Interdisciplinary Behavioral Consultation

Hello, my name is Katie McCulloch, and I am a second-year student in the School Psychology program here at the University of Nebraska Omaha. I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Missouri in 2021. I always knew that I wanted to work with children, and, after taking my first Psychology class, I felt very strongly that I wanted to pursue a career in Psychology. So, School Psychology felt like a perfect fit. After I graduated college, I worked as a Family-Centered Services Specialist at Boys Town. I really enjoyed building relationships with families, collaborating with my coworkers, and learning more about community resources. During my time at Boys Town, I worked with several families who were struggling to manage their children’s behaviors. At the time I did not know how to help and that really motivated me to learn more! Since then, I have worked as a Registered Behavior Technician in in-home settings, which has been a really great opportunity for growth. I am looking forward to continuing to learn more through my involvement in the IBC program so that I can better serve students in the future.

Hello! My name is Krystal Febus. I am currently a first-year School Psychology graduate student. I received by Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in School Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I knew that I wanted to work with children and in a field related to Psychology since high school, but I wasn't sure what specific path to take until a couple years into college. My second year of undergrad, I took a Psychology in the Schools class and that is when I learned about what School Psychologists do. After that class, I was sure that I wanted to be a School Psychologist since the field perfectly combined working with children and Psychology. During the last year of undergrad, I worked as a paraprofessional in a Special Education classroom. That was the most rewarding job I have ever had, and it sparked my interest in analyzing behavior due to some challenging behaviors in our classroom that were misinterpreted and not properly dealt with. The IBC program was of interest to me because, in addition to receiving my Ed.S. in School Psychology, the program guides the path to receiving your BCBA credential. We're only a few weeks into the program and I have learned a lot of information surrounding behavior that will be a big help to me as I start working in the schools and helping address behavioral issues.

My name is Sarah Hermann, and I am a second-year student in the School Psychology Graduate Program at the University of Nebraska Omaha. In May of 2020, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Child, Youth and Family Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Through my high school volunteer work with the Munroe-Meyer Institute, Omaha Circle Theatre and Westside Community Schools, I developed an interest in working with children and a passion for helping students to succeed academically, behaviorally, and socially. After having discussions with a school psychologist in my family and learning more about the profession through my undergraduate courses, I knew that school psychology was the right career path for me. After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I worked as a paraprofessional for Millard Public Schools in the Structured Behavior Skills program, where I taught the school curriculum and behavior skills to students with emotional and behavioral disorders. This position gave me invaluable experience in providing services for students with special needs and taught me how to work as a team member in an educational setting. My experiences working with the school psychologist in helping to de-escalate situations and provide mental health support to students further solidified my interest in pursuing graduate study in school psychology. I chose to complete my graduate studies at UNO because of the collaborative student atmosphere and the vast applied experiences and research opportunities the university has to offer. I am looking forward to continuing to collaborate and learn alongside others who share my passion for providing services to students with behavioral and emotional needs.

My name is Tommi Scornavacca and I am currently pursuing my Masters in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis through UNO and UNMC. I am ecstatic to begin this journey as a new scholar in the IBC program. I have always known I wanted to work with students with special needs and their families. I grew up knowing a family member who worked with children with special needs. In high school, I decided to shadow her and learn more about her career. At this point I had never heard of ABA therapy and was surrounded by ABAs challenging and encouraging their students. I was truly inspired by their growth with students. This is when I decided that I wanted to earn my BCBA credentials. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in Special Education at UNO I wanted to pursue ABA training and work towards earning my BCBA credentials, which I am able to do thanks to the IBC program. Through this program will be immersed in many different learning opportunities to better myself, which will in turn better the learning experience of my students.

My name is Christina Stasi and I am a graduate student in the School Psychology program. I received my B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from Wayne State College in 2019. In undergrad, I discovered the importance of support for students in schools through several volunteer positions. I knew my future career would take place within a school and I am incredibly grateful to follow a career path including both School Psychology and ABA. After graduation, I worked in the Autism Care for Toddlers Clinic as a Registered Behavior Technician through UNMC's Munroe-Meyer Institute. It was there that I discovered my passion to instill positive changes within children's lives. While at the ACT Clinic, I learned techniques used in Applied Behavior Analysis which furthered my interest in pursuing my education within ABA. The IBC Program is an amazing way to provide consultative and functional guidance for students and school staff. I am so excited to pursue this opportunity to obtain my BCBA while also working towards my Ed.S in School Psychology and I am looking forward to my time as an IBC Scholar.

Hello, my name is Alexis Westercamp, and I am a first-year graduate student in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program here at UNO/UNMC. I found my love for ABA out of chance. At the start of my collegiate career, I went to a junior college to play softball to be an occupational therapist. Once I learned more about it, I realized it wasn’t for me. I knew I wanted to work with children with intellectual disabilities. After graduating from junior college, I planned to become a special education teacher. Working in the school setting was perfect because it would allow me to pursue my passion for coaching. After looking at the special education curriculum, I decided teaching wasn’t for me. I knew I wanted to go to Briar Cliff University, and while looking into their programs, I saw ABA and thought that was interesting. Once talking to my advisor, I realized ABA was perfect for me. While at Briar Cliff, I worked at our on-campus pro bono clinic, serving six families in the Siouxland area. Here at UNO/UNMC, I will work in schools in the Omaha area and learn what BCBAs do in a school district.