edward's other research interests include the development of ecologically relevant repertoires for BCBAs through mentorship and supervision and the application of behavior analysis to adaptive aquatics. He is currently a Director of Functional Analysis and Treatment Implementation at Centria Healthcare where he helps oversee company-wide training and implementation of the assent based practices for clinical leaders including the Practical Functional Assessment and Skill-Based Treatment. Through consultation and training with the clinicians and directors across the organization, he guides clinical practices which prioritize safety, dignity, effectiveness, and rapport-based treatments for clients with challenging and interfering behaviors. This past year Edward joined the CTABA conference committee in an effort to contribute to the annual event and support the local dissemination efforts.

Dr. Tracy Sinclair, BCBA-D, LBA, is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Connecticut. Tracy teaches pre-service teachers in the special education program in the Neag School of Education. Areas in which she teaches focus on assessment, behavior support, exceptionality, and supporting student teachers across multiple campuses for UConn. Tracy completed her PhD at the University of Oklahoma in Special Education with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis and Transition in May 2020. Her dissertation examined the role of self-evaluation within an authentic work environment for students with an intellectual disability or autism—applying skills of self-management to difficult-to-operationalize social skill behaviors. Prior to the move to Connecticut and higher education, Tracy was a high school special educator in Tennessee and a general education kindergarten teacher in Michigan. She found her love for the science of behavior as a teacher coordinating School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports and Response to Intervention initiatives at the high school level. As a teacher educator, Tracy strives to infuse evidence based practices into her courses for both general education teachers and special educators. She believes the science of behavior applied effectively can positively transform classrooms for all students.

Regina currently holds a position with Aspire Living and Learning supervising a specialized program for students with emotional disabilities within a public school district. Regina is also a doctoral student in Applied Behavior Analysis at Endicott College. Regina is an Adjunct Professor and Student Advisor at Endicott College for the Institute of Applied Behavior Sciences. Regina received her master's degree in Applied Social Sciences at the University of Manchester in the UK. She subsequently pursued certification in Applied Behavior Analysis. Regina has worked in various settings including schools, homes, and clinics spanning over 20 years in CT and the UK. She has had many valuable opportunities that helped to continually develop her clinical and leadership skills. She has a special interest in applying the science of Applied Behavior Analysis to develop systems to improve the quality and efficiency of services provided to consumers. This is directly related to providing training and supervision to others and the ongoing pursuit of guiding the development of new BCBAs. She has most recently been involved in studying the use of performance diagnostic assessments to be incorporated into school-based consultation as well as studying executive functioning skills to increase the effectiveness of assessment and teaching.

Christina Torres is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) with nearly a decade of experience in autism and ABA, having worked across diverse settings including residential programs, group homes, schools, clinical environments, and community-based services. As the founder of ABA Made EZ, a social media platform dedicated to building a community that empowers current and future leaders, she focuses on disseminating ABA on social media while providing mentorship, support, and accessible resources. Christina is driven by a commitment to foster change, innovation, and leadership, with the goal of preparing the next generation of leaders to guide the field with integrity, empathy, and forward-thinking practices.