Executive Council
Garrett Yeager, BCBA, LBA
President
M. Garrett Yeager, M.S., BCBA, LBA graduated with his Master’s Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has provided behavior analytic services to a wide range of clients including ages ranging from 2-18 years old in clinical, community, and school settings. He has most recently focused on services aiming to reduce challenging behaviors in clients 8-16 years old. Garrett currently serves as the Director of ABA Services at The Autism Center of North Mississippi in Tupelo, MS.
Kayla Bates-Brantley, PhD, BCBA-D, NCSP
President-Elect
Dr. Bates-Brantley is an assistant professor in the school psychology program at Mississippi State University. She is a Licensed Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Doctoral (BCBA-D) as well as a National Certified School Psychologist. Her research and applied interests include behavioral consultation in the school setting, applied behavior analysis and early intervention for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Dr. Bates-Brantley received her doctoral training from the University of Southern Mississippi School Psychology Program. Kayla is a native of Philadelphia, Mississippi and a proud alumna of Mississippi State University.
Kayla Bates-Brantley, PhD, BCBA-D, NCSP
President-Elect
Dr. Bates-Brantley is an assistant professor in the school psychology program at Mississippi State University. She is a Licensed Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Doctoral (BCBA-D) as well as a National Certified School Psychologist. Her research and applied interests include behavioral consultation in the school setting, applied behavior analysis and early intervention for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Dr. Bates-Brantley received her doctoral training from the University of Southern Mississippi School Psychology Program. Kayla is a native of Philadelphia, Mississippi and a proud alumna of Mississippi State University.
Hallie Smith, PhD, BCBA-D, LP
Past-President
Dr. Smith is an assistant professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Mississippi State University where she also serves as program coordinator over the ABA master’s program as well as the undergraduate minor program in ABA. Dr. Smith is a licensed psychologist and board certified behavior analyst. Dr. Smith received her doctoral degree in School Psychology from Mississippi State University and completed her doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine/Kennedy Krieger Institute in the Neurobehavioral Unit Outpatient Program and the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program. Before returning to Mississippi in May of 2020, Dr. Smith worked as a licensed psychologist and case supervisor in the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Smith’s clinical and research interests include the assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders as well as the efficiency of assessments in planning for effective behavior analytic treatment.
Robyn Brewer, BCBA, LBA
Treasurer
Robyn Brewer serves as a Behavior Analyst II within Canopy Children’s Solutions’ Center of Excellence in Jackson. As part of the Autism Solutions team, Robyn conducts assessments and develops treatment plans for children with autism. More specifically, she works extensively with meeting children’s goals with language acquisition and communication skills, increasing food acceptance, and decreasing repetitive motor function (stereotypy), sensory aversions, and maladaptive behaviors, such as PICA. She has led a school readiness therapy group for children ages 5-7 to help prepare them to enter general education classrooms. Robyn also provides clinical supervision for six behavior technicians with in Canopy’s Early Intervention Autism Clinic as well as master’s candidates who are working toward certification as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). Loving the science behind human behavior, Robyn has shared her research with the professional community. Some of her work has appeared in Behavior Analysis in Practice as well as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Robyn Brewer, BCBA, LBA
Treasurer
Robyn Brewer serves as a Behavior Analyst II within Canopy Children’s Solutions’ Center of Excellence in Jackson. As part of the Autism Solutions team, Robyn conducts assessments and develops treatment plans for children with autism. More specifically, she works extensively with meeting children’s goals with language acquisition and communication skills, increasing food acceptance, and decreasing repetitive motor function (stereotypy), sensory aversions, and maladaptive behaviors, such as PICA. She has led a school readiness therapy group for children ages 5-7 to help prepare them to enter general education classrooms. Robyn also provides clinical supervision for six behavior technicians with in Canopy’s Early Intervention Autism Clinic as well as master’s candidates who are working toward certification as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). Loving the science behind human behavior, Robyn has shared her research with the professional community. Some of her work has appeared in Behavior Analysis in Practice as well as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Hailey Ripple, PhD, BCBA-D
Secretary
Hailey Ripple is an assistant professor in the School Psychology Program at Mississippi State University, as well as a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Dr. Ripple received her doctoral degree in school psychology at Mississippi State University. Additionally, Dr. Ripple completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine/Kennedy Krieger Institute, where she provided behavior analytic clinical services targeting general problem behavior and pediatric feeding disorders. Dr. Ripple’s research interests include pediatric feeding disorders, functional analyses, and the application of behavior analytic treatment approaches for individuals with CHARGE syndrome.
Stephanie Mattson, PhD, BCBA
ABAI Representative
Dr. Mattson has a combined background in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis, and she completed her doctoral degree at Utah State University. Dr. Mattson is passionate about using the principles of behavior analysis to improve the lives of the individuals she works with and training practitioners to effectively implement behavioral interventions. Dr. Mattson’s research interests include evaluating contextually appropriate interventions to increase independence for individuals with ASD, practitioner training and support, and promoting the dissemination of behavior analysis through refining single-case design research methodology.
Stephanie Mattson, PhD, BCBA
ABAI Representative
Dr. Mattson has a combined background in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis, and she completed her doctoral degree at Utah State University. Dr. Mattson is passionate about using the principles of behavior analysis to improve the lives of the individuals she works with and training practitioners to effectively implement behavioral interventions. Dr. Mattson’s research interests include evaluating contextually appropriate interventions to increase independence for individuals with ASD, practitioner training and support, and promoting the dissemination of behavior analysis through refining single-case design research methodology.
Kayla Crook, Ph.D, BCBA-D,
APBA Representative
Dr. Kayla Crook is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Mississippi. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2019 and received her BCBA certification in 2015. She helped develop the Applied Behavior Analysis master’s program at the University of Mississippi that welcomed its first co-hort in Fall 2021. Her research area focuses on Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Tier 1 interventions, specifically group contingencies and the Good Behavior Game. Her clinical experiences include: supervision of BACB students, classroom management for general education and special education K-12 teachers, and the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior.
Anna Claire Waldrop, BCBA, LBA
Region 1 Representative
Anna Claire Waldrop, BCBA, LBA
Region 1 Representative
Mary Aultman Weldon, BCBA, LBA
Region 2 Representative
Amanda Kirk, BCBA, LBA
Region 3 Representative
Amanda Kirk, BCBA, LBA
Region 3 Representative
