2025 APBA Awards

2025 Jerry Shook Award Recipient - Dr. Debbi Napolitano

Deborah Napolitano Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA-NY is a Professor in the Behavioral Science Department at Daemen University, is a consultant to the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disabilities Nursing at St. John Fisher University and holds a courtesy appointment as an Associate Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine.  Debbi obtained her Ph.D. in Developmental and Child Psychology/Behavior Analysis from the University of Kansas in 2000.  Over her career, Debbi has published in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and behavior analysis, with peer-reviewed research publications in some of the field’s premier journals, such as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and the American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Debbi also serves on the board of editors for Behavior and Social Issues, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and the Journal of Mental Health Research in Developmental Disabilities. Debbi’s research and clinical interests have spanned many areas across her career, such as rigid and repetitive behavior, severe challenging behavior, and drug and behavior interactions. Most recently, Debbi’s interests have focused on applications of behavior analysis in child welfare and juvenile justice, interprofessional collaboration, and public policy and advocacy.  As a member of the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis’ Public Policy Committee and in her personal endeavors, Debbi has worked on important legislation and policy for the field as well as centering advocacy efforts around improving appropriate, accessible, and responsive supports and services  in New York for all individuals with IDD. 

Excellence in Ethical Practice Award - Dr. David Cox

Dr. David Cox can formally lay claim to being a bioethicist (master's degree), a board-certified behavior analyst at the doctoral level, a behavioral economist (post-doc training), and a data scientist (post-doc training). He has worked in ABA for nearly 20 years as a clinician, academic researcher, scholar, technologist, and all-around behavior science junky. He currently works as the Assistant Director of Research for the Institute of Applied Behavioral Science at Endicott College and the VP of Data Science at RethinkFirst. From his work and collaborations, David has published 60+ peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books. When he's not doing research or building models of clinical-ethical decision-making, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two beagles in and around Jacksonville, FL.

 2025 International Advancement of the Practice of Behavior Analysis Award -Hélène Abdelnour 

2025 Student Award - Michelle Castillo

Michelle Castillo is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas (UNT). A proud UNT alumna, she earned both her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and her Master of Science in Behavior Analysis from the university. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in Texas, Michelle serves as a doctoral student supervisor in the Training and Research: Autism Intervention Laboratory (TR:AIL) at the UNT Kristin Farmer Autism Center. In this role, she designs skill acquisition programs for young learners with autism and provides training and supervision for staff members. An active member of the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis (TxABA), Michelle serves as the Senior Student Representative on the Executive Council and chairs the student committee. Her research interests center on advanced verbal behavior, particularly the assessment and intervention of conversational skills in autistic adults. Michelle is deeply passionate about fostering inclusion, advancing evidence-based practices, and empowering neurodivergent individuals to thrive.