Newsletter
Volume 29 | 2006 | Number 2
News from the ABA Student Committee
By Marianne Jackson
Student Committee Chair
Your Student Representatives
Current: Marianne Jackson, University of Nevada, Reno
Elect: Corina Jimenez-Gomez, Utah State University
Past: Christy Alligood, West Virginia University
The Student Committee welcomes Student Representative-Elect Corina Jimenez-Gomez. We also thank Shawn Charlton for his outstanding service on the Committee.
Mission of the ABA Student Committee
ABA student members constitute over 35% of the Association’s total membership. The ABA Student Committee’s mission is to provide organizational support for ABA student members that will promote participation in ABA and professional growth, and enable members to contribute to the science of behavior analysis.
Student Members and ABA 2006 Atlanta
The ABA annual convention in Atlanta was a great success for the student membership. The Student Committee thanks all student members who contributed to the success of the conference by attending or by presenting. We also thank the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (S ABA), whose generous donors provided registration for 181 student presenters at this year’s convention.
The Student Committee sponsored fourteen Professional Development Series events at the convention, with topics ranging from the graduate school application process to entering the job market. We thank all who participated in these events by planning, chairing, presenting, or attending. In addition to organizing the Professional Development Series, the Student Committee conducted its annual business meeting, presented a poster on the Student Committee at the ABA Expo, and collected data to be used in the planning of future convention events.
This year, for the first time, the Student Committee held a Behavioral Bash on Saturday night. The Bash was a great success and included a student skit competition, Outstanding Mentor Awards (recipients listed below), a professional fire eater, a break dancing team, and a slideshow by Dick Malott. Many thanks to our new Program Representatives (listed below), who had a large part in planning and carrying out the Behavioral Bash.
Program Representatives
The Student Committee has created new leadership positions for student members of ABA. Program Representatives function as an advisory board to the three Student Representatives who serve on ABA’s Executive Council. All student members of ABA are eligible to serve as representatives of their training program to the Student Committee, with representation limited to one student per program. Individual programs are responsible for the selection of representatives. Program Representatives attend the annual Student Committee meeting at the ABA convention, communicate with Student Representatives regarding convention event planning and other student issues, and encourage participation in the nomination and election process for Student Representatives. For information about becoming involved in the Student Committee as a Student Representative, Program Representative, or Convention Volunteer, please visit http://www.abainternational.org/aba/Studentinfo/reps.asp or contact Marianne Jackson at mariannejackson78@hotmail.com.
2005-2006 Program Representatives
- Judah Axe, Ohio State University: Special Education
- Sharlet Butterfield, University of Nevada, Reno: Psychology/Behavior Analysis
- Berenice de la Cruz, University of Texas, Austin: Special Education
- Katie Endicott, Utah State University: Special Education and Rehabilitation
- Kate Fiske, Rutgers University: Clinical Psychology
- Andrea J. Frank, University of Iowa: Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
- Bita Ghatan, California State University of Los Angeles: Applied Behavior Analysis
- Megan Guidi, Simmons College: Behavioral Education
- Dawn Hamlin, Pennsylvania State University: Special Education
- Briana Hautau, University of Tennessee, Knoxville: School Psychology
- Aaron D. Lesser, Wesley College: Psychology
- Jessica Madrigal-Bauguss, University of North Texas: Behavior Analysis
- Michael Marroquin, City University of New York: Learning Processes Psychology
- Megan Meginley, West Virginia University: Behavior Analysis
- Jennifer Rava, Florida State University, Panama City: Psychology
- Derek Reed, Syracuse University: School Psychology
- Daniel Singleton, Jacksonville State University: Applied Psychology
- Michael J. Vance, Louisiana State University: School Psychology
- Todd Ward, Stephen F. Austin State University: Psychology
- Ryan Zayac, Auburn University: Experimental Psychology
2006 Outstanding Mentors
Another first this year for the Student Committee was the selection of Outstanding Mentors, who were honored with awards at the Behavioral Bash. Student Committee members nominated and voted on the awardees. We are grateful for the opportunity to publicly thank these individuals for their outstanding work with students. This year’s awardees are:
- Sean D. Casey, Pennsylvania State University
- Bill Heward, Ohio State University
- Carol Pilgrim, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
- Jose Rosales-Ruiz, University of North Texas
Future Goals
Going forward, the ABA Student Committee is committed to serving the student membership through activities that support our mission statement. In the coming year, these activities will include planning events for ABA 2007 in San Diego, including the next Behavioral Bash; recruiting additional Program Representatives; selecting Outstanding Mentors; facilitating international work opportunities for graduates of behavior analysis programs; and holding the election for the next Student Representative. We encourage student members to become involved in Student Committee activities. Please direct your questions and comments to your Student Representative, Marianne Jackson, via mariannejackson78@hotmail.