Michelle Duda, Ph.D., BCBA
Biography:
Dr. Duda began her career with a psychology background (B.A., University of Western Ontario, 1999) and focused her work in the field of applied behavior analysis (Behavioural Science Technology (BST) Diploma, St. Lawrence College 2000; M.A., Applied Behavior Analysis, University of South Florida, 2002). Since then, Dr. Duda earned a Ph.D. in special education (University of South Florida, 2005) with a specialization in early childhood education and positive behavior support (PBS). She also is a Senior-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
Dr. Duda has over eight years of experience conducting applied research and supporting children and their families within natural environments (e.g., home, school, community). She also has extensive clinical experience through consultations with over fifty families that have a child with autism and/or a related disability and has provided targeted behavioral support to young children with challenging behavior. In addition to family support, she has consulted with and developed/provided training to local service providers, pre-service teachers, advanced doctoral students and families. Her research has been presented at the local, state, national, and international level.
Dr. Duda has authored a number of peer-reviewed articles that focused on supporting young children with challenging behavior in the preschool environment, helping families ease the transition to kindergarten, addressing cultural competence, treatment integrity in early childhood special education and the implementation of PBS across environments. In addition to creating several family-focused informational brochures, data collection tools, training modules and behavior supports, she has been a major contributor to a website on PBS with an emphasis on young children and their families (http://challengingbehavior.org/explore/pbs/pbs.htm).
Dr. Duda's current research interests include: Early intervention/early childhood special education, treatment integrity, implementation, systems change, capacity building and engagement.
