Kristen L. Padilla, PhD, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology Department and serves as the Director of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD). Dr. Padilla is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Her primary scholarly interests are in the areas of the validity and reliability of assessments based in applied behavior analysis, behavior analytic practices in school settings, and autism spectrum disorder.
As Director of the BCDD, Dr. Padilla supervises graduate students specializing in school psychology and applied behavior analysis that provide intervention and assessment services. She also serves as the parent and community liaison, oversees programming efforts, and works with local agencies to provide trainings in working with children with autism spectrum disorder and behavioral difficulties. She also collaborates with faculty from the Diana Garland School of Social Work to supervise social work interns at the BCDD to provide family support services. She teaches graduate courses related to assessment in applied behavior analysis and interdisciplinary training and leadership in autism.
Prior to working at Baylor University, Dr. Padilla spent several years working with children in classroom and clinic settings. She worked as an LSSP conducting intellectual, academic, and social-emotional assessments; counseling students; and providing behavior consultation.
Dr. Padilla has received several awards for her outstanding service to the field. In 2015, she received the Early Career Spotlight Award from the National Association of School Psychologists, the Outstanding School Psychologist award from the Texas Association of School Psychologists, and was named Task Supervisor of the Year by Baylor’s Diana Garland School of Social Work.
BA
2004
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
PhD
2020
Baylor University
Waco, Texas
EdS
2010
Baylor University
Waco, Texas
Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA)
2018
Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP)
2010
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
2014
Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP)
2019
Assessment in applied behavior analysis
validity and reliability of criterion-referenced and functional behavioral assessments based in applied behavior analysis
Behavior analysis in education
behavior analytic practices in schools, teacher training and consultation in behavior management
Validity and Reliability Evidence of Assessments Based in Behavior analysis: A Systematic Review
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, published Validity and Reliability Evidence of Assessments Based in Behavior analysis: A Systematic Review in Behavior Modification, with co-author(s) Dr. Regan Weston, University of Dayton - Ohio, Grant B. Morgan, associate professor, Providence Lively, graduate student, and Nicole O'Guinn, graduate student.
Global assessment use and practices in applied behavior analysis: Surveying the field
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla-Mainor, clinical assistant professor, published Global assessment use and practices in applied behavior analysis: Surveying the field in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Content validity evidence for the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, published Content validity evidence for the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, January 1, 1970, with co-author(s) Dr. Jessica Akers, assistant professor, Baylor University.
Implementation is Hard: PBIS in Early Childhood Programs
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, and Nori Ryland, graduate student, presented Implementation is Hard: PBIS in Early Childhood Programs at National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, held February 15, 2022, in Boston, MA.
Evidence-based Interventions for School Psychologists
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, Laura Phipps, graduate student, Allison Gutierrez, graduate student, Genevieve Williams, graduate student, and Alexander Beaujean, professor, presented Evidence-based Interventions for School Psychologists at National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, in San Antonio, TX.
Issues Regarding Graduate Training in Behavior Analysis: Practicum and Supervision
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, Dr. Kyle Rowsey, Southern Illinois University, Noelle Neault, Simmons College, and Michael Rohr, presented Issues Regarding Graduate Training in Behavior Analysis: Practicum and Supervision at Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, in Denver, CO.
Linking the Dimensions of ABA to Commonly Used Criterion-Referenced Assessments
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, and Abby Hodges, graduate student, presented Linking the Dimensions of ABA to Commonly Used Criterion-Referenced Assessments at Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, held January 1, 1970, in San Diego, CA.
Assessing the Impact of Increasing Teachers’ Praise-to-Correction on Student Behavior
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, Rebecca TIpton, graduate student, and Suzannah Avery, graduate student, presented Assessing the impact of increasing teachers’ praise-to-correction on student behavior at Southwest Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, in San Antonio, TX.
A Practitioner Guide to Effectively Implement School-Wide Behavior Programs
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, Rebecca TIpton, graduate student, and Tamara Hodges, senior lecturer, presented A Practitioner Guide to Effectively Implement School-Wide Behavior Programs at National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, in Atlanta, GA.
Psychometric Research for Assessments Based in Applied Behavior Analysis: A Systematic Review
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, Dr. Regan Weston, graduate student, and Providence Gee, graduate student, presented Psychometric research for assessments based in applied behavior analysis: a systematic review at International Conference of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, held January 1, 1970, in Stockholm, Sweden.
Commonly Used Assessments in Applied Behavior Analysis: Selection, Experience, and Training
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, Vida Canestaro, graduate student, Jordan White, graduate student, and Providence Gee, graduate student, presented Commonly used assessments in applied behavior analysis: Selection, experience, and training at Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, held January 1, 1970, in Chicago, IL.
Behavior Analysts in Educational Settings: Provision of School-based Services
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor, and Bailey M. Mungiguerra, graduate student, presented Behavior analysts in educational settings: Provision of school-based services at Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, in Virtual.
Autism Consortium of Texas Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (ACT LEND)
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor; $2,318,529.00; Autism Consortium of Texas Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (ACT LEND); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB).
Project ¡LEER! Literacy, Language, and Social-Emotional Support for English Learners with and without Disabilities in Inclusive Settings to Improve Reading Outcome
Dr. Kristen L. Padilla, clinical assistant professor; $2,999,257.00; Project ¡LEER! Literacy, Language, and Social-Emotional Support for English Learners with and without Disabilities in Inclusive Settings to Improve Reading Outcome; U.S. Department of Education - Office of English Language Acquisition.
Practicum in ABA
Assessment in ABA