Our Team

Julie L. Thompson, PhD, BCBA-D, is an Associate Professor of Special Education, Behavioral Learning INterventions in Children (BLINC) Lab Director; Core Faculty Member of the Texas A&M University Institute for Early Childhood Development and Education; and Affiliated Faculty Member of the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University. Julie’s work as a classroom teacher for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) gave her insight into the layered complexities of providing adequate education to individuals with ASD in public schools. Julie’s BLINC lab uses social-justice-driven mixed-methods research to specialize in two areas: academic instruction for students with profound autism and/or intellectual disabilities AND preventing and teaching replacement behaviors to students with interfering problem behaviors in the classroom, to support inclusion, communication, independence, and lifelong fulfillment. Julie has been PI on seven externally funded awards totaling $3,864,799 and Co-PI four externally funded awards totaling $30.14 million. Julie has 22 peer-reviewed publications, 58 peer-reviewed presentations, and has chaired or co-chaired 17 doctoral students.

Sanikan Wattanawongwan, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, was a former project director and now serves as a Senior Project Advisor for the C2C project. She is an Assistant Professor of the Applied Behavior Analysis Program at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.  Dr. Wattanawongwan has provided services for individuals with autism in Thailand and the United States in school, clinic, and home settings. She received her doctorate at Texas A&M University, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Her current research interest focuses on coaching families and paraprofessionals of individuals with autism to use evidence-based behavioral strategies to enhance communication and social skills.

Dr. Amarachi Yoro is an experienced parent coach for the C2C project. She is a Doctor of Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavioral Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is particularly interested in parent coaching and support to improve and increase parent-child communication using naturalistic intervention strategies. Her research is focused on providing culturally responsive practices for culturally diverse families of children with autism.

Language proficiency: English & Nigerian Igbo

Birdie is the founding project director for C2C, and continues to provide their expertise to the C2C program as a project consultant.  They were a professor of special education at Texas A&M University from 2008-2023, and joined the faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2023. Their research focuses on working with natural communication partners to improve