Awards and Staff Accomplishments
Julie Stine, Myrna E. Libby Scholar Award
Sally Pendergast, Myrna E. Libby Scholar Award
In 2009, a scholar award was developed to honor NECC's long time friend and colleague Dr. Myrna E. Libby. The Myrna E. Libby Scholar Award will be awarded yearly to two NECC® masters degree students whose work most exemplifies Myrna's vision that research guides the education and treatment of individuals with autism and so improves their lives. The 2011 scholar awards were announced and given to two graduate students at an all-school event by NECC's Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Vincent Strully, Jr., Award Scholar Julie Stine is a Northeastern University graduate who was an exceptional student, receiving many academic honors. She showed outstanding skills as a teacher and supervisor in her role as a Core Shift Manager, and is dedicated to using research and evidence-based assessments with her students. Julie has presented at ABAI in 2011 and had a poster at ABAI in 2009. Award Scholar Sally Pendergast is a Simmons College graduate who excelled in all areas of educational and behavioral programming, with an incredible energy, commitment and enthusiasm for her work. She demonstrates outstanding communication and teamwork skills, and has presented the results of her research on joint attention at the 2010 BABAT.
Top 10 Most Cited Article
In August 2010, the journal article "Stereotypy in young children with autism and typically developing children" was distinguished as one of the "Top 10 most-cited articles" by the journal Research in Developmental Disabilities Published in 2007, the article was authored by NECC staff members Dr. Rebecca MacDonald, Intensive Instruction Program Director; Renee Mansfield, Director of ACE; Amy Geckeler, Director of Public School Services; Nicole Gardenier, Assistant Director-Consulting and Training; Dr. William Holcomb, Director of UAE Consulting Services; June Sanchez, Senior Consultant and former NECC employees Dr. Gina Green and Jen Anderson.
Vincent Strully, Jr., Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Western New England University
Western New England University (WNE) has awarded Vincent Strully, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and Founder, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Mr. Strully delivered the Commencement Address at the college's commencement exercises on Saturday, May 16, 2009. For over 38 years Mr. Strully has worked to establish NECC as an internationally recognized leader in autism intervention, research and professional development. Other honorary degree recipients have included: CNN correspondent Wolf Blitzer; Boston College Chancellor Rev. James Donald Monan; U.S. Congressman Richard E. Neal; and 11-time NBA champion William Russell. In 2008 Western New England University launched a Ph.D. Program in Behavior Analysis with courses offered onsite at The New England Center for Children®. The program is taught by the university's own full-time tenured or tenure-track psychology faculty as well as clinical adjunct faculty from NECC. This program developed in response to the increasing demand for scientists and practitioners in the area of autism and related disabilities, and its curriculum is designed to foster the development of leaders in the field.
William Ahearn, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Outstanding Applied Research Award
Eileen Roscoe, Ph.D., BCBA-D, B.F. Skinner New Researcher Award
American Psychological Association, Division 25
On August 6, 2009, two of NECC's staff members received awards from Division 25 (Behavior Analysis) of the American Psychological Association at the annual conference held this year in Toronto, Canada. Bill Ahearn, Director of Research, was bestowed the Outstanding Applied Research Award for innovative and important research on applications of behavioral principles to address socially significant human behavior. The title of his acceptance address was "Can an applied researcher follow Skinner's advice? Looking at one thing, finding another." Eileen Roscoe, Assistant Director of Research, received the B. F. Skinner New Researcher Award for innovative and important research in behavior analysis conducted within the first seven years of receiving a doctorate. The title of her acceptance address was "Refinements in functional analysis methodology." Congratulations to both of these researchers for their dedication to improving the lives of our students.