Faculty and Staff
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Dr. Stokes is the Alvin V. Baird Centennial Chair in Psychology and Professor of Graduate Psychology at James Madison University. He is also the Director of James Madison University’s Alvin V. Baird Attention and Learning Disabilities Center at the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services. He was educated at the University of Western Australia and the University of Kansas. Dr. Stokes is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and licensed Behavior Analyst in Virginia. Before coming to James Madison University, he held academic appointments at the University of Manitoba, West Virginia University, and the University of South Florida. Dr. Stokes has a diverse research background and a wide range of experience in practice and teaching in Clinical and School Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis. |
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Dr. Jakobsen is the Alvin V. and Nancy C. Baird Professor of Psychology and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at James Madison University. She also conducts research with the Cognitive Development Lab at James Madison University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, her Master’s of Science from University of Georgia, and her Ph.D. in Lifespan Human Development also from the University of Georgia. Dr. Jakobsen’s research interests include cognitive development in infants and children, visual attention and eye tracking, and evidence-based teaching practices. |
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Meghan Mitchell Meghan is a second year Master’s student in the Psychological Sciences program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at James Madison University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from James Madison University. She currently holds a Registered Behavior Technician certification through the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. This is Meghan’s third year working at the Baird Center as a student clinician using Applied Behavior Analysis principles with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. Meghan has experience working at Rockingham County Public Schools as a BCBA Intern, where she primarily worked with students who had developmental and learning disabilities. In addition to working as the ABAP Clinic Coordinator at the Baird Center, Meghan also has an assistantship with the Virginia Institute of Autism in Charlottesville as a BCBA Intern this year. She will primarily be working with adults who have developmental disabilities on activities of daily living and social-vocational skills. Meghan’s research interests include early intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders, activities of daily living and social-vocational skills for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and video modeling and prompting. |
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Brooklin Davis Brooklin is a second year Master’s student in the Psychological Sciences program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at James Madison University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from James Madison University, and is a Registered Behavior Technician through the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. Brooklin has previous experience working at Virginia Institute of Autism’s John C. Hormel School as an intern, working with children who have Autism and other developmental disabilities. Last year she was a BCBA Intern with Augusta County Public Schools, primarily working with children with developmental and learning disabilities. She also has experience working on Applied Behavior Analysis research as a research assistant at James Madison University. This is Brooklin’s third year working at the Baird Center, where she is currently the Clinic Coordinator for our Interprofessional Autism Clinic. In addition, she is also working with Harrisonburg City Public Schools as a BCBA Intern this year. Brooklin’s research interests include early intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders and Performance Management Interventions. |
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Lindsey Histand Lindsey is a second year Master’s student in the Psychological Sciences program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at James Madison University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a double-minor in Art and Criminology from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She currently holds a Registered Behavior Technician certification through the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. Lindsey has experience working at the Virginia Institute for Autism’s John C. Hormel School working with children who have Autism, ages five to nine as a teacher. This is Lindsey’s second year working at the Baird Center as a Graduate Assistant using Applied Behavior Analysis principles with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. Last year she held an assistantship with Shennandoah County Public Schools as a BCBA Intern where she primarily worked with elementary-aged students with developmental and learning disabilities. In addition to working at the Baird Center as the Administrative Clinic Coordinator, Lindsey also has an assistantship with Waynesboro City Public Schools as a BCBA Intern this year. She is primarily working with elementary and middle school students with developmental and learning disabilities. Lindsey’s research interests include early intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders, preference assessments, reinforcer evaluations, and preference stability. |
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Maria Leventhal Maria is a second year Master’s student in the Psychological Sciences program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at James Madison University. She received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Shippensburg University and a Masters of Arts in Education Administration and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She currently holds a Registered Behavior Technician certification through the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. She has previous experience working in education. She was a BCBA Intern with Waynesboro Public School last year and is currently working as a BCBA Intern with the Virginia Institute of Autism. In addition, Maria is working at the Baird Center as a Graduate Assistant using Applied Behavior Analysis principles with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. This is her second year working at the Baird Center. Her research interests include early intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders, interventions with children who have behavioral needs, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. |
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EJ Brautigan EJ is a second year Doctoral student in the Clinical and School Psychology program at James Madison University and is completing Applied Behavior Analysis coursework. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Cum Laude with High Honors and Distinction at Kenyon College. He also holds a Masters of Education in Counseling and Mental Health Services from the University of Pennsylvania. EJ has experience mentoring and tutoring middle school-aged students in mathematics and social-emotional learning within under supported inner city schools in Dallas, TX and Philadelphia, PA. He also worked on social skill development with children of diverse cultural backgrounds with ASD and ADHD in the Folk-Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School near Philadelphia’s Chinatown. This is EJ’s third year working at the Baird Center as a Graduate Assistant, applying a blend of Applied Behavior Analysis principles and Counseling services to children with developmental and learning disabilities. In addition to working at the Baird Center, EJ is also a Doctoral Student Clinician in Outpatient Behavioral Services at the Virginia Institute of Autism this year. He provides behavioral therapy and psychological evaluations with children and adolescents. EJ’s research interests are in the development of integrative and wholistic assessments of parent-child interaction quality. |
