, PhD, BCBA-D 712 E 50 N Providence, UT 84332 720.250.7661 tyrasellers@mac.com Curriculum Vitae August, 2014 Educational History Utah State University - Logan, UT Major: Disability Disciplines Specialization: Applied Behavior Analysis Advisor: Thomas S. Higbee, PhD, BCBA-D Degree: Doctorate of Philosophy, 2011 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Major: Special Education Emphasis: Vocational Education Advisor: Nicholas Certo, PhD Degree: Masters of Arts, 2002 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA Major: Law Degree: Juris Doctorate, 1998 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Major: Philosophy -Cum Laude Degree: Bachelors of Arts, 1995 Professional Certifications June 2011 June 2003 Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D ) Certification Number: 1.03.1167 Board Certified Behavior Analyst Membership in Professional Associations Association for Behavior Analysis Four Corners Association for Behavior Analysis Utah Association for Behavior Analysis Professional Positions August 2014 To Present Utah State University, Department of Special Education & Rehabilitation Assistant Professor & Director of the Severe Behavior Clinic Logan, UT
February 2012 to August 2014 February 2012 to October 2012 December 2010 to February 2012 August 2009 to July 2010 Trumpet Behavioral Health (TBH) Regional Director (AZ, CO, IL, KS, MO, OH, TX, WY) Duties: Oversaw 13 centers/offices with a total in $6+ million revenue across 8 states. Responsible for ensuring excellence in all clinical, financial, and operational/systems functions for center and home-based ABA programming (approx. 375 clients and 175 staff); hired and trained clinical leaders and other professionals; supervised staff; conducted performance and clinical assessments; developed assessments, interventions, and curriculum; developed and maintain regional budgets; assessed and carried out business development and growth (oversaw the creation of 6 new service locations across 6 states), worked with funding sources and insurance contracting (prepare and submit RFPs); worked in conjunction with other community and state agencies; assisted in conducting research projects; worked on TBH committees to develop policies, revenue cycle management tools, data collection best practice guidelines and tools, among other best practice guidelines and tools. Trumpet Behavioral Health (TBH) Clinical Director (CO) Duties: Oversaw in-home and center-based clinical services; developed training, assessment, and programming protocol and materials, developed relationships with local agencies, prepared and submitted RFPs to local agencies for service contracts; hired and trained team staff; assisted on research projects; worked on TBH committees to create policies and other needed materials and trainings STE Consultants Colorado Regional Director Duties: Managed the CO division of a national behavior consulting business hired and trained staff; train other professionals and parents; conducted educational and behavioral assessments; developed behavior analytic educational programs and behavior interventions; monitored staff; developed relationships with schools and other agencies. Park City School District (via Utah State University) Behavior Consultant Duties: Trained professional and direct-line staff to design and implement behavior analytic-based preschool and elementary programs for children with autism; monitored staff performance; conducted educational and behavior assessments; and designed curriculum and positive behavior intervention plans. Lakewood, CO Greenwood Village, CO Lone Tree, CO Park City, UT April 2008 to October Behavior Intervention Specialists of Los Angeles Co Director of Program Quality Los Angeles, CA (telecommuting) 2 of 8
2010 Duties: review progress reports and initial assessment to ensure quality March 2007 to June 2011 July 2005 to December 2010 October 2004 to May 2005 July 2002 to August 2004 July 2002 to August 2004 ASSERT Preschool, Utah State University Assistant Director Duties: case management, assessment, curriculum development, staff supervision and training, and parent consultation and training, as well as consulting schools, as needed SBEC Director -Behavior & Education Consultant (self employed) Held contracts with several large school districts providing behavior and inclusion services for all grade levels (e.g., Functional Behavior Assessments, Positive Behavior Intervention Plans, staff and parent training), as well as developing preschool services and curriculum for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and district-wide staff training North West Regional Education Service District Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist Conducted initial Autism eligibility evaluations using a variety of standardized and observational tools, as well as provided ongoing consultative support for educational team members and students, primarily for