Phone: 718.554.1027 Email: info@brooklynautismcenter.org    

Faculty

  • Jana Levin

    Executive Director

    Jana is an accomplished professional with over 20 years of management and marketing experience highlighted by strong expertise in communications, strategic planning, business development, business operations, market research, and branding. Throughout her career she has created integrated marketing campaigns and developed strategic alliances in the for-profit and non-profit space. Jana is a founding board member of the Brooklyn Autism Center, most recently holding the position of Secretary on the Executive Board.  She holds a B.A. in Sociology from San Francisco State University and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter Jessie, a proud volunteer in BAC's after-school peer socialization program.

  • Julie Russell, M.S., BCBA, LBA-NY

    Educational Director

    Julie holds an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts and received her BCBA in 2009. She has over 10 years experience working with children with autism and related developmental differences in centers, schools, school districts and home-based programs. Julie received her supervision hours (meeting requirements for board certification in behavior analysis) by Dr. Nathan Blenkush, Ph.D., BCBA from JRC in Boston, Massachusetts. She was a Clinical Supervisor at ACES (Center for Applied Behavior Analysis) in San Diego California and Clinical Supervisor at the ELIJA School in Levittown, NY.

  • Tom Cleary

    Director of Operations

    Tom holds a B.A. from Lehigh University where he graduated with honors. At Lehigh, Tom studied Accounting, Economics, and International Relations. He also worked as a Resident Adviser and Tutor. Prior to joining BAC, Tom spent several years in the financial services industry, working in both finance and client relations roles. 

  • Hertie Gutierrez

    Administrative Assistant

    Hertie Gutierrez hold a degree in Mass Communications from St. John’s University. Throughout her college career, she secured several marketing internships throughout New York and California. Prior to working at Brooklyn Autism Center, she was a Marketing Coordinator at a New York-based real estate office.  

  • Andrea Delgado, M.S., BCBA

    Associate Director of Staff Training

    Andrea graduated from Loyola University with a B.A. in Psychology. While studying in Baltimore, she interned at Kennedy Krieger Institute as a Behavioral Data Specialist and gained experience working with children with autism. Andrea received her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism through the Sage Colleges.

  • Danielle Sliman

    Clinical Supervisor

    Danielle graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Human Development & Family Science. Before joining BAC, she worked at Total Education Solutions in Ohio where she provided center-based ABA services as well as in-home programs working with children on the spectrum. She coordinates our socialization programs including BAC Friends, Brooklyn Friends, and Hannah Senesh. Danielle is currently pursuing her Master's degree from the Sage Colleges as well as her national certification.

  • Jessica DeFranco

    Clinical Supervisor

    Jessica has a B.S. in Special Education from SUNY Cortland. Before joining us at BAC, she worked as a certified teaching assistant at ACDS, a preschool for children with special needs.  She also gained experience working with children with autism at Camp Anchor on Long Island. Jessica is currently pursuing her Master's degree at The Sage Colleges.

  • Juliet Grillo, M.S., BCBA

    Clinical Supervisor

    Juliet graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Psychology and has an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis. Before working at Brooklyn Autism Center, she worked at Manhattan Children’s Center for 5 years. During that time she worked in the classroom and as part of the Vocational and Transition team for the students in the upper school.

  • Taylor Gonzalez

    Clinical Supervisor

    Taylor has her B.S. in Family Science with a concentration in Special Education from the University of Maryland. She coordinates the BAC Friends afterschool peer socialization program in addition to her role as a behavioral instructor. Prior to working at BAC, Taylor worked with children on the autism spectrum at the Developmental Disabilities Institute, an intermediate school on Long Island. 

  • Nora Patterson

    Lead Behavioral Instructor

    Nora graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Communicative Disorders and is currently completing her M.S. in Special Education at Southern CT State University where she also earned her special education teaching certificate. Prior to working at BAC, she worked as an early intervention specialist in an ABA Birth to Three program and also taught special education in a school for students with Emotional and Behavioral Disturbances.

  • Raven Stokes

    Lead Behavioral Instructor

    Raven holds a B.A. in Psychology from St. Francis College and interned at BAC before being hired as an instructor. In addition to her role as a behavioral instructor, Raven helps coordinate our volunteer, peer socialization, and reverse inclusion programs and runs the BAC art program.

  • Lauralee Alcinord

    Behavioral Instructor

    Lauralee is currently pursuing her B.A. in Psychology at Brooklyn College. Prior to working at BAC, she worked for Challenge Early Intervention for over 3 years while also providing home-based ABA services to younger children through various agencies. Lauralee hopes to further her education in Special Education with a concentration in ABA.

  • Chasity Alston

    Behavioral Instructor

    Chasity graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with her B.S. in Psychology. After completing her undergraduate degree, she started her career working with children diagnosed with autism and was immediately drawn to both the children and the techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis. She furthered her educated and obtained her M.S. in Counseling with a concentration in Advanced ABA from Nova Southeastern University. Chasity is currently working towards her national certification.

  • Teresa Ambery

    Behavioral Instructor

    Teresa graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Hunter College. During that time she was teaching at a perparatory school for preschool students and spent a summer as a teaching assistant in a special needs school.

  • Bianca Bocconi

    Behavioral Instructor

    Bianca graduated from Brooklyn College with a BA in Psychology and her MSED in School Counseling. She began working in the ABA field at Thursday’s Child, providing early intervention services, and later taught and provided vocational training to high school aged students with Autism. Bianca also provided ABA home care to students through a private agency. She plans to pursue her BCBA and a PsyD.

