Current Research Team
Dr. Lambert Ph.D., BCBA-D
Dr. Lambert is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. He earned his Ph.D. in Disability Disciplines from Utah State University, with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis, and is a Doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). His areas of expertise include functional analysis methodology, function-based interventions, and environmental factors that influence the maintenance of these interventions. He also studies practitioner training.
Dr. Lambert has years of experience designing and evaluating function-based interventions for the challenging behavior of individuals with severe disabilities and supervises the applied field experiences of masters- and doctoral-level professionals training to become BCBAs. Lambert has worked in public and private schools and has trained staff in both settings, as well as in group homes and day centers for adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities.
Currently, Dr. Lambert serves as co-investigator for a number of federally funded projects and teaches courses in behavior management, methods of instruction, and ethics. He also sits on the editorial board of Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice and is a past board member of Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Doctoral Students
Bailey Copeland M.Ed., BCBA is a fifth-year doctoral candidate in Special Education at Vanderbilt University. Originally from New Orleans, she moved to Nashville to study special education. After receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education at Vanderbilt University, Bailey worked as a behavior analyst in Metro Nashville Public Schools. Her research interests include applications of behavioral economics into the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior as well as investigations promoting maintenance and generalization of treatment effects. Preferred reinforcers: books, hikes, and steaming mugs of black tea.
Jessica Paranczak M.Ed., BCBA is a fifth-year doctoral candidate in Special Education at Vanderbilt University. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in Elementary and Special Education and a master’s degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. Before coming back to Vanderbilt, Jessica worked as a behavior analyst at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health in the Short-Term Autism Intensive Residential Services unit, as well as, a behavior analyst for The School District of Philadelphia. Her research interests include treatment of severe challenging behavior and applications of Relational Frame Theory. Preferred reinforcers: hikes, live music, and Mexican food.
Janey Macdonald M.Ed, BCBA is a fourth-year doctoral student in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis at Vanderbilt University. She received a bachelor’s degree from Pitzer College in Psychology and Spanish and a master’s degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. Before returning to Vandy, Janey worked as a special education teacher in Nashville, taught English in A Coruña, Spain, and worked as a behavior analyst at a facility school in Denver, CO. Her research interests include treatment of severe challenging behavior and implementing effective behavioral interventions in a school-based setting. Preferred reinforcers: True crime podcasts, McDougals, and hikes with her pup Winston.
Professional Students
Dakota-Kanae Harris is a second-year master’s student in the Low Incidence Severe Disability program with an ABA add-on at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College. She received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. She worked as a tutor and mentor with youth ages 5-12 in underserved communities during her undergrad. Dakota-Kanae previously worked as a Registered Behavior Technician at an early intervention autism center in Mobile, AL. Her research interests are intervention for BIPOC children with severe challenging behavior in underserved communities. Preferred reinforcers: iced coffee, podcasts, animal planet, and true crime documentaries.
Abigail Rosenthal is a second-year graduate student in the low incidence special education program with the applied behavioral analysis concentration at Peabody in Vanderbilt University. I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology and anthropology with honors from Oberlin College. Previous experience includes a behavioral interventionist role at a therapeutic kindergarten for children with neurological disorders in Chicago and a position as a paraprofessional in a public school in Oberlin Ohio. During undergrad, Abby’s honors anthropology thesis was around the language and practices which build and remove autonomy and personhood within autism care. Her research interests involve how personhood interacts with practices of applied behavioral analysis and the relationship between therapeutic education and academic/ behavioral success. Preferred reinforcers: bad reality tv, spending time with her cat and friends, testing out recipes, and anything active— preferably tennis or biking.
Danielle Donahue is a first-year master’s student in the Low Incidence Severe Disability program with the ABA add-on at Vanderbilt University. She completed her bachelors of science in Psychology at the University of Florida, where she received highest honors on her Senior Thesis. Her thesis was in the area of legal psychology where she researched the role of ADHD in eyewitness decision making. In addition, she worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at an autism center in Florida. Her research interests include generalizing what is learned during therapy to caregivers at home, specifically with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or severe challenging behavior.
Madeline Filipski is a first-year master’s student in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Vanderbilt University. She also completed her bachelor’s degree at Vanderbilt University, studying low incidence special education and child development. While completing her undergraduate degree, Madeline worked as a registered behavior technician at a clinic for early intervention and severe challenging behavior. Her research interests include intervention for severe challenging behavior in children who have a history of trauma. Preferred reinforcers: iced coffee, long walks outside, and phone calls with friends.
Taylor Johnson is a first-year master’s student in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Vanderbilt University. She received her bachelor’s degree in special education from The Ohio State University. She worked as a preschool teacher while completing her bachelor’s degree. Before coming to Vanderbilt to get her master’s in education, she worked as a special education teacher with students in 5th – 8th grade. Her research interests include working with students with emotional disturbance (ED) & oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Preferred reinforcers: sour candy, gem paintings, and Criminal Minds.
