É«É«À²

Membership Development Coordinator at Association for Behavior Analysis International

I analyze and improve systems within the organization to better serve the members of the organization.

If you had a campus job or internship, how did they impact your career development?

I was fortunate enough to receive a fellowship, which allowed me to instruct a course. It was an invaluable experience learning what it takes to be an instructor for a class full of college students, especially on issues surrounding the intersection of behavior analysis and race. 

What activities, resources, or people helped you prepare for your career? 

I received a lot of encouragement from professors I had during undergrad, and those I worked with during my undergraduate practicum. It was super important to establish those relationships early on, and I couldn't have known how much it would serve me all throughout graduate school. And of course, friends and colleagues in these programs really keep you going when the going gets tough. I had a strong network that I relied on, and am extremely thankful for that.

Which of your skills had the biggest impact on your success? 

If anything, I think being genuine in my interactions with people has been the most beneficial to me. People admire those who care when they talk, and listen to what they're talking about. It's really easy to just cruise through conversations and interactions that might seem meaningless at the time, but you never know what roles those around you will fulfill in the future. And everyone is deserving of that level of engagement and respect. 

What experiences impacted the choice of your career path? 

Really, it was my lack of experience working in an organization like the one I'm in that drew me to this position. I'd done what I received training in through grad school for a long time, and when I was offered the opportunity to do something different and just sort of jumped on it. I wanted to diversify my experience and challenge myself a bit. Working where I am now has definitely fulfilled both of those areas in my life. 

What advice do you have for others pursuing a career similar to yours? 

Don't be afraid to ask for help. I think this is more general to the collegiate/graduate school experience, but it is always a good idea to rely on the resources that are at your disposal. And you'd be surprised at how much people are willing and even excited to help others. It just takes you being aware of that and being brave enough to admit that you might not know everything. Only through collaboration and working with others will you realize some of your best work. As far as behavior analysis goes, don't be afraid to pave your own path and do something different. This field needs more people with an entrepreneurial mindset to establish themselves in other areas/industries. Be the first to do something really unique with your set of skills. 

See other Spotlights