Christina A. Simmons, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Dr. Simmons received her Ph.D. in School Psychology, with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis, from the University of Georgia. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Rowan University and the director of the SAFE Behavior Lab. She is the Director of the Rowan Center for Behavior Analysis and the Director of Clinical Services for a state contract through the New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ Children’s System of Care to provide intensive in-home services. Dr. Simmons’ primary research interest is improving the social validity of behavioral assessment and treatment of severe behavior in children with autism. She publishes her research in behavior analytic and autism-focused journals including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Dr. Simmons currently has several grants to develop virtual reality parent and healthcare professional training to improve the accessibility and quality of behavioral training. She is on the Editorial Board for the journal Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.
Ph.D. Students
Doctoral students in the SAFE Behavior Lab, under the mentorship of Dr. Simmons, are pursuing a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. at Rowan University, with an integrated care/health psychology focus.
Giovanna Salvatore
Giovanna is Doctoral Candidate at Rowan University in her fifth year of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. She received her undergraduate psychology degree at Temple University. Her primary research interest concerns physician knowledge of autism and behavioral function in working with patients with ASD and severe/challenging behavior. She is a Doctoral Intern at Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Behavioral Feeding Program and Pediatric Developmental Disabilities Clinic. Outside of the lab, Giovanna enjoys staying healthy by spending her free time at the gym or outdoors. Her goal is to become a licensed clinical psychologist, incorporating applied behavior analysis in her assessment and treatment of individuals with ASD.
Abigail Moretti
Abigail is a 4th year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. Her research interests include addressing and improving the well-being of parents of children with autism using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) groups. Abigail is currently working on her dissertation on examining the impact of format on the feasibility and acceptability of virtual ACT groups for this population. Her clinical interests include working with children and adolescents with complex needs who require a higher level of support. Abigail is currently placed at Fairmount Behavioral Health System, an inpatient hospital serving individuals in the Philadelphia area, where she conducts intake assessments, group therapy, and individual therapy with children and adolescents who present with a variety of concerns, including suicidal ideation, aggression, trauma, and psychosis. Abigail’s career goal is to become the clinical director of a program serving children and adolescents requiring a higher level of care. Outside of the program, Abigail enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, going to the beach, and watching reality TV.
Maya Shanker
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Bronte Reidinger
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Master’s
Students
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Undergraduate
Research Assistants
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Gabrielle Green-Smith
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Julia Piekielko
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