Executive Committee Members

Russell Lang, PhD, BCBA-D Assistant Professor, Special Education Executive Director

Russell Lang, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is an assistant professor of Special Education and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. He earned a doctoral degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and early childhood developmental disabilities from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Lang completed a post doctoral researcher position at the University of California in Santa Barbara. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research papers and multiple book chapters concerning the education and treatment of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. His primary research interest is in the treatment of problematic and challenging behaviors in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Lang’s research is most often conducted in applied settings including children’s homes and schools. He serves on the editorial review board for Journal of Development and Physical Disabilities, Developmental Neurorehabilitation, and Behavior Modification and he is a former board member for Journal Applied Behavior Analysis.

Office: Education Building, Room 3010
Email: russlang@txstate.edu

 

Jo Webber, PhD Founder

Jo Webber, PhD, retired professor of Special Education, taught at Texas State University for 26 years. She began her professional career in 1976 teaching students with autism and emotional and behavioral disorders and continues to consult with school districts across the country about educational programs for students with autism. Dr. Webber was the first director of the Austin-Travis County MHMR Autism Center and currently serves as chair of the Austin Regional Task Force for Autism reporting to the Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders.

Dr. Webber has co-authored three books, Autism: Teaching DOES Make a Difference (Wadsworth, 2002), Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Theory to Practice (Allyn & Bacon, 2008), and Educating Students with Autism: A Quickstart Manual (Pro-Ed, 2008), and served as president of the International Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders, a division of the International Council for Exceptional Children.

In 2006, while serving as the College of Education Associate Dean for Research, she founded the Clinic for Autism Research, Evaluation, and Support (CARES) as a multi-disciplinary clinic serving children and youth with autism and their families. She served as Executive Director of CARES until June 2012 and plans to continue being involved with CARES activities.

 

Katy Davenport, M.Ed., BCBA Educational Clinic Director

Katy Davenport, M.Ed., is the CARES Educational Clinic Director and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She earned a masters degree in Special Education with an emphasis in autism and early childhood developmental disabilities from the University of Texas at Austin. Katy has 10 years of experience working with children with range of developmental and intellectual disabilities.  Specifically, Katy has worked in public schools as a district autism coordinator, as a private in home behavior therapist, and for government service agencies providing early intervention. Katy has done numerous professional development workshops, has designed Individualized Education Programs, written Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans and has conducted social skills groups for children with autism. As the CARES Educational Clinic Director, Katy has consulted with a number of school districts in the area concentrating on autism and challenging behavior.

Office: Education Building, 1031
E-mail: kd22@txstate.edu
Phone: 512.245.7892