President
President
Dr. Joyce C. Tu is Vice President of Clinical Transformation, Autism Services at Easterseals Southern California (ESSC). She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a doctorate in educational psychology specializing in applied behavior analysis (ABA). Dr. Tu has over 25 years’ experience as an organizational leader, behavior analysis professor and practitioner in the U.S. and abroad.
Dr. Tu’s specialization and research interests are chiefly in verbal behavior, specifically, joint control and its role in listeners’ behavior. Her research appears in peer-reviewed journals, such as The European Journal of Behavior Analysis and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior. In 2011, Dr. Tu co-authored a Chinese-language textbook published by Peking University Press, including chapters on topics such as shaping, prompting/fading, chaining and generalization.
Dr. Tu has presented countless workshops and speaking engagements on a wide range of behavior analytic topics for businesses and professional organizations worldwide, including ABA International (ABAI); the ABA International Conference in Bucharest; the Ai You Foundation in Beijing; Behavior Momentum India (BMI); the Association for Behaviour Analysis Australia (ABAA); the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA); the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP); and the International Annual Conference on Autism, Challenges and Solutions in Abu Dhabi, among others.
Dr. Tu has served on the board of advisors for Best Buddies International; as Editor-in-Chief of Operants magazine; on CalABA’s Board of Directors, including as its President; and as President of the B.F. Skinner Foundation. Additionally, Dr. Tu is founder and director of ABA Unlimited (ABAU), a behavior analysis consulting and continuing education provider. In 2021, ABAU developed a new verified ABA course sequence for Peking University School of Medical Education in Beijing.
Prior to her work for Easterseals, Dr. Tu was founder and director of Center for Behavioral Sciences (CBS) for 16 years, an ABA provider with over 100 employees throughout California. In 2019, CBS was acquired by Easterseals Southern California.
President-Elect
President-Elect
Dr. Jackson received her Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Psychology (with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis) from the University of Nevada Reno. She is currently a Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fresno where she serves as the director of the Master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis and as the clinical director of ABA Services at Fresno State. Her research interests include complex social skills including humor, perspective-taking, and safety skills, the motivational functions of verbal behavior, and interventions to increase health and fitness behaviors. Dr. Jackson has served on the ABAI executive council, the CalABA Board of Directors, and as an advisor to the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. In 2011, she was selected as the PsiChi Faculty of the year, in 2014 was named as one of the Provost’s Outstanding New Faculty, and in 2017 received a Distinguished Faculty Service award from the College of Science and Mathematics. While at Fresno State, she has secured grants and contracts totaling over $6 million. She presents regularly at state and national conferences and has provided teaching, training, and clinical services in the countries of Scotland, Ireland, Jordan, Bosnia, and Georgia.
Past President
Past President
Dr. Valerie Rogers, BCBA-D, is the Clinical Director of Santa Clara County Services for The ABRITE Organization. Valerie earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University in 2004. Dr. Rogers graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Master of Arts in Psychology in 2008 and a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology in 2011.
Throughout her educational and professional experiences, Dr. Rogers has held multiple roles within behavior analytic organizations including Behavior Specialist for the Nevada Center for Severe Behavior Problems, Staff Trainer at the Person-Centered Assessment Treatment and Habilitation program, and as the Associate Director of UNR Early Childhood Autism Program. In 2011, Dr. Rogers joined The ABRITE Organization in her role as Clinical Director of Santa Clara County Services, where she has helped to establish and grow ABRITE’s clinical work within home, school, and community locations across Silicon Valley as well as ABRITE’s research and training practices throughout the organization.
Dr. Rogers has served on the California Association for Behavior Analysis conference committee since 2019. She has also created and implemented many continuing education trainings for BCBAs. Dr. Rogers has served as a guest reviewer for various behavior analytic journals and recently co-authored two articles on the implementation of telepractice during the pandemic. In addition to telepractice, her research interests also include response variability and extinction effects relating particularly to the behavior of children with autism, clinical outcomes related to ABA intervention, habit reversal procedures with children with autism, and the acquisition of relational responding and executive functioning skills. She has presented her research at several national and regional conferences.
