Our Faculty

Dr. Jacqueline Towson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, serves as the Principal Investigator for Project ABA. She is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and holds a joint appointment in the School of Teacher Education.

With over 14 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist and preschool special education teacher in Texas and Georgia, Dr. Towson brings a wealth of practical expertise to her academic work. She earned her Ph.D. in the Education of Students with Exceptionalities, with an emphasis in Early Childhood Special Education, from Georgia State University in 2015.

Dr. Towson’s research focuses on enhancing the skills and capacity of professionals who support young children with language impairments. Her work emphasizes collaboration among teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, and speech-language pathologists to foster effective, inclusive learning environments.

Dr. Shaun Hawkins, EdD, BCBA, serves as the Co-Principal Investigator for Project ABA. 

He is a Visiting Research Associate in the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute.

Jennifer Lugo-Rodriguez, B.S., is the Graduate Assistant for Project ABA. She supports applicant outreach, coordinates interviews, and assists with project communications. Jennifer is a graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at the University of Central Florida.