ABA & AS Faculty & Staff

Anika Costa, MSEd, BCBA

Anika Costa has over 20 years of experience in education and behavioral science as a teacher, trainer, coach, supervisor, mentor, and consultant. She obtained a post-graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Stony Brook University in 2010, after earning her M.S. in Education from C.W. Post University in 2002 and her B.S. in Communicative Disorders from the University of Central Florida in 1997. Anika is the founder and president of The Operant Teacher, LLC, a behavior analytic consulting firm that offers training, coaching, and instructional design services to individuals, groups, and organizations in educational, private, and community-based agencies. She is also a best-selling author and United States Ambassador for The World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance (WBADA).

Christy Evanko, MBA, BCBA, LBA

Christy is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® licensed in the state of Virginia since 2012.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in technical theatre from Penn State University, a master’s degree in business from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, and a graduate certificate in behavior analysis from the University of North Texas.  Christy is the co-owner of Snowflakes ABA and consults with a variety of organizations, as well as volunteers in the community.   She is the Administrative Director of the Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis (VirginiaABA) and is very involved in behavior analysis policy issues in Virginia, often speaking on the topic.

Amanda Evans, MS

Amanda earned her B.S. from the University of Utah in Exercise & Sport Science with an emphasis on Teaching Physical Activity; there she also researched adaptive physical education methods. She taught for 4 years in Math. PE, and Health while also developing a new PE and health curriculum for a k-12 school for children with Autism. She also lectured at the first annual Utah Autism Convention in 2010. Amanda earned her M.S. in Special Education from Western Governors University while teaching in South Los Angeles. She continued teaching special education for four years before coming to MBU. As an undergraduate, she was chosen by her professors as the Pedagogy Student of the Year. Her Master’s research (which focused on motivating students with Autism through goal setting) was chosen by the university as top of the class and was selected to be used for other students as an example of exemplary work. She has been a k-12 certified teacher in three states and has taught at three Universities. She resides in Staunton with her Husband, 2 daughters, 2 sons, and their labradoodle.

Paul “Paulie” Gavoni, EdD, BCBA

Dr. Paul Gavoni is a behavior analyst who is passionate about applying Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) strategies to lead and help other leaders establish positive and engaging environments across industries to bring out the best in people.  Beyond his work in education and human services, Dr. Gavoni is a former Golden Gloves Champion and highly respected striking coach in combat sports. Coach “Paulie Gloves,” as he is known in the Mixed Martial Arts community, has trained world champions and UFC vets using technologies rooted in ABA. He is a Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY best-selling author, co-host of the Crisis in Education Podcast, and hosts his own show on iHeartradio titled Thoughts & Rants of a Behavior Scientist.  He is also an active Board Member of the Opioid Awareness Foundation and The World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance.

Kathryn Glodowski, PhD, BCBA-D

Director of Clinical Education & Assistant Professor of ABA

[Academic Advisor – Graduate Students]

Dr. Glodowski started working with people with disabilities as a peer tutor in high school and fell in love with the science of behavior as an undergraduate student. Since then, she has worked in many settings (e.g., camp, group home, private school, clinic) to help improve the quality of life for others with various disabilities (e.g., traumatic brain injury, down syndrome, autism). Dr. Glodowski firmly believes behavior analysis can be applied in all areas of society if we learn how to better collaborate across disciplines. In her free time, Dr. Glodowski enjoys anything outdoors and/or with good food.

Veronica Howard, PhD, BCBA-D

Assistant Professor of ABA, Mary Baldwin University

[Academic Advisor – Graduate Students]

Veronica is a board-certified behavior analyst. Their research interests vary widely, including organizational behavior management (especially in under-resourced environments), distance-delivered teaching and training modalities, gamification, social justice, accessibility, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. Their hobbies include video games, copyright law, and hiking with their favorite sidekick, Ursa. Veronica is a founding member of the Alaska Association for Behavior Analysis and the Open Educational Resources (OER) Special Interest Group (SIG).

Stephanie Hutchinson, ABD, EdS, MEd

Director, Academic Resource Center, Mary Baldwin University

Stephanie earned her B.S. in Liberal Studies with a teaching certification from Bridgewater College. She obtained an M.Ed. in Special Education and a Post Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from JMU. She also holds an EdS Degree in Special Education and is currently a doctoral candidate at National University. Stephanie has over 20 years of educational experience. Her experience includes teaching both regular education and special education in the Shenandoah Valley, working as a Division I learning specialist, educational consultant, assistant principal, and is currently the Director of the Academic Resource Center and Accessibility Services at Mary Baldwin University.