Secretary/Treasurer
Secretary/Treasurer
Liz Herrera Knapp, MA, BCBA (she/her), who identifies as a Mexican American cisgender female, was born and raised in Stockton, Ca. Liz graduated from the University of the Pacific she with a BA in Psychology in 2009. Shortly after graduation she began working as a Behavior Interventionist/Team Manager at CVAP, Inc., where Liz fell in love with the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and helping others. She chose to return to Pacific in 2011 to work toward her MA in Behavior Analysis. After passing the exam she continued her work at the University as a Program Director in the Psychology department, mentoring graduate student interns completing their fieldwork experience hours. Liz has always had a passion for bringing people together, serving others, and mentoring the next generation. With that drive, following her time at Pacific, Liz founded KBCS Behavior Services in 2016. Liz took a short time away from KBCS when she was hired as the very first BCBA at Valley Mountain Regional Center in 2020. Missing her work in the community and with her clients, Liz returned to the business she created, and is currently the Executive Director at KBCS Behavior Services, which provides Behavior Consulting services to individuals who are diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. This includes partnering with Community Care Facilities, Adult Day Programs, Schools, and Regional Center Consumers in the California Central Valley and surrounding areas.
Liz is currently a member of the CalABA Board of Directors serving as the Professional Association Liaison, Stakeholders Advisory Committee Chair, Public Policy Committee Member and sits on the Conference Committee as the Conference Special Events Chair. Liz also developed and is the President of the CalABA Adult Service Providers Special Interest Group for those who provide Adult Services. This is a first of it’s kind mentorship network for practitioners serving the Adult ID/DD population and their families. Liz is passionate about social justice and reform, as well as equity, diversity, and inclusion within Applied Behavior Analysis and beyond. Liz served as a Leadership Board Member for the CalABA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Special Interest group, and also co-founded and serves as a Leadership Board Member of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in ABA, a non-profit Organization. Liz was on the planning committee for the first annual 2021 Equity in ABA Virtual Conference.
Additionally. Liz serves on the Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC) Board of Directors as the Elected Provider Representative, as well as the VMRC Coalition for Local Area Service Provider (CLASP) Board of Directors. She developed the Special Events and Social Media Chair positions for CLASP, sat on the Planning Committee for the Inaugural CLASP Provider Conference, and is the Co-Chair of the 2023 Provider Conference. Liz sits on VMRC Legislation Committee, Consumer Services Committee, and is the chair of the VMRC Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Committee (DEBI). Liz also developed the NorCAL Behavior Analysts Meet-Up, and works to bring her professional community together for education, community, and mentorship.
Liz was named the 2023 Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the year, is a mentor for the Cortopassi Family Foundation Achievement Program, and is currently a member of California Association for Behavior Analysts (CalABA), Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA), Latino Association for Behavior Analysis (LABA), ABA Task Force, Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, San Joaquin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Eleanor By Women United.
Diversity Chair
Diversity Chair
Dr. danyelle s. goitia beal earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her dissertation: Trauma and Resiliency in Black American Women began a journey of breaking the stigma of traumatic events that can plague the Black community. She earned her Masters in Teaching Deaf and Hard of Hearing Studies with an emphasis in ABA from National University and her Bachelors in Child Development with an emphasis in Communicative Disorders from California State University, Long Beach. Dr. beal contributed to an anthology titled "Shenomenal Women: that became a #1 Best Seller. Simultaneously, she completed her pre and post doctoral internship supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse and within the LGBTQIA2+ communities.
Dr. beal began her journey through ABA in 1997 when she was pregnant with her first baby. She answered a job posting for a child with autism and fell in love within 2 weeks of working with him. Since then, dr. beal has worked in some capacity of leadership over 25 years. Currently, she supports children, families and women who are underrepresented. Dr. beal has held positions as a direct service provider, clinical supervisor, clinical director, program director of a non-public school to owner of a non-public agency, called Loving Hands Family Support Services in Southern California. She provides educational and behavioral support to school districts in the protection of their Black and Brown student population. She trains community agencies on how to safely de-escalate sensitive members of the community who are in behavioral and mental health crises. Finally, Dr. beal teaches School Psychologists who want to become certified in Applied Behavior Analysis and mentors BCBAs who have ethical violations through the BACB to support them in getting back into good standing.
