Contacts

Dr. Shanel D. Harris is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Psychologist, and an accomplished educator with over 20 years’ experience teaching adults and children from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Harris' clinical expertise includes working with children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, trauma and stress related disorders, intellectual disability, anxiety, and depression.

Dr. Harris has advanced training and certifications in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), ADHD treatment, complex trauma, play therapy, and neurofeedback.  Dr. Harris finds deep fulfillment in helping individuals of all ages realize their full potential by helping them discover and develop their strengths.

Dr. Susan Wilson has been a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst since 2001.  She is currently Full Time Faculty and BACB Coordinator in the Applied Behavior Analysis Master’s degree program at Purdue University Global, where she has taught for 10 years.  Dr. Wilson has also provided behavioral health support services to children and adults from various clinical populations since 1982.  For over 20 years, Dr. Wilson has coordinated behavioral services for adults with IDD/Autism and complex behavioral and mental health challenges, living in community group homes and supported living arrangements through West Bay Rhode Island, Inc., where she continues to serve as a consultant.

Meleah M. Ackley is a full-time faculty member of the Psychology department at Purdue Global. Ackley teaches graduate courses within the Applied Behavior Analysis program. Ackley is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Mississippi and North Carolina. Clinical expertise includes working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Intellectual Developmental Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and anxiety. She has specialized training in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and cognitive-behavioral approaches. Her educational expertise includes teacher development, conducting classroom observations, developing and implementing classroom management strategies, and tracking student progress.

Jenelle Bartlett teaches in the applied behavior analysis (ABA) program, where she was an adjunct for several years before joining the team as a full time faculty member. Prior to starting at Purdue Global, she spent over a decade in clinical work for individuals with disabilities, supporting a variety of ages and disabilities. Bartlett has specialized in several areas, including international delivery of ABA services, serving Autistic adults, and using trauma-informed care to support individuals experiencing severe barrier behavior. Her experience includes working in homes, clinics, public and private schools, and community locations. Bartlett’s passion in teaching lies in supporting the next generation of practitioners in ABA to be compassionate, insightful, and powerful researchers.

Joanne Choy teaches several courses in the psychology department focusing on applied behavior analysis. She joined Purdue Global as a part-time adjunct faculty member and was later promoted to a full-time faculty member. Choy has worked in the field of applied behavior analysis since 2014, and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2018. She has experience in working with children and adults who have autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and other capacities in the home, community, and center-based settings. 

Dr. Nelly Dixon has been a faculty member in the Psychology Department of Purdue Global’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences for almost 8 years.  She is a certified Special Education Teacher, holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and Licensed behavior analyst in the state of NY.  Dr. Dixon is also a Level Five Certificant in the implementation of Practical Functional Assessment and Skill Based Training processes. Most importantly, she is the parent of an adult son with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Dr. Dixon has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for 26 years, first as a special education teacher for students with Autism and related developmental disabilities, then as a behavior consultant in the public schools and as an Independent Contractor of Applied Behavior Analysis services for families in the US Military.  She has provided behavioral services for individuals ages 2 through 21 in both public and private schools, homes, and community settings. 

In addition to continued interest in her areas of expertise, Dr. Dixon’s more current interests lie in area of the Contextual Behavioral Sciences, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), having served on ABAI’s ACT Special Interest Group as a board member. Dr Dixon has presented and several national and international conferences on various topics related to ACT and behavior analysis.

Eris Dodds has been practicing in the field of Psychology/Behavior Analysis since 2015. He teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in Psychology and Behavior Analysis. He has further field experience in public health, data analytics, and public policy. 

Heather Dorn-Deasy began her journey at Purdue Global in 2023, joining the institution as an adjunct faculty member. In this role, she taught graduate-level courses in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), bringing her clinical experience in behavioral science to the classroom. Dorn-Deasy’s approach emphasized evidence-based practices, compassionate engagement with clients and families, and the development of practical skills for emerging behavior analysts.

Dorn-Deasy transitioned to a full-time faculty position in 2025 where she continues to teach graduate students while contributing to the ongoing advancement of best practices within the ABA curriculum at Purdue Global.

Dr. Quornelia Hypolite is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and licensed educator with a background spanning special education, instructional leadership, and Applied Behavioral Analysis; she is also a licensed behavioral analyst in both New York and Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations and a Master’s in Teaching from Trinity College of Washington, D.C. Jn 2009, this was followed by earning her administrative credentials in Educational Leadership from Catholic University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on students with special needs from the University of Phoenix. Her professional and research interests include supporting the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students with disabilities, with a particular passion for advocating for twice-exceptional learners from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Hypolite has served across the full continuum of special education services, from early childhood programs to adult community enrichment settings, and has held roles as a teacher, grade-level and department chair, Special Education Coordinator, RBT, BCBA, Clinical Director, and is the  founder of a company providing in-home ABA services. 

Kristin M. Kosmerl serves as a full-time professor within the Psychology Department, specializing in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program. Kosmerl is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) and holds certifications as a K-12 educator and administrator, bringing over 25 years of experience in public education and Applied Behavior Analysis. Her credentials include specialization in trauma and resilience, autism spectrum disorders, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in persons of all ages.