  • Ashley Boyce

    Behavioral Instructor

    Ashley graduated from Clark Atlanta University with her bachelors of arts in Psychology. She is currently pursuing her masters in ABA online at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Before starting at BAC, Ashley worked for 3 years as an employment counselor for adults with developmental disabilities at Job Path which is a non-profit organization in New York City. Ashley plans on obtaining her certification in ABA so she can continue her work with adolescents, teaching them pre-vocational skills in order to help prepare them for future employment.

  • Dan Brashear

    Behavioral Instructor

    Danny holds a B.A. in Sports Management and a minor in Psychology from Drexel University. This past summer, Danny worked at the Big Apple Day Program as a counselor for children with varying levels of ADHD and learning disabilities. Danny plans on going back to school in the future to pursue a degree in Sports Psychology or a Psy.D. 

  • Sophie Bukenya

    Behavioral Instructor

    Sophie graduated from St. John’s University with a B.A. in Sociology. While in college, Sophie gained experience doing ABA therapy in home settings. Prior to working at BAC, Sophie was a teaching assistant at an early intervention center in Williamsbury. She plans to return to school to obtain a master's degree in ABA.

  • Rory Clancy

    Behavioral Instructor

    Rory graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Global Studies. Prior to working at BAC, Rory was an instructor at a private school serving students on the autism spectrum and also taught at a public middle school in Vermont. Rory is interested in furthering his education in either ABA or Special Education. 

  • Fernande Deguenon

    Behavioral Instructor

    Fernande graduated from SUNY Empire State College with a B.S. in Human Development and a concentration in Psychology.  Prior to working at BAC, she worked at the Association for Metroarea Autistic Children and externally as a RBT at Comprehensive Behavior Services, providing home-based ABA services to children with autism. Fernande is currently working towards her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis.     

  • Rachel Dudek

    Behavioral Instructor

    Rachel holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Psychology from William Paterson University and her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. Prior to working at BAC, she worked as an ABA therapist both in home based and school settings. She also worked as elementary school teacher. Rachel is currently pursuing her national certification.

  • McCraney Ezell

    Behavioral Instructor

    McCraney attended Tulane University and graduated with a BS in Psychology. During her senior year, she served as a research assistant  on focusing on the relationship of senses and perception. Prior to working at BAC, Mccraney was an ABA Therapist at Art In Me Behavior Clinic in New Orleans. She plans on working and gaining experience to get a better understanding of the field before pursuing her masters and certification.

  • Shirley Gordon

    Behavioral Instructor

    Shirley holds an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Borough of Manhattan Community College. She volunteered at BAC before becoming a behavioral instructor and also worked as a caregiver to a child with autism. Shirley is currently pursuing her B.A. in social work at York College in Queens.

  • Danielle Jeffrey

    Behavioral Instructor

    Danielle is a graduate of James Madison University. Prior to working at BAC, she worked at the Virginia Institute of Autism, a day school providing ABA services for children and adults with autism. Danielle plans to go back to school to earn a degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and Speech Therapy in the future.

  • Jackie Kopyt

    Behavioral Instructor

    Jackie graduated from The State University of New York at Potsdam with a B.A. in Psychology and Communications. Throughout college, she worked for Reachout of St. Lawrence County, a crisis intervention and information hotline. Before starting at BAC, Jackie worked as a Supportive Employment Counselor and Job Coach for adults with developmental disabilities at Job Path. Jackie plans on eventually obtaining a Masters in Special Education.

  • Christine Pallonetti

    Behavioral Instructor

    Christine graduated from New York University with a B.S in Applied Psychology. Prior to working at BAC, she worked for three years at Thursday’s Child, an early intervention ABA center for children 1.5- 3 years old. She is currently working toward her M.S in teaching at Touro Teacher’s College, with a concentration in Special Education from birth through second grade.

  • Anna Marie Paolicelli

    Behavioral Instructor

    Anna Marie graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in Applied Psychology & Human Development. Prior to working at BAC, she worked at the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain (CADB) in White Plains, NY as a research assistant. During this time, she administered diagnostic evaluations to children and adolescents within the research context as well as volunteered in the early intervention classroom. Anna Marie plans to go back to school to earn a degree in Clinical and School Psychology in the future.

  • Jackie Rodriguez

    Behavioral Instructor

    Jackie graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. in Humanities. She brings 3 years of experience in the special education field having worked in several special education schools and extracurricular programs in New York City where she has taught children with a range of diagnoses in academics, social skills acquition, music, and swimming lessons. Jackie is currently pursuing her M.S. in ABA at Hunter College with a goal of attaining her national certification.

  • Brynne Schultz

    Behavioral Instructor

    Brynne has her B.S. in Psychology from Marian University and her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. Prior to working at BAC she worked for both the Hawthorne Country Day School as a teaching assistant and the Keswell School as an ABA Instructor. She is currently pursuing her goal of becoming a BCBA and LBA.

  • Selene Sosa

    Behavioral Instructor

    Selene graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Psychology and is working toward her M.A. in Education from Arizona State University and national certification. After completing her undergrad she worked for Oregon Youth Authority, where she taught adjudicated youth learn learn skills such as functional communication, emotional regulation, and independent living skills with hopes to successfully transition into the community.