Our Team
Under the direction of Drs. Aubyn Stahmer, Jessica Suhrheinrich, and Sarah Rieth,
our training team is available to support schools in using CPRT!
Program Directors
Program Director
Aubyn Stahmer, Ph.D., is a clinical and research psychologist, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at UC Davis, Director of Community-based Treatment Research, UC Davis MIND Institute. Her research focuses on examining the use of evidence-based intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders and their families in school and community settings.
Program Director
Dr. Jessica Suhrheinrich is an associate professor of special education at San Diego State University and an investigator with the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center. Broadly, her research aims to improve community-based services for individuals with autism. Dr. Suhrheinrich’s current work integrates implementation science and leadership development to increase the use of evidence-based practices for autism. Additionally, she is the Director of Research and Evaluation for the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN) and the Co-Director of the San Diego Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) training program.
Program Director
Sarah Rieth is an Associate Professor of Child and Family Development at San Diego State University, where her program of research focuses on implementation of evidence-based practices for individuals with autism in community settings and effective professional development for interventionists using both in-person and virtual methods. Current projects include the examination of web-based and distance training models for early intervention and special education providers, implementation of a peer-to-peer psychoeducation intervention for parents of teenage children with developmental disabilities, and addressing gaps and barriers in access to services for underserved, low-resource populations.
Trainers
Lead Trainer
Janice Chan, M.A., BCBA, is the CPRT lead trainer. After beginning her career in autism as an undergraduate research assistant in the UCSD Autism Lab, she later graduated from SDSU, where she obtained a moderate/severe teaching credential and Masters in special education with a specialization in autism. Ms. Chan oversees the development of CPRT training materials, training others in the CPRT training protocol, and implementation of the CPRT training with research participants and external contracts. Outside of research, she is an adjunct professor at San Diego State University, serves on the board of directors of Banding Together, coordinates a respite program at her church, and is a volunteer puppy raiser with Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines.
Trainer
Amber Fitzgerald, M.A., BCBA is a private educational consultant and a project manager at the UC Davis MIND Institute. She holds an Education Specialist teaching credential for students with moderate to severe disabilities. As a behavior analyst and experienced educator, Amber provides training, coaching, and consultation to families, educators and school administrators in the development of high quality programs and the implementation of evidence-based practices for students with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Additionally, Amber is an adjunct faculty at National University, teaching courses in social emotional learning and behavior supports and serving in the role of University Support Provider for students seeking their special education teaching credential.
Trainer
Melissa Mello, M.A., BCBA, earned her Master’s degree in Special Education from San Francisco State University and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has over 10 years of experience working with children with ASD in a variety of settings. She is certified in ESDM, a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention that incorporates PRT, and has extensive experience using behaviorally-based, empirically-validated treatments for children with ASD.
Trainer
Patricia Schetter, M.A., BCBA is a board certified behavior analyst who has worked in public
education since 1999 as a Program Specialist, classroom teacher, behavior analyst and provider of teacher training/coaching. Schetter has been an employee of the UC Davis MIND Institute since 2010, where she assumed the role of Coordinator of Autism Education Initiatives for the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. One of her key projects is the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN), which provides training, coaching and resources in evidence-based practices to educators across California as a technical assistance provider through the California Department of Education.