Research and Continuing Education Vivana Gonzalez, M.A., BCBA, LBA-NY

At MBC, we are committed to the professional growth of all our staff. For graduate student trainees pursuing their BCBA certification, we offer a robust range of opportunities, including mentorship from experienced clinicians, direct hands-on experience in classroom and clinical settings, and active involvement in research or applied projects. Trainees can expect personalized guidance throughout their fieldwork hours, participation in team meetings, and regular supervision to support their learning and skill development. In addition to trainee support, we offer continuing education for our licensed professional staff, ensuring everyone has access to a variety of learning opportunities throughout the year. These experiences enhance clinical knowledge across disciplines and help team members understand other areas of practice, building stronger collaborative relationships and fostering successful transdisciplinary collaboration.

MBC partners with local universities’ ABA programs to enhance the fieldwork experience of students in the community. As students progress through their education, MBC supports them in completing application projects, such as capstones and theses. Additionally, MBC champions staff research and dissemination interests, with members of our leadership team heavily involved in ABA research and academia. Dissemination projects and applied research initiatives bring students and staff together to translate evidence-based practices into meaningful, real-world applications. By collaborating with practicum and capstone students, staff engage in reflective practice, strengthen their clinical reasoning, and explore new approaches grounded in current research. Graduate trainees contribute fresh perspectives from the latest literature, while experienced clinicians offer the contextual knowledge needed to adapt these ideas effectively within classroom environments. 

In many cases, student projects directly contribute to practical outcomes in our classrooms. Capstone and thesis projects may require students to develop data collection systems, evaluate instructional strategies, or examine ways to improve programming and interventions for our students. Staff can immediately apply these projects’ tools, procedures, and insights to their daily work, refining interventions and improving the overall quality of instruction and student support. Mentoring students also creates meaningful professional development for our staff. By supervising trainees, clinicians refine their leadership, teaching, and feedback skills while helping develop the next generation of behavior analysts. Many staff members find this mentorship both professionally rewarding and energizing, which strengthens staff engagement, morale, and long-term commitment to the organization.

Most importantly, these initiatives directly benefit our clients. By integrating student-led research, staff expertise, and current evidence-based practices, MBC continually evaluates and enhances the strategies used to support students. This collaborative model encourages innovation, promotes thoughtful problem-solving, and ensures that interventions remain responsive to each learner’s evolving needs. Through these partnerships and ongoing learning opportunities, MBC positions itself as a leader in the field. By bridging clinical practice, research, and training, we foster an environment where professionals grow, test new ideas, and ultimately deliver the highest-quality support to students.