Beverly Kirby MS, BCBA, LBA

Beverly is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst licensed in the state of Maryland.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University, a master’s degree in special education from Johns Hopkins University. In addition, she completed her behavior analytic coursework at Florida Institute of Technology.  Beverly was the co-founder and CEO of The S.P.A.R.K.S. Group, a premier home based applied behavior analysis service provider in the Washington DC metropolitan area.  Upon the successful sale of that company, she moved on to co-found TeamABA LLC, a behavior analytic sport, health, and fitness organization.  Beverly serves on the Board of Goal Grinders, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides educational enrichment opportunities to minority and at risk middle and high school teens.  In her free time, she can most frequently be found binge watching something on Netflix with her husband, her dog (Dr. Ruff B Bagwell), and her cat (Princess Penelope).

Megan Sullivan Kirby, PhD, BCBA

Megan S. Kirby (she/her/hers) holds a doctorate in Behavioral & Community Sciences from the University of South Florida and master’s in special education from the University of Virginia. Dr. Kirby’s research focuses on scaling effective oral language interventions using culturally responsive practices to reduce educational disparities among marginalized and under resourced communities (e.g., children displaced due to war, climate change, etc.). In addition to teaching at MBU, she is the Dissemination and Implementation Specialist for Language Dynamics Group and a single-case experimental design methodologist at the University of South Florida. She values multiple interdisciplinary research-practice partnerships and sustains meaningful relationships with researchers and professionals from other disciplines. She has published work in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, to include Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavior and Social Issues, Perspectives on Behavior Science, and Reading & Writing Quarterly.

Dylan Markham, MA, BCBA, LBA

A. Dylan Markham is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed in the state of Virginia since 2015. He graduated from James Madison University with his Masters degree in the Psychological Sciences Clinical Concentration. He completed his course sequence through the University of North Texas online program. Dylan has worked in the field of autism and other developmental disabilities for roughly a decade and a half, and has a strong interest in Organizational Behavior Management. He helped to improve the frequency of data entry by front-line staff into Excel databases. He works at a private day placement for children with autism as a classroom supervisor. He achieved the rank of Yondan (fourth degree black belt) in karate and enjoys spending time with his wife and two children in Staunton, Virginia.

Craig Marrer, MS, BCBA, LBA

Craig Marrer is a board-certified and licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Virginia. Mr. Marrer has experience working with individuals across the life-span including early intervention services for young children with diagnosed with developmental disabilities, adults diagnosed with intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, major mental illness, and older adults diagnosed with dementia processes. Mr. Marrer currently works as a BCBA in the Richmond City Public Schools and is completing his PhD in behavior analysis at Endicott College under the advisement of Dr. Mark Dixon. 

Brian Phelps, MEd, BCBA, LBA

Brian Phelps is a behaviorist who loves helping people. He attended the L. Douglas Wilder School of Public Affairs at VCU and earned a BA in Political Science.  Brian attended the University of Richmond and earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. A few years later he studied behavior at the Florida Institute of Technology. Since 2001 Brain has held various positions ranging from being a one to one, teacher, case manager and director. Currently, Brian is a Behavior Analyst at the Department of Behavior Health and Developmental Services.

Rachel Potter, EdD, BCBA-D, LBA, IBA

Director of Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies

Professor of Behavior Analysis & Education

Academic Advisor – Graduate & Non-Degree Students

Dr. Rachel Potter is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and licensed as a teacher (general and special education), administrator, and school superintendent.  Dr. Potter has experience as an academic administrator in higher education, associate professor, school-based administrator (in juvenile justice and in a traditional public school setting), central office special education administrator, and special education teacher.  She is the parent of two children, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Dr. Potter volunteers with an organization called Autism on the Seas, both on their advisory board and as a staff member.  She also serves on the Professional Advisory Board of the International Behavior Analyst Organization. She has prior experience training service dogs and is a past president of the Board of Directors for Service Dogs of Virginia. Her academic degrees are from the College of William & Mary and the University of Virginia.