Kosmerl’s current scholarly focus centers on trauma-informed approaches within ABA, emphasizing the importance of addressing individual needs while shaping behavior. She is dedicated to facilitating professional development, advancing ethical and practical applications of ABA, and fostering student learning. In addition to her extensive public school experience, Kosmerl maintains a private clinical and consulting practice and has served as an expert witness in federal and other courts of jurisdiction. Committed to advocacy, Kosmerl strives to empower clients and families, supporting them in achieving their fullest potential through evidence-based practices and compassionate, ethical guidance.

Jenna Odeh began her career at Purdue Global as an adjunct faculty member before transitioning to her role as full time faculty member in the Psychology Department. Prior to joining the team at Purdue Global, she had an accomplished career as a school-based behavior analyst and assistant principal specializing in working with K-12 students who displayed severe maladaptive behaviors. She is passionate about teaching learners in higher education the concepts and philosophies behind the science of applied behavior analysis. Dr. Odeh has seen first-hand the impact it has had on the clients/students whom she has served in both the school and home settings. She is passionate about instilling a love for learning in her learners at Purdue Global. Dr. Odeh believes that learning is a lifelong process and should be a balance of challenges and fun. She brings to the classroom not only experience, but unique teaching strategies that meet adult learners where they currently are. 

Lisa Phillips, PhD, BCBA-D, MBA, has served as a professor of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Purdue Global Graduate Psychology Department for several years and is the Ethics Course Leader, SME, and Performance Management SME in the ABA program. Dr. Phillips is a doctoral-level behavior analyst, and a licensed clinical and interjurisdictional psychologist certified in EMDR with expertise in family services across the lifespan, supervision, business consulting, and leadership development. 

Elia M. Santos began her academic career with Purdue University Global, where she currently serves as an instructor for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Psychology. With over 15 years of professional experience in human services and a multidisciplinary background spanning behavioral science, exceptional student education, and psychology, Santos has devoted more than a decade to the practice of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in Central Florida. Her clinical work includes providing comprehensive behavioral services to children across diverse educational and community settings. Santos’s scholarly and professional interests center on the mentorship and supervision of emerging behavior analysts. She is dedicated to fostering the personal and professional development of students–preparing them to become resilient leaders, educators, and practitioners capable of making meaningful contributions to their communities and the broader field of behavior analysis.  

Olivia is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Michigan. She has worked in the field of pediatric Applied Behavior Analysis since 2015. Olivia obtained her Master's of Educational Psychology degree at Wayne State University, where she also completed her BCBA coursework. Olivia joined Purdue Global's Adjunct Faculty team in the 2020-2021 school year and became a Full-Time Faculty Member in 2022. In her free time, Olivia likes to spend time outdoors with her family and friends, garden, and travel.

As a full-time faculty member at Purdue Global, Michael Toto’s role is shaping the next generation of behavior analysts through creative instruction and expertise in Applied Behavior Analysis. By teaching courses such as Ethics for Behavior Analysts, Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, and Concepts of Measurement & Experimental Design, Toto supports students in developing both the technical precision and ethical grounding essential for effective, compassionate practice. His commitment to high-quality education and to advancing the field reflects a dedication to empowering learners and promoting meaningful, evidence-based impact in the communities they will serve.    

Brandon J. Umphrey instructs graduate-level courses in applied behavior analysis (ABA), with an emphasis on complex contingency analysis, functional behavior assessment, and systems-level intervention. He first joined Purdue University as a part-time adjunct faculty member and continues to contribute to graduate instruction, mentoring, and curriculum development. With extensive experience in higher education, Umphrey brings a combination of academic rigor and applied expertise to his teaching practice. His professional background spans school-based behavioral services, telehealth, developmental disability services, and international program development, including leadership in training and systems design.

Publications: Umphrey has contributed to scholarly work in behavior analysis, including manuscripts on Goldiamond’s constructional approach and instructional methodologies. His work emphasizes translational applications of behavior analytic principles in educational and clinical settings.

Certifications: Board Certified Behavior Analyst–Doctoral (BCBA-D); Licensed Behavior Analyst, Nevada

Honors and Achievements: Director of Training and Development for Catesbi CIC in Scotland, contributing to the expansion of ABA services internationally; Ad Hoc Reviewer for Child and Youth Care Forum

Memberships: Member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International; Nevada Association of Behavior Analysis.

Research Interests: Functional behavior assessment, constructional approaches to intervention, instructional design in ABA, contingency analysis, and systems-level applications of behavior analysis in educational settings

Shannon Weiss teaches courses in the applied behavior analysis program. Prior to her teaching career, she worked for over 8 years as a behavior analyst with children as young as 3 years old and adults over 80. Her work as a behavior analyst was done in a variety of settings including schools, private homes, group homes, residential facilities, and work settings. Previously, Weiss taught undergraduate courses in psychology for 6 years at several universities and a local community college.