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Valencia Pankey Valencia is a first year Doctoral student in the Clinical and School Psychology program at James Madison University. She holds a Masters of Arts in Psychological Sciences with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology both from James Madison University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst through the Behavior Analysis Certification Board and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Virginia. Valencia has experience in behavioral consultation in center-based and home-based settings, using Early Intensive Behavior Intervention. She worked at the Virginia Institute of Autism as a Behavior Analyst before starting her current program. While in her Master’s program, Valencia held BCBA Internships with Augusta County Public Schools and at the Virginia Institute of Autism. Also while in her Master’s program, Valencia was the Inter-professional Autism Clinic (IPAC) Coordinator at the Baird Center. Her research interests include early intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. |
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Dr. Tiffany Pempek Rahl Tiffany is a second year Doctoral student in the Clinical and School Psychology program at James Madison University. She received her Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology and Bachelor of Science in Psychology, both from the University of Dayton. She also received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Massachusetts. Before starting her current program at James Madison University, Tiffany worked as an Associate Professor of Psychology at Hollins University, where her research focused on topics such the effects of background television on parent-child interactions and the effectiveness of embedding tips for parents within children’s screen and print media. This is Tiffany’s first year working at the Baird Center as a Graduate Assistant, applying a blend of Applied Behavior Analysis principles and Counseling services to children with developmental and learning disabilities. Her research interests include parent resources and supports, parent-child interactions, and development of self-regulation and emotional competence in children. |
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Hannah Lockwood Hannah is a Master’s student in the Psychological Sciences program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at James Madison University. She received a Bachelor of Science in Family, Youth and Community Sciences with a minor in Disabilities in Society from the University of Florida. She currently holds a Registered Behavior Technician certification through the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. Hannah worked at Behavior Analysis Support Services in Florida as a Registered Behavior Technician, and was a Behavior Analysis Intern at The Speech and Language Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia. This is her first year working at the Baird Center as a Graduate Assistant using Applied Behavior Analysis principles with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. In addition to working at the Baird Center, she is also a BCBA Intern at Page County Public Schools this year. Hannah’s research interests are in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Functional Communication Training. |
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Morgan Mabery Morgan is a Master’s student in the Psychological Sciences program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at James Madison University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from James Madison University. Morgan previously held an internship at the Virginia Institute of Autism using Applied Behavior Analysis with individuals who have developmental disabilities. This is Morgan’s first year working at the Baird Center as a Graduate Assistant using Applied Behavior Analysis principles with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. In addition to working at the Baird Center, she is also a BCBA Intern at Augusta County Public Schools this year. Morgan’s research interests are in parent training. |
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Haley Gardner Haley is a Master’s student in the Psychological Sciences program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at James Madison University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Health Sciences from James Madison University. She has experience as a caregiver for an individual who has Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Her duties included taking her client to various therapy appointments and helping her client increase her independence and establish daily living routines. While completing her undergraduate program, Haley held an internship at the Virginia Institute of Autism working primarily with adults and adolescents who have developmental disabilities. This is Haley’s first year working at the Baird Center as a Graduate Assistant using Applied Behavior Analysis principles with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. In addition to working at the Baird Center this year, Haley is also a BCBA Intern with Rockingham County Public Schools. Haley is also working as a research assistant on research related to Applied Behavior Analysis this year. Her research interests include Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders. |
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Courtney West Courtney is a Master’s student in the Psychological Sciences program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at James Madison University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in Family Studies and Sociology from James Madison University. This is Courtney’s first year working at the Baird Center as a Graduate Assistant using Applied Behavior Analysis with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. In addition to working at the Baird Center, Courtney is also working at Rockingham Country Public Schools as a BCBA Intern this year. She is primarily working with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. Her research interests include early intervention with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. |
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Angelina Clark Angelina is a senior undergraduate student at James Madison University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Last year, she worked as a research assistant collecting data for a research study related to Applied Behavior Analysis, also at James Madison University. Angelina will be completing undergraduate course credit at the Baird Center using Applied Behavior Analysis principles with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. In addition, she will continue working as a research assistant in research related to Applied Behavior Analysis this year. Her research interests include Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and early intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders. |