Amanda Randall, EdD, BCBA-D, LBA

Dr. Amanda A. Randall is a Virginia and North Carolina LBA who works with schools, families, and organizations to improve the lives and outcomes of individuals with disabilities. She is the Clinical Director at Aces for Autism NC. Dr. Randall received her doctorate in Special Ed from WVU, where here research and studies centered on ABA, social skill development, adult ed, and autism. Previously, she worked at JMU for the VA Dept of Ed’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC). Her primary interests are autism, transition, functional skills, self-determination, program development, and support services for diverse families.  Dr. Randall is a proud NC native and ECU graduate and is most passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities to live happy and socially fulfilling lives in their community. 

Ryan Sain, PhD

Assistant Professor of ABA

Academic Advisor – Graduate Students

Ryan Sain received his PhD from Washington State University during the Behavior Analysis days. He has since worked internationally doing university development all over Africa and Afghanistan. He served as Assistant Professor at Eastern Washington University for several years before moving into the private sector. He was the Operations Specialist at Northwest Autism Center where he did OBM work in an ABA setting. He is active in all things behavior analysis – but especially in the dissemination of the science and the development of open educational resources through PsychCore, a company he co-founded. He also co-founded the ABAI-OER Special Interest Group. As a genuine ABA, EAB, and OBM nerd you can distract him on many topics – notably self-management, and OBM. His deepest love for the field though comes in teaching the content. He has a wife, 4 kids and a gaggle of pets and enjoys all things outdoors – especially in a Jeep.

Ashleigh Spencer, MEd, BCBA, LBA

Ashleigh Spencer is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, licensed to practice in the state of Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from James Madison University in 2013. Ashleigh then attended Mary Baldwin for her MEd, concentrating in Applied Behavior Analysis. Ashleigh has experience working with individuals with a variety of diagnoses including Autism, ADHD, OCD, Down Syndrome, genetic disorders, and other Developmental Delays. Currently, she is the Regional Manager of ABA Services at Spectrum Transformation Group which serves children and families in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, both in the home and in a Learning and Development Center. For fun, Ashleigh enjoys watching movies with her husband and kids and home renovation shows.

Kristina Turner, MSEd, BCBA, LBA

Kristina is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and Temple University, where she received a master’s degree in Applied Behavior

Analysis. Kristina has been practicing as a BCBA in Virginia since 2013, in homes, centers, private schools, and group homes, and is now also licensed as a Behavior Analyst in New York to provide telehealth parent support. Kristina believes to serve an individual, you have to serve the whole family and keep trauma-informed practice at the forefront of each decision. Kristina is the owner of Trauma Informed Behavior Analysis and provides trainings to other provider and consultation services in adult group homes and supported living.  Kristina is a native of Staunton, Va and now resides outside of Richmond.

Tammie Vance, MEd

Mrs. Vance has BS in Rehabilitation Counseling from Marshall University. She began her career as special education teacher at the middle school level in Southern West Virginia.  After moving to Richmond, Virginia in 1985, she worked for the Chesterfield Community Services Board as a Services Supervisor for Residential Services. In this position, she supervised both group home and independent living programs for adults with developmental disabilities. After completing a M.Ed in Special Education from The College of William and Mary, Mrs. Vance taught students with behavioral and emotional disabilities in Chesterfield County. She then moved to Central Office in Chesterfield County to become a special education liaison supporting teachers and classrooms for students with behavioral and emotional disabilities. Mrs. Vance worked as a Special Education Facilitator in Augusta County for 17 years prior to retirement. She has taught at Mary Baldwin both as a Teaching Partner and Adjunct Professor since 2013 teaching classes related to Special Education Law, Transition, Disability Awareness, Social Skills and Communication Disorders in Autism. 

Lori Wall, BS, MEd

Director of Operations/Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies

Academic Advisor – AS&ABA majors, ABA minors, dual-degree Bachelor’s/MS students

After spending ten years as a special education teacher in public education, Lori Wall became a member of the MBU family as the Field Placement Coordinator in 2013, and later as the Autism Studies Program Coordinator in 2018. She transitioned into the role of Director of Operations/ABA&AS in 2021 and also serves as an Adjunct Instructor. After graduating with a BS in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies with a minor in special education from JMU,  Ms. Wall began her career as a high-needs special education teacher at the elementary and then the middle school level.  She later transitioned to Early Childhood Special Education where she was a regional program teacher for 2-5-year-olds with Autism. She received a MEd in Early Childhood Special Education from JMU and has taken graduate courses in ABA. Ms. Wall’s passion in life is helping others fulfill their potential as teachers, especially with an emphasis for educating individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.