Early Intervention students. Developed and gave small & large group trainings. Behavior & Education Consultant (private) Held contracts with several large public school districts, nonpublic schools, group homes, and private individuals. Worked with IEP team members and families to best meet the needs of each individual through direct observation, consultation, collaborative meetings, and training. Conducted Functional Behavior Assessments, Positive Behavior Intervention Plans, Emergency Plans, educational goals, and curriculum; trained parents, teachers, school psychologists, paraprofessionals and other staff; ran Social Language/Skills Groups. Provided direct ABA services where required Communication & Behavior Consultants Behavior Analyst & Partner Developed curriculum/materials and ran social skills groups for individuals with Asperger s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, Non-Verbal Learning Disorder, and other cognitive impairments. Conducted training for parents and others. Logan, UT Santa Clara & San Jose, CA Beaverton, OR East Bay Area, CA East Bay Area, CA October 2000 to July 2002 West Contra Costa Unified School District District Behavior Analyst Pinole, CA 3 of 8
August 1998 to October 2000 Provided all needed behavior services for students attending Early Intervention, Special Education and Alternative Programs, as well as those on a 504 plan within a school district comprised of approximately 60 schools. Duties included: Functional Behavior Analysis, Positive Behavior Intervention Plan, full inclusion, staff/parent training, and transition services. Spectrum Center Education Specialist (held various positions from 1992-1998) Supervised 3-5 classrooms comprised of 8-12 students and 4-8 staff. Conducted Functional Behavior Assessments, developed Positive Behavior Intervention Plans. Aided the teachers in drafting educational goals, conducted weekly supervision meetings with the classroom teachers and weekly clinical meetings with classroom staff. Worked with a team to develop, set up, and run and early intervention service for 3-6 year old children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Worked directly with staff, families, administrators, and other community agencies to provide program development and training. Held various positions from Oneto-One Aide to Teacher to Education Specialist throughout time at Spectrum from July 1992 October 2000. Rodeo & Pinole, CA Professional Teaching Experience Fall 2013 Fall 2002 Utah State University, Logan, UT Adjunct Instructor SPED 6700 Introduction to Behavioral Research in Education Distance Education Course Chapman University -Concord CA Campus Adjunct Instructor Master s Level Course in Behavior Analysis & Classroom Management Teaching Experience Fall 2009 Utah State University -Logan, UT Instructor SPED 5010, Distance Education Section Undergraduate level course in applied behavior analysis (Part I) Advisor: Thomas S. Higbee, Ph. D., BCBA-D Spring 2009 Utah State University -Logan, UT Teaching Assistant SPED 5050 Undergraduate course in applied behavior analysis (Part II) Advisor: Robert Morgan, Ph. D. 4 of 8
Fall 2008 Utah State University -Logan, UT Teaching Assistant SPED 5010 Undergraduate level course in applied behavior analysis (Part I) Advisor: Thomas S. Higbee, Ph. D., BCBA-D Publications -Peer Reviewed Journals Sellers, T.P., Bloom, S.E., Samaha, A.L., Dayton, E., Lambert, J.M., & Keyl-Austin, A.A., (2013) Some components of choice making. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46, 455-464. Betz, A.M., Higbee, T.S., Kelley, K.N., Sellers, T.P., & Pollard, J.S. (2011). Increasing response variability of mand frames with script training and extinction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 357-362. Sellers, T. & Higbee, T.S. (2010). A review of: Julia Moor: Playing, Laughing, and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Resource of Play Ideas for Parents and Carers (Second Edition). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Morgan, B., Sellers, T., & Keyl, A. (2009). How to change behavior in the context of an FBA-based intervention. Utah Special Educator, 31, 28-31. Manuscripts in Preparation Bloom, S.E., Pollard, J. S., Sellers, T. P., Keyl, A. A., & Samaha, A.L. Correspondence between teacher-conducted trial-based functional analyses and standard functional analyses. In preparation. Book Chapters Higbee, T.S. & Sellers, T.P. (2011). Verbal behavior and communication training. In J.L. Matson & P. Sturmey (Eds.), International Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. New York: Springer. Editorial Experience 2014 Guest Reviewer The Analysis of Verbal Behavior 2014 Guest Reviewer Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions 2013 Guest Reviewer The Analysis of Verbal Behavior 2013 Guest Reviewer Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 2013 Guest Reviewer Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions 5 of 8
