integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (iCASD)
Munroe-Meyer Institute
985450 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5450

Phone: 402-559-8863
Email

Professional Summary

Dr. Nicole Rodriguez is the Director of the Early Intervention Program in the integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (iCASD) at the Munroe-Meyer Institute as well as an Associate Professor in, and Director of, the PhD program in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She has received training at arguably some of the top institutions in which behavior analysis is taught and applied. This includes Post-Baccalaureate training in applied behavior analysis at the University of Florida, clinical and research training at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s Kennedy Krieger Institute, graduate training under the supervision of Dr. Rachel Thompson at the University of Kansas and Western New England University, and post-doctoral training under the mentorship of Dr. Wayne Fisher, where she currently resides at the Munroe-Meyer Institute. She has authored several book chapters and published peer-reviewed research studies in top journals in our field, including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior. She is currently serving as Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She received the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s Education Stand-Out Award in 2017 and Researcher Stand-Out in 2019. In 2019, she also received the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Outstanding Teacher Award for her instructional excellence and outstanding achievements in teaching.

Education

PhD, Western New England College, Springfield, MA, 2010
M.A., University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 2007
BS, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2002
Board Certified Behavior Analyst, 2009

Courses Taught

• Experimental and Quantitative Analysis of Behavior (co-instructor)
• Development Across the Lifespan
• Assessment and Treatment of Severe Behavior Disorders
• Advanced Methods in Single Case Research
• Clinical and Research Practica in Early Intervention for Undergraduate-, Masters-, and Doctoral- level Students 

Research Interests and Projects

Dr. Rodriguez’s research interests are largely guided by her clinical work in early intervention and autism spectrum disorders. Much of her research is applied in that it has a direct clinical impact on the children and families who serve as participants. She is also interested in translational research that allows for a better understanding of the processes that underlie the efficacy of procedures. Topics of current research projects include:

• Behavior-analytic research methodology
• Efficacy and efficiency of teaching procedures
• Emergent responding and generalization
• Faulty stimulus control
• Multiply-controlled verbal behavior
• Response Variability
• Safety skills

Publications from ORCID

Selected Publications (within the last 5 years)

• Owen, T. M., Luczynski, K. C., Rodriguez, N. M., & Fisher, W. W. (accepted). Efficacy of and children’s and caregiver’s preferences for treatments for escape maintained behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
• Blowers, A. P., Rodriguez, N. M., Cohrs, V. L., Luczynski, K. C., & Aragon, M. (2020). Assessment and treatment of elopement maintained by chase. Behavioral Interventions, 35, 432-445.
• Glodowski, K. R., & Rodriguez, N. M. (2019). The effects of scenic picture prompts on variability during the acquisition of intraverbal categorization for children with autism. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 35, 134-148.
• Hood, S. A., Rodriguez, N. M., Luczynski, K. C., & Fisher, W. W. (early view, 2019). Evaluating the effects of physical reactions on aggression via concurrent-operant analyses. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
• DeSouza, A. A., Fisher, W. W., & Rodriguez, N. M. (2019). Facilitating the emergence of convergent intraverbals in children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 52, 28-49.
• Peterson, S. P., Rodriguez, N. M., & Pawich, T. (2019). Effects of modeling rote versus varied responses on response variability and skill acquisition during discrete-trial instruction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 52, 370-385.
• Rodriguez, N. M., Levesque, M. A., Cohrs, V. L., & Niemeier, J. J. (2017). Teaching children with autism to request help with difficult tasks. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 50, 717-732.
• Zangrillo, A. N., Warzak, W. J., Volkert, V. V., Valleley, R. J., Shriver, M. D., Rodriguez, N. M.,…Allen, K. D. (2016). The Munroe-Meyer approach: Continuous integration of didactic instruction, research, and clinical practice. The Behavior Analyst.
• Miller, S. A., Rodriguez, N. M., & Kaminski, A. J. (2015). Using a mirror to facilitate acquisition of gross motor imitation. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 48, 194-198.
• Rodriguez, N. M., & Thompson, R. H. (2015). Behavioral variability and autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 48, 167-187.
• Luczynski, K. C., Hanley, G. P., & Rodriguez, N. M. (2014). An evaluation of the generalization and maintenance of functional communication and self-control skills with preschoolers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 47, 246-263.
• Rodriguez, N. M., Thompson, R. H., & Haremza, J. L. (2014). Rearranging naturally occurring contingencies to increase desirable behavior in a toddler classroom. Behavioral Interventions, 29, 177-185.
• Rodriguez, N. M., Thompson, R., H., Stocco, C. S., & Schlichenmeyer, K. (2013). Arranging and ordering in autism: Characteristics, severity, and environmental correlates. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 38, 242-255.
• Fisher, W. W., Rodriguez, N. M., & Owen, T. (2013). Functional assessment and treatment of perseverative speech about restricted topics in an adolescent with Asperger Syndrome. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46, 307-311.

Authored Chapters

• Rodriguez, N. M., Fisher, W. W., & Kelley, M. E. (2012). Treatment Methods Commonly Used in Conjunction with Functional Assessment. In J. L. Matson (Ed.).  Functional Assessment for Challenging Behavior. New York: Springer.
• Fisher, W. W., Rodriguez, N. M., Luczynski, K. C., & Kelley, M. E. (2013). Protective equipment. In D. Reed, F. DiGennaro Reed, & J. Luiselli (Eds). Handbook of Crisis Intervention for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. New York: Springer.
• Luczynski, K. C., & Rodriguez, N. M. (2015). In D. Reed & F. DiGennaro Reed (Eds). Transitions. Bridging the Gap between Science and Practice in Autism Service Delivery.

Professional Affiliations

• American Psychological Association
• Association for Behavior Analysis International
• Heartland Association for Behavior Analysis
• Nebraska Association for Behavior Analysis