Dr. beal is a highly regarded Psychologist/Behavior Analyst who specializes in developmental disorders and trauma. She is considered a servant leader because she leads with compassion and unconditional regard for anyone who sits across from her. As a trauma survivor, dr. beal has overcome insurmountable odds that has formed her journey through healing which she calls “heart work”. She understands that to truly begin to live a life of intention; one must get to the “heart work” of their own healing journey. This incorporates every aspect of a person's environment and her approach to healing is comprehensive and multi-faceted.
Conference Chair
Conference Chair
Elizabeth Meshes, PhD, BCBA-D, is a behavior analyst whose work bridges applied research, climate action, and ethical practice. She leads a research lab focused on addressing climate change through behavior change strategies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, and promote sustainable living.
Dr. Meshes began her career providing early intervention for children diagnosed with autism and expanded her practice to include adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with an emphasis on least intrusive interventions and self-advocacy. She has also worked within human service organizations to enhance staff performance and service quality.
Passionate about mentoring the next generation of behavior analysts, Dr. Meshes trains students to engage in ethical, compassionate, and context-sensitive practices that make a meaningful impact, both for individuals and for the planet.
Conference Chair-Elect
Conference Chair-Elect
Heather Cobb, Ed.D BCBA-D, did her Doctoral studies through the University of Florida. Within this program, her studies emphasized advocating for fair and equitable treatment for individuals with developmental disabilities that exhibit behavioral challenges. Through the University of Florida’s Doctor of Education program, Dr. Cobb’s dissertation work focused on the exploration of preparing individuals through comprehensive training, leadership, and fidelity monitoring systems in positive behavior intervention and supports.
Dr. Cobb works as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst for California supporting individuals with I/DD. In this role Dr. Cobb oversees the operations of residential facilities throughout California. Dr. Cobb provides guidance and leadership to ensure the implementation of positive behavior supports for all individuals served and ensure proper and ethical treatment of the individuals served. Dr. Cobb provides behavioral consultation to residential service providers on residential programs and behavioral issues related to the unique characteristics and challenging behaviors of individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In addition to Dr. Cobb’s role in the State of California, Dr. Cobb has served as a member of the Professional Standards Committee and Conference committees for the California Association of Behavioral Analysts. Through this volunteer role, Dr. Cobb reviewed submitted conference presentations, workshops, and speakers to ensure Behavior Analytic Certification Board (BACB) standards for continued education criteria are met, ensure all presenters meet BACB standards, approve all conference continued education presentations and workshops, and provide technical feedback to presenters, adhering to BACB continued education standards.
Outside of behavior analysis, Heather enjoys traveling, yoga, and coffee.
Past Conference Chair
Past Conference Chair
Jessika Feil, MA, BCBA is the co-founder and Executive Director of Bella Vista Behavior Services. Jessika has been providing ABA services to the Autistic community in the San Joaquin Valley for over ten years. She has also provided four years of services in San Diego County, and Los Angeles County. She received her bachelor’s degree in English with a Minor in Education with an Emphasis in Applied Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2006. In 2010, she obtained her Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Special Education and a Specialization in Autism from San Diego State University. Her professional interests include Autism, Education, Verbal Behavior, and Multicultural Behavior Analysis. Most recently Jessika was part of a panel presentation on mentorship at CalABA 2022 and is scheduled to be part of another panel at ABAI in May 2022. She has also provided a tutorial and presentation for the LatinoAssociation for Behavior Analysts (LABA) in February and May 2018, and November 2020. She has presented to private organizations on Covert Racism in August and September 2020, as well as presentations with various community organizations within Tulare County on Autism and Behavior Management. She is an active member of CalABA, and the Latino Association for Behavior Analysts in addition to being a member of the FastTrack group within LABA and a member of the LABA Advisory Board. Within LABA, Jessika’s primary area of focus is on membership and increasing membership diversity. Jessika is also on the Leadership Board of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion an ABA Org. with a primary focus on bringing diversity to the field of ABAthrough diverse presenters and a variety of presentation topics. With this organization, she helped to provide free virtual conferences for over 600 registrants on a variety of topics from CRT to Neurodiversity.
