Thomas S. Higbee, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA
Executive Director and Founder
Dr. Thomas S. Higbee is Professor and Department Head in the Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Department at Utah State University, where he has worked since 2002. He is also the Executive Director of the Autism Support Services: Education, Research, and Training (ASSERT) program, an early intensive behavioral intervention program for young children on the autism spectrum that he founded in 2003. He is a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Utah. The primary focus of his research is on the development of effective supports for children on the autism spectrum and with other developmental disabilities. His secondary research focus is on the development of effective strategies for supporting the parents and professionals who love and support these children. He is a former associate editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) and the European Journal of Behavior Analysis. Dr. Higbee is committed to the broad dissemination of evidence-based supports for students on the autism spectrum and with related disabilities and has helped to create intensive behavior analytic preschool and school programs for these children in Brazil, Russia, Portugal, and throughout his home state of Utah. He is the past president of the Utah Association for Behavior Analysis (UtABA) and has served as a member of the Practice Board of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and the Utah Psychologist Licensing Board.
Lyndsay D. Nix, MS, BCBA, LBA
Program Director
Lyndsay is the program director for the ASSERT Autism Program, where she has worked since 2007. She is also an adjunct clinical instructor in the Department of Special Education & Rehabilitation at Utah State University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in the state of Utah, as well as a licensed professional educator for individuals with disabilities from birth to post-high. Lyndsay graduated from Utah State University with a Master of Science Degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. She also graduated as Valedictorian with a dual Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education: Early Childhood & Mild/Moderate Disabilities. Lyndsay has trained hundreds of undergraduate students to implement a variety of evidence-based practices with children with ASD. She has presented her research at regional, national, and international conferences. As part of ASSERT’s international outreach mission, Lyndsay has also provided training to several practitioners from Brazil, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
Thesis: An evaluation of a stimulus preference assessment of iPad applications for young children with autism
Kassidy S. Reinert, MS, BCBA, LBA
Clinical Director, Weber School District Consultant, Case Manager
Kassidy is the clinical director for the ASSERT Autism Program, where she has worked for 10 years. She case manages students at ASSERT and provides clinical supervision to junior case managers. She also trains instructors, professionals, and international colleagues from Russia and Brazil. Kassidy is the consultant for with Weber School District, where she provides training to special education teachers and paraprofessionals to implement behavior analytic services. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in the state of Utah, and provides BCBA supervision. Kassidy received her Master of Science Degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Utah State University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minors in Disability Studies and Human Development & Family Sciences from the University of Wyoming. Her research interests include activity schedules, technology in teaching, and parent training.
Thesis: An evaluation of an iPad based activity schedule
Mina Mendoza, M.S., BCBA
Mina Mendoza is a third-year doctoral student in the Disability Disciplines Ph.D. program at Utah State University, specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She earned her B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Counseling with an emphasis in ABA from California State University, Los Angeles. Mina is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and provides BCBA supervision. She currently works with Dr. Thomas S. Higbee at the Autism Support Services: Education, Research, and Training (ASSERT) preschool as a case manager. She has also taught undergraduate ABA courses designed for special education teachers. Before pursuing her doctorate, Mina provided in-home ABA services to children ages 2–8 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Her research interests focus on promoting behavioral variability in children with autism, particularly in play skills, and on training instructors and paraprofessionals in naturalistic teaching and treatment fidelity.
Devanio Cousins, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Devanio Cousins received his BA with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from California State University, Sacramento, and a MS from Utah State University. He is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) who is currently pursuing his doctorate in Disability Disciplines with an emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) under the advisement of Dr. Thomas Higbee. He is currently working at the Autism Support Services: Education, Research Training (ASSERT) preschool, where he is a case manager overseeing the treatment and support of young autistic children between the ages of 3-5. Additionally, Devanio serves as a consultant for Weber School District, providing training and support to teachers and paraprofessionals in behavior analytic content. Previously, Devanio worked as a BCaBA for clinic, school, and home-based ABA services for 2–21-year-olds in northern and southern California. His current research interests include, but are not limited to, promoting variability (e.g., play and language) as well as improving overall independence of individuals with autism. Devanio has conducted research looking at racial and environmental factors relating to delay discounting/impulsivity and resurgence, as well as drug and environmental factors influencing timing/temporal discrimination.
Destiny A. Diaz, M.S.
Destiny Diaz is a first-year doctoral student in Disability Disciplines at Utah State University under the advisement of Dr. Thomas Higbee. She received her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Mississippi State University. She is currently working at the Autism Support Services: Education, Research Training (ASSERT) preschool, where she is a case manager overseeing the treatment and support of 3-5 year old children on the autism spectrum. Destiny’s previous experience includes the reduction of severe challenging behavior, school consultation, and the treatment of pediatric feeding disorders. Her research interests include effective training strategies for behavioral professionals, variability of behavior (play and/or language), and effects of mastery criteria on generalization and maintenance of skill acquisition.