Stephanie Peterson

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT STEPHANIE PETERSON

I have been an academic leader for over 10 years and a professor for 30 years. I have a Ph.D. in special education from The University of Iowa, with specialties in behavior analysis, behavioral pediatrics, and severe developmental disabilities. I have taught at multiple universities, from small private institutions to large, research-intensive universities. I have mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to successful careers in higher education, clinical management, and even their own businesses. Mentoring individuals in leadership and research is one of my favorite parts of my job. I am proud to have been recognized with an Outstanding Mentoring Award from the Association for Behavior Analysis, International.As a researcher, I have published many papers and book chapters. My research areas center around the assessment and treatment of severe challenging behavior (such as self-injury, aggression, and property destruction) in individuals with developmental disabilities. I am interested in treatments that are proactive and reinforcement-based. That is, I view severe challenging behavior as communicative in nature, and my job is to figure out what the individual is trying to communicate and to teach a replacement behavior that allows the individual to access the desired outcome but in a more safe and healthy way. My interventions also often involve choice making as a component. Soon, I (with my co-author Becky Eldridge) have a book coming out that discusses ethical interventions for those seeking assistance for autism-related concerns.As an administrator at Western Michigan University, I have served as Chair of the Department of Psychology-arguably the largest and most complex department at the university-for 8 years, the Director of the Autism Center of Excellence for 8 years, and am currently an Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. In all of these roles, I serve other leaders (e.g, department chairs), faculty, and students. I help create an environment that allows each of these individuals to be successful in their roles. I am engaged in such activities at a national level, as well, leading training discussions for new department chairpersons all across the country.