Professional Standards Chair
Professional Standards Chair
I joined the field of applied behavior analysis serendipitously in 2009 and fell in love with the science, the philosophy, and the immense impact of our field in empowering individuals to create meaningful and long-lasting behavior change. My passion for behavior analysis continued to grow with each new clinical and academic experience, and I obtained my doctorate in ABA from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology under the advisement of Dr. Henry Schlinger. Over the last decade, I have cultivated expertise in the areas of autism and developmental disabilities, organizational behavior management, and the dissemination of behavior analysis. My professional experience spans across a variety of clinical settings, populations, and age ranges along a spectrum of mild to severe challenging behaviors and skill strengths/deficits. I have also developed expertise as an organizational consultant, working with ABA-based agencies to improve their systems for optimal clinical and organizational outcomes. I am currently a Clinical Professor and the Associate Program Director of the Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis program at Pepperdine University as well as a lecturer at California State University, Los Angeles. Being an educator has been a lifelong dream, and my mission in the classroom is to create an atmosphere of curiosity and intellectual stimulation to motivate my
students to evaluate content objectively, think critically, and apply their knowledge within their professional, academic, and personal lives. Our field is currently experiencing a pivotal moment where we must rise to demand antiracist policies, hold institutions accountable for their commitments to diversity and multiculturalism, and teach students to have greater cultural understanding, appreciation, and humility. Working alongside my colleagues, I am passionate about our work in reimagining graduate program training methods to establish and raise the standard of personal and professional responsibility, aiming to use this as an opportunity to advance the field of behavior analysis forward toward cultural humility, to uphold our shared values of equity and inclusion, and to provide effective services and support to our communities. In considering the direction and tone of our 2022 annual conference, my vision is to highlight the diverse voices, interests, and values of our CalABA community. Having participated on the CalABA conference committee since 2018, I hope to be considered for the role of conference chair-elect. Given my professional experience, I feel well prepared to create a strong and positive conference experience for our community. I value the tireless work of our CalABA board and membership and would be honored to have the opportunity to work alongside them in this role.
Public Policy Chair
Public Policy Chair
Penny began her career in the field of behavior analysis in 2004 working in a full inclusion model preschool. She has provided clinical supervision to technicians working with individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities, and supervised the clinical experience of BCBAs and individuals seeking BACB certification. In addition to providing direct care services, Penny has held leadership positions in multi-state organizations, spearheading the efforts to develop and implement practice standards to support the clinicians and clients receiving in-home, clinic-based, and school services. Penny is currently a Director of Product, Research and Development, for a practice management software company aiming to transform behavioral healthcare practices. In addition to serving as the CalABA Secretary/Treasurer and Public Policy Committee Chair, Penny volunteers as a BACB Subject Matter Expert and as a member of the Autism Commission on Quality Standards Committee.
Professional Liaison
Professional Liaison
Daniel A. Mendoza, M.S., BCBA, LBA is a consultant and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 25 years of experience in behavior analysis, mental health, and developmental services. He has overseen the growth of large-scale clinical programs across Southern California, leading interdisciplinary teams and expanding access for underserved communities. Daniel has launched initiatives in early intervention, ABA, allied therapies, and mental health supports for autistic youth, while also directing countywide training programs, securing grant funding, and mentoring professionals into leadership.
A dedicated advocate for workforce equity, he has guided countless individuals from entry-level roles through board certification and into leadership positions. He currently serves on professional boards advancing equity and clinical quality in behavior analysis and teaches graduate-level ABA courses as an adjunct professor. As a consultant, Daniel partners with organizations to design innovative programs, strengthen clinical infrastructure, and expand services that are both evidence-based and community-driven.
Academic Chair
Academic Chair
Denice Rios, Ph.D., BCBA-D earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from California State University, Northridge and her doctoral degree in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University. Her research interests include examining effective staff training strategies (e.g., feedback), assessment and treatment of problem behavior, use of behavior analytic strategies via telehealth, assessment and treatment of elopement occasioned by transitions, and addressing microaggressions in the workplace. Dr. Rios is also passionate about issues related to equity and inclusion within the field of behavior analysis. Dr. Rios has published research in a number of peer-reviewed journals including: Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, and the Journal of Behavioral Education. She has presented her research in regional, national, and international conferences.
Academic Liaison
Academic Liaison
Alyssa N. Wilson, PhD., BCBA-D, ICGC-I is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Fresno State University. She received her Ph.D in Rehabilitation with emphasis in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral and a Level 1 Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor. She is the founding director of the Center for Behavioral Health and Addiction Services (CBHAS), dedicated to training undergraduate and graduate students on research and clinical services for behavioral addictions. Dr. Wilson has delivered over one hundred national and international presentations related to assessment and treatment of behavioral addictions and related topics, and has published over 25 peer-reviewed papers and books on behavioral addictions including gambling. When she isn’t working, you can find her traveling, painting, or cooking a vegetarian friendly meal.
