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
Nicholas A. Lindgren, MS
Nicholas Lindgren is a first-year doctoral student in Disability Disciplines at Utah State University. He received his B.S. in Psychology from California State University, Northridge and his M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from California State University, Northridge. Currently, Nicholas works with Dr. Thomas S. Higbee at the Autism Support Services: Education, Research and Training (ASSERT) preschool. Nicholas’s previous experience includes providing early intervention, ABA services to children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in university clinic-based settings. Nicholas’s research interests involve evaluating the effectiveness of interactive computer-based training, promoting fidelity of treatment implementation, and the implementation of skill acquisition interventions via alternative modalities such as Telehealth.
Jessica A. Osos, MA, BCBA, LBA
Jessica Osos received her BA in Special Education and her MA in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Michigan State University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Disability Disciplines with an emphasis in ABA while working at the Autism Support Services: Education, Research Training (ASSERT) preschool. Jessica previously worked as a BCBA for clinic-based ABA services for 2–11-year-olds in Michigan. Her current research interests include matrix training and toilet training.
Mattie Mecham
Mattie Mecham received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Piano Pedagogy from Utah State University. She is currently pursuing her Master’s of Science degree in Special Education with ABA coursework. Mattie worked as an ASSERT instructor throughout her undergraduate degree and enjoyed her time teaching in the Kindergarten Prep group. She is excited to continue her education while working at ASSERT. Her current research interests involve sibling-implemented script-fading and promoting reciprocal communication.
Mina Mendoza
Mina Mendoza is a first-year doctoral student in Disability Disciplines at Utah State University. She received his B.A. in Psychology and her M.S. in Counseling with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from California State University, Los Angeles. Currently, Mina works with Dr. Thomas S. Higbee at the Autism Support Services: Education, Research and Training (ASSERT) preschool. Mina’s previous experience includes providing in-home ABA services to children aged 2-8 years old diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Mina’s research interests involve evaluating the effectiveness of digital teaching materials and caregiver training.
Svetlana (Lana) Danielyan
Svetlana (Lana) Danielyan has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2020. She has eight years of experience in Behavior Analysis, in which she has grown from roles including Behavior Technician, Registered Behavior Technician, Program Supervisor, and Clinical Supervisor. Lana’s clinical experiences include serving clients from early intervention to adulthood. Lana has experience with assessments and designing evidence-based behavior change interventions. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Disability Disciplines with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis under the advisement of Dr. Thomas S. Higbee. She is a Graduate Researcher and Case Manager at ASSERT. Lana is passionate about supporting her learners in reaching independence and quality of life. She is also excited to mentor and inspire her team to achieve the best outcomes of applied interventions. Lana’s research interests include social skills training interventions for individuals with ASD and developmental disabilities and assessment and interventions for challenging behaviors.