Who We Are
Charis Lauren Wahman is an assistant professor of special education and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D). She is also affiliated faculty in School Psychology and Clinical Director of The PACES Project. Her research primarily focuses on training early childhood teachers on evidence-based practices within the framework of Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) to stop suspension and expulsion of preschool children and family-centered practices.
Graduate Students
Karen Houston is a second year PhD student in Special Education, with a focus in Early Childhood Mental Health and Behavior. She graduated with her Master of Arts in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas in 2020, and obtained her Bachelors of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The University of Texas at Austin in 2018. Currently, Karen is a BCBA supervisor for Master's level ABA students and works on various research projects relating to social-emotional wellbeing of early childhood students, suspension and expulsion of preschool children, and training paraprofessionals who work with students in early childhood special education classrooms.
Mallory Haynie is a second year graduate student in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program at Michigan State University. In 2022, she graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.S. in Psychology and a Minor in Sociology. She participated in research at Grand Valley State University during her undergraduate degree. She is intrigued by the nuances of social interactions between young children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Ashley Le is a first-year graduate student in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program at Michigan State University. In May of 2023, she graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S in psychology and a minor in youth and society. She is most interested in the intricate world of neurodevelopment and child developmental psychology. After she graduates, she plans to work in a school or clinical setting with young children who have developmental disabilities.
Undergraduate Students
Siying Rao is an undergraduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Youth and Society. She is interested in the association between children's behaviors and their relationships with teachers, as well as the psychological obstacles young children experience.
Emma Bullock is an undergraduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Special Education. She enjoys early childhood research and hopes to obtain her Behavior Technician certification so that she can use the skills in her own classroom to support the well-being of her students. She plans to continue her education in graduate school and earn her MSW, as well as a master’s in Educational Policy.
Lab Alumni
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Sylvia Piskorowski, M.A.
Petros Balouris is an undergraduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Special Education.
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