PR / Marketing Chair
PR / Marketing Chair
Blanca Castellanos, M.S., BCBA, LBA, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with nearly 17 years of experience serving children, adolescents, adults, and their families across home, school, and community settings. She earned her Master of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University and is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Blanca has dedicated her career to improving the quality of life of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities through compassionate, evidence-based behavioral services. Her professional experience includes conducting functional behavior assessments, developing behavior intervention plans, providing caregiver training, supervising behavior technicians and aspiring behavior analysts, and collaborating with schools and interdisciplinary teams to promote meaningful outcomes for clients and their families.
Blanca has served on the Community Advisory Board for Project imPACTO at the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC), San Diego State University, since 2024. In this role, she collaborates with researchers, clinicians, and community partners to support culturally informed, family-centered autism interventions and increase access to evidence-based services for Spanish-speaking families.
As a bilingual clinician and advocate, Blanca is the creator of Latina ABA, an educational initiative dedicated to empowering Spanish-speaking families and behavior analysts through bilingual education, practical resources, advocacy, and community engagement. Through Latina ABA, she strives to increase awareness of Applied Behavior Analysis, promote cultural responsiveness, and expand access to quality behavioral services within the Latino community.
Blanca is passionate about mentorship, cultural responsiveness, and advancing the field of behavior analysis through service, education, and collaboration. She is committed to empowering families, supporting future behavior analysts, and promoting equitable access to high-quality behavioral services for diverse communities.
Executive Director
Executive Director
Shirli Driz is a visionary, mission-driven executive leader with more than 35 years of experience driving operational excellence, organizational strategy, and cross-sector impact. As Executive Director, Shirli serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA), managing the corporation's daily affairs, guiding statewide policy, and advancing the science and practice of behavior analysis across California. Partnering closely with the Board of Directors, she champions advocacy, public policy, and strategic revenue generation to ensure long-term organizational sustainability and membership growth.
Throughout her distinguished career, Shirli has specialized in leading complex organizational transitions, optimizing multimillion-dollar budgets, and building high-performing, inclusive teams. Prior to her leadership at CalABA, she was the Owner and Principal Consultant at Crystal Clear Biz Ops, providing strategic governance and compliance counseling to purpose-driven non-profits
Her profound expertise in large-scale nonprofit operations is anchored by her tenure as the Vice President of Operations for Inland Southern California United Way & 211+. In that role, Shirli spearheaded a massive strategic hiring initiative. She secured over $300 million in additional government project funding, and deployed a targeted fraud-reduction and risk-mitigation strategy that saved the organization over $20 million. She played a central role in a high-stakes corporate merger as the Interim President and CEO of Inland Empire United Way. Shirli’s ability to orchestrate financial turnarounds and build robust stakeholder consensus is further highlighted by her time at Inland Empire United Way. There, she engineered a financial restructuring plan that completely eliminated legacy debt within 16 months, generated $5 million in new strategic revenue, and achieved a 100% success rate across all federal, financial, and programmatic audits.
Complementing her extensive nonprofit executive career is a 29-year leadership background at Wells Fargo Bank & Co. Serving as Vice President and Community Banking District Manager, she oversaw operations across 11 regional branches, led a 235-member team to top district rankings, and designed DEI-focused hiring methodologies that reduced employee turnover.
A native of Israel, Shirli brings a vital cross-cultural perspective to advocacy and is deeply dedicated to promoting moderate voices and community-driven solutions. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business with a Concentration in Spanish from California State University, Fullerton, is a native Spanish speaker and possesses fluent bi-literate competency.
Shirli is fully integrated into California's nonprofit and public network governance frameworks. She serves as a Director and former Treasurer for the Academy for Grassroots Organization, and is the former Acting Board Chair and Vice Chair for the California 211 Network Providers. A respected public ambassador, her dedication to community service has earned her a Certificate of Congressional Honor from Congressman Ken Calvert, state-level recognitions from Senator Roth and the County of Riverside Supervisors, and a finalist nomination for the JPMorgan Chase Community Icon Award.
