Multicultural Special Interest Group (SIG)
Florida Association of Behavior Analysis
The FABA Multicultural Special Interest Group (SIG) holds diversity, inclusion and dignity for all as its core values. Discriminatory, harassing or demeaning behavior of any kind will not be accepted. Members are expected to uphold these values and the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s Professional and Ethical Compliance Code, while promoting a culture where individuals can interact, benefit and contribute to the collective experience.
eBoard and Committee Members 2022-2024
Maricel Cigales, Ph.D., BCBA-D
EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIR
Maricel Cigales earned a Ph.D. in Psychology with specializations in Developmental Psychology and Behavior Analysis from Florida International University (FIU) in 1995. Dr. Cigales is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 30 years of experience as a practitioner and professor of applied behavior analysis. Dr. Cigales is faculty in the Department of Psychology at FIU, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies for the College of Arts, Sciences and Education and the Director of the Behavior Analysis Master of Science program.
Janet Vasquez, M.S., BCBA, LBA
EXECUTIVE BOARD VICE CHAIR
Janet is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She earned a Master of Science degree in Behavior Analysis from Florida International University. Currently, she is working towards a doctoral degree in education in which she is specializing in instructional technologies from Nova Southeastern University. With over 20 years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, Janet has held various leadership positions, ranging from Clinical Director to Chief Executive Officer and has presented research at various professional conferences including, but not limited to, the Association for Behavioral Analysis International, the Society for Research in Child Development, International Society for Infant Studies, and International Meeting for Autism Research. In addition to her executive experience, Janet also teaches introductory and advance courses in behavior analysis at Florida International University.
Melanie Korner, M.A., BCBA
EXECUTIVE BOARD SECRETARY
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Melissa Delgado, M.A., BCBA, LBA
WEBSITE & VISIBILITY CHAIR
Melissa is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst in Texas. Currently, she is working on a doctorate degree in psychology, specializing in behavior analysis. She has been in the field of behavior analysis since 2006. She is a Clinical Director at Positive Behavior Supports Corporation and part time faculty at Capella University teaching in their behavior analysis program.
Jacqueline Korner, M.S., BCBA, LBA, IBA
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Jacqueline started to study Experimental Analysis of Behavior in 1982 at Universidad Central of Venezuela.(.UCV). She participated in several research projects in ABA and EAB (Creativity, group contingencies, Altruism, aggression, and Behavioral Medicine.) In 1987, graduated Magna Cum Laude as a Psychologist with Specialization in Clinical Behavioral, she graduated first in her class. Her thesis was about Classical conditioning of heart rate and blood pressure and received the highest distinction of being published.
In 1988 she was appointed with a faculty position at the UCV and taught many classes including Behavioral Medicine as well as completed many research projects being one of the most important "Stress psychosocial and occupational in oil refinery workers' '.While working as a faculty, pursued her post graduate studies in Experimental and Applied Analysis of Behavior and continued her research in Behavioral Medicine with her Master thesis in Biofeedback and operant conditioning of different physiological responses. Due to the sociopolitical situation in Venezuela, Jacqueline decided to resign her tenure position and moved to Florida. She was a visiting Faculty at the University of Miami in the Behavioral medicine Dept. and an Adjunct Faculty at Florida International University teaching EAB among other classes..
Jacqueline became a Multidisciplinary Team leader in a ICF State Institution with more than a 1000 clients diagnosed with Developmental disabilities, provided consultation in foster care and group homes, as well as out of state Institutions (Indiana and NJ)She became a Florida CBA with expanded privileges in 1998, a BCBA in 2001, LBA in Texas 2020 and IBA Jacqueline provides supervision to RBT, BCaBA and future BCBA/BCaBA as well as an ACE provider. In 2004
Jacqueline founded Positive Behavior Treatment (PBT), became a Medicaid and Medicaid provider and provides services remotely/person in Spanish and English in our office, homes, schools, preschool, etc. Currently She provides ABA mostly to children with ASD of multicultural families. PBT had provided services to American clients from: Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Canada, San Salvador, Philippines, Israel, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Russia, among others.
She is the proud mother of 2 Master level Behavior Analysts (BCBA, BCaBA) and the Membership chair of the SIG.
She has completed multiple webinars and presented at FABA and other conferences in Spanish and English.
She is the FABA Multicultural SIG membership chair.
Christian Mendez, M.S., BCBA
TREASURER
Christian Mendez is a board certified behavior analyst. She entered the field of applied behavior analysis while pursuing her B.A. in Psychology at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. She also earned her M.S. in Psychology, with emphasis in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. In 2015, she entered as part of the first online Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis online program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she is currently completing her dissertation on cultural competence and parent stress. Her research interests include verbal behavior, parent stress, buy-in for ABA services, Acceptance and Commitment Training, bilingual service delivery, and cultural competence/cultural humility.
Christian also is the founder and clinical director of InnerConnections Developmental Specialists—a pediatric therapy company in Miami, Florida offering services to children from 18 months to 21 years of age. ICDS prides itself in offering ABA services in both English and Spanish, as well as prioritizing naturalistic teaching, the development of appropriate verbal behavior repertoires, and parent training/involvement. ICDS is currently expanding beyond Applied Behavior Analytic services to offer educational services primarily based in behavior analytic procedures and technologies, as well as pediatric mental health services to help address the need for more ASD-competent educators and service providers in these essential service areas.
Christian also is one of the founding board members of the South Florida chapter of the Florida Association of Behavior Analysis (SoFABA), and currently serves as the President of this organization.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAIR - VACANT. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about this role.