2012 Guest Reviewer Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 2010 Guest Reviewer Behavior Analysis in Practice Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 2009 Guest Reviewer Behavior Analysis in Practice 2007 Guest Reviewer Education and Treatment of Children Presentations Sellers, T.P. (2013, September). Addressing those ever elusive social skills. Workshop presented at Chrysalis yearly professional development conference. Sellers, T.P., Higbeen, T.S., & Kelley, K.N. (2012, May). Assessing the effects of extinction and antecedent interventions on mand variability in preschool children with autism. Paper presented at the 38 th annual conference of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Seattle, WA. Sellers, T.P., Higbee, T.S., Snyder, K., & Kelley, K.N. (2012, February). The application of script fading and extinction procedures to increase response variability and novel mand frames in young children with autism. Paper presented at the 30 th annual western regional conference of the California Association for Behavior Analysis, Garden Grove, CA. Sellers, T.P., Bloom, S.E., Samaha, A.L., Dayton, E., Lambert, J.M, & Keyl-Austin, A.A. (2011, February). Evaluating choice as a reinforcer. Symposium presented at the 29 th annual Western Regional Conference of the California Association for Behavior Analysis, Burlingame, CA. Sellers, T. P., Keyl-Austin, A. A., Brodhead, M. T., Higbee, T. S. (2011, February) Ethical Considerations for Clinical Applied Behavior Analysts. Workshop presented at the 29 th annual Western Regional Conference of the California Association for Behavior Analysis, Burlingame, CA. Sellers, T. P. (2010, October). Strategies for Promoting Language. Workshop presented at Utah s 2010 Early Childhood Conference, Provo, UT. Sellers, T. P. (2010, June). Effective Teaching Strategies and Interventions for Children with Autism. Workshop presented at the June Institute for Granite School District educators, Salt Lake City, UT. Sellers, T. P. (2010, June). Increasing Language for Individuals with Autism and Communication Disorders. Lecture presented at the annual Effective Practices Conference, Logan, UT. 6 of 8
Sellers, T.P., Bloom, S.E., Samaha, A.L., Dayton, E., Lambert, J.M., & Keyl-Austin, A. A. (2010). Evaluating choice as a reinforcer. Symposium presented at annual Utah State University Intermountain Graduate Research Symposium. Sellers, T. P., Higbee, T. S., & Snyder, K. (2010). Using Progressive-Ratio Schedules to Validate Results of Preference Assessments. Poster presented at annual Utah State University Intermountain Graduate Research Symposium. Bloom, S.E., Lambert, J.M., Pollard, J.S., Sellers, T.P., Dayton, E., Samaha, A.L., & Keyl Austin, A.A. (2010, May). Evaluation of a teacher-conducted trial-based functional analysis. In S.E. Bloom, Chair, Functional Assessment of Problem Behavior and Factors that Influence Effectiveness of Interventions. Symposium presented at 36th annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, San Antonio, Texas. Sellers, T.P., Bloom, S.E., Samaha, A.L., Dayton, E., Lambert, J.M., & Keyl-Austin, A.A. (2010, May). Evaluating choice as a reinforcer. In S.E. Bloom, Chair, Functional Assessment of Problem Behavior and Factors that Influence Effectiveness of Interventions. Symposium presented at 36th annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, San Antonio, Texas. Sellers, T. P., Bloom, S. E., Pollard, J. S., Samaha, A. L., & Keyl, A. A. (2010). Evaluation of a Teacher-Conducted Trial-Based Functional Analysis. In T. S. Higbee, Chair, Behavioral Assessment and Intervention for Individuals with Autism and Related Disabilities. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the California Association for Behavior Analysis, Irvine, CA. Sellers, T.P. & Higbee, T.S. (2009, May). The effects of general praise statements vs. behavior specific praise statements on skill acquisition in young children with autism. Poster presented at the 35th Annual Conference of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Phoenix, AZ. Betz, A., Higbee, T., Kelley, K., Sellers, T., & Pollard, J. (May, 2009). The effects of extinction and script-fading procedures on the response variability of mand frames used by young children with autism. Symposium conducted at the 35 th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis, Phoenix, AZ. Sellers, T. P. (2009, June). Classroom-Based Functional Assessment. Lecture presented at the annual Effective Practices Conference, Logan, UT. Sellers, T. P. (2008, August). Applied Behavior Analytic Based Strategies for Preschoolers and Elementary Classrooms. Week-long training provided to Moreland School District teachers, SLPs, School Psychologists, and instructional aides. San Jose, CA. Sellers, T.P. (2008, June). User Friendly Data Collection (really). Lecture presented at 7 of 8
the annual Effective Practices Conference, Logan, UT. 8 of 8