The New England Center for Children (NECC) has announced that Ben Egby and Kiah Lyons have been named the 2025 winners of the Myrna E. Libby Scholar Award. The award, established in 2009, honors one student enrolled in each of the onsite graduate programs – Simmons University (Egby) and Western New England University (Lyons) – whose work exemplify the late Myrna Libby’s vision that research guides the education and treatment of individuals with autism.

Myrna Libby, Ph.D., BCBA, passed away in 2008 after working at NECC for 20 years. As a clinical director, she was a tireless advocate for using scientifically validated approaches and her groundbreaking research helped improve the lives of children with autism. Her clinical work, including as the principal program architect of NECC’s internationally recognized curriculum, directly benefited the lives of many and continues to positively influence countless others for generations to come.

Ben Egby

Ben Egby, waivered education coordinator for NECC’s ITT 2 residence, joined the organization in January 2022 and has been making an impact ever since. In just over three years, he has held multiple roles, including core shift manager (CSM) and residential coordinator, before stepping into his current position.

Egby’s passion for this field stems from a personal connection: one of his family members is on the autism spectrum. “He attended a day school that provided him with the support he needed to gain a meaningful education and independence, and that was something that I knew I wanted to be a part of,” shared Egby.

He first discovered NECC at a college job fair during the height of the pandemic and liked the idea of moving to Boston. In addition, the idea of the free master’s program through Simmons “while working for a well-established school was very intriguing,” he said.

Fast forward three years, Egby, who earned his Master of Science in Education with an autism specialization designation degree from Simmons last month, has flourished as an educator. “Simmons has greatly informed my teaching style,” he said. “During the practicum year, I was able to practice and received invaluable feedback. Practicum is where I learned the importance of model, practice, and review. By using this as a guiding principle in my teaching, I have been able to teach challenging concepts confidently.”

Egby’s dedication to the students and to his own professional development has not gone unnoticed. During commencement, Egby was honored with the prestigious Francis W. Gallishaw Award, which recognizes a graduate student who, according to Simmons, has demonstrated academic excellence in pursuit of graduate studies, has demonstrated a commitment to assuring that all students achieve full participation in the broad spectrum of activity in the school and community, is a role model for peers in the academic setting, and is committed to lifelong learning and provides leadership and training to colleagues.

Being recognized by Simmons and by NECC with the Myrna E. Libby Scholar Award, are both significant for Egby.  “It is a good feeling to know that my hard work and dedication to both my learning and the learning of the students here at NECC has been noticed,” he said. “It is also a great honor to be included in a group of strong educators and clinicians, some of whom are those I try to model in my practice.”

Looking ahead, Egby remains focused on growth – both for himself and his students – and enjoying his time at NECC.

“While it is hard to decide on just one aspect of the job that is my favorite, I would have to say having the opportunity to be a part of a team full of smart and creative minds that are focused on the common goal of improving the skills of our students,” he shared. “It is always extremely rewarding to see a small suggestion or larger effort translate into success for a student.”

Kiah Lyons

Kiah Lyons, a level 2 counselor in the Adult Services program, is wrapping up her third contract year at NECC, and throughout that time, their dedication to improving lives and breaking down barriers is evident in everything they do.

“My favorite part of the job is by far breaking barriers to independent living and helping improve the quality of life of the individuals we serve,” said Lyons. “I often say that I learn more from our students and consumers than they do from me. It’s a reminder for me to stay humble and grounded in the reality that it’s not about me; it’s always about them.”

Her journey into the autism education began unexpectedly. “I started working in the field after undergrad as a bridge between obtaining my degree and applying to medical schools,” Lyons explained. “I quickly fell in love with the positive impact I was able to make with my first client during COVID, and I knew this was where I was meant to be.”

Lyons chose NECC for its strong reputation and in-house graduate programs, of which she is currently enrolled in the Western New England University (WNEU) master’s degree in applied behavior analysis (ABA). “I knew it was a great way to ensure I had high-quality clinical experience during my graduate experience, while learning from some of the best researchers and clinicians in our field,” they said.

Her time in the WNEU graduate program has significantly influenced her approach as a special educator. “It has built a conceptually systematic foundation to my teaching,” Lyons said. “I feel prepared to ensure my practice is effective, ethical, and rooted in evidence-based practice. I also feel uniquely prepared to collaborate with other specialties and stakeholders.”

Lyons’s commitment to her students and the field of ABA was why she was given the Myrna E.  Libby Scholar  Award, something that means a lot to her.

“Winning this award is so humbling and rewarding. It is another reminder of what the work is all about,” Lyons said. “I feel proud that my genuine intention is apparent to my colleagues, my supervisors, and advisors. I can’t sufficiently express my gratitude with words, but I will continue to express it in my work and how I show up for the individuals we serve and my colleagues around me.”

In August, Lyons will join the Vocational Services Department as a vocational coordinator. “I am eager to apply what I have learned from working in both an intensive residential setting and in adult services to help our students develop, fine tune, and maintain their vocational skills to help prepare them for the best quality of life in their adult years,” they said.