Juliana Aguilar

Email:
aguila74@purdue.edu

Links:

LinkedIn

Juliana Aguilar

Clinical Assistant Professor; Director of Applied Behavior Analysis Programs

Special Education,
Educational Studies

Email:
aguila74@purdue.edu

Links:

LinkedIn

About

Juliana Aguilar is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), as well as the Director of the ABA programs at Purdue University. She received her Board Certified Behavior Analyst® in 2018. She completed her master’s in ABA at the University of Missouri-Columbia under the mentorship of Dr. Casey Clay and Dr. Sungwoo Kahng. She completed her doctorate in ABA at Utah State University under the guidance of Dr. Tom Higbee. Dr. Aguilar’s clinical experience has been in early intensive behavioral intervention with young children with autism in university-based clinics, as well as school based behavioral consultation. Dr. Aguilar’s research interests lie in the impact of cultural responsiveness on behavior analytic interventions, early childhood skill acquisition, and training adults on the use of behavior analytic strategies.

Education
  • PhD Utah State University, Logan, UT
    • Doctorate in Disability Disciplines
    • Emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis
    • Department of Special Ed and Rehabilitation Counseling
    • Dissertation: Evaluating the effects of inclusive vs. non-inclusive stimuli on skill acquisition in children with ASD.
    • Advisor: Thomas Higbee, PhD 2018-2022
  • MS University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
    • Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis
    • Department of Health Psychology
    • Thesis: The effects of culturally based accommodations on behavioral skills training
    • Advisor: Casey Clay, PhD 2016-2018
  • BA University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
    • Psychology, Sociology
    • Department of Arts and Science 2003-2008
  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst
    • 1-18-31799 8/2018 – present

Career Experience
  • Clinical Assistant Professor in Special Education and ABA at Purdue University west Lafayette, IN 2022-present
  • Clinical Graduate Assistant at Utah State University Logan, UT 2018-2022
  • Registered Behavior Technician Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Columbia, MO 2016-2018

Awards & Honors
  • 2024 College of Education Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award
  • 2024 College of Education Service Award
  • 2024 Latino Cultural Center’s Campus Partner Award
  • 2024 Wabash Center’s Exemplary Community Partner Award

Professional Affiliations/Memberships
  • Applied Behavior Analysis International
  • Hoosier Association for Behavior Analysis
  • Association of Professional Behavior Analysts

Research & Publications

Dr. Aguilar’s focus as an educator is on training future behavior analysts to bridge the research to practice gap and prepare practitioners that have the professional decision-making skills to create sound and culturally sensitive interventions for individuals with disabilities. Her research interests focus on culturally responsive practices in ABA, early childhood skill acquisition, and training of adults on behavior analytic interventions.

Selected Publications
  • Aguilar, J., Peck, S., Mattson, S. L., Reinert, K. S., Higbee, T. S., Lindgren, N. A., & Osos, J. A. (2022). Caregiver-implemented digital activity schedules with virtual coaching. Behavior Modification. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455221118341
  • Mattson, S.L., Higbee, T.S., Nichols, B., Aguilar, J. & Campbell, V.E. (2024). Effects of an Activity Schedule Intervention Package on Cooperative Vocal Exchanges During Learning Centers. Behavior Analysis in Practice 17, 1175–1190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00939-9
  • Smith, S.G., Mattson, S.L., Aguilar, J., Pyle, N., & Higbee, T. S. (2024). Behavioral skills training with adult interventionists: A systematic review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 11, 296-319.
  • Mattson, S. L., Higbee, T. S., Aguilar, J., Nichols, B., Campbell, V. E., Nix, L. D., Reinert, K. S., Peck, S., & Lewis, K. (2020). Creating and sharing digital ABA instructional activities: A practical tutorial. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 13(4), 772–798. https://doi-org.dist.lib.usu.edu/10.1007/s40617-020-00440-z
  • Alves, F. J., De Carvalho, E. A., Aguilar, J., De Brito, L. L., & Bastos, G. S. (2020) Applied behavior analysis for the treatment of autism: A systematic review of assistive technologies. IEEE Access, 8, 118664-118672. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3005296
  • Mattson, S.L., Aguilar, J., Pellegrino, A.J., & Higbee, T.S. (2024). Teaching independence and complex social behavior to young learners on the autism spectrum using activity schedules. In D. Dixon, P. Sturmey, and J. Matson (Eds.), Handbook of Early Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Second Edition. New York: Springer. 10.1007/978-3-031-64499-3_16
  • Aguilar, J., & Clay, C. J. (2021). Cultural Accommodations in Caregiver Training. In B. M. Conners & S. T. Cappell (Eds.), Multiculturalism and Diversity in Applied Behavior Analysis (pp. 137-154). New York, NY: Routledge.

Current Grants & Funded Research

US Department of Education Interprofessional Education Supporting the High Intensity Needs of Exceptional Students (IPE-SHINES), Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), CO-PIs: Chenell Loudermill, Juliana Aguilar, and Jasmine Begeske, 2021-2026

Courses Typically Taught

  • EDPS 61200 Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
  • EDPS 50800 CLD in Special Education
  • EDPS 40300 Individual Social, Emotional, Behavioral Support
  • EDPS 55100 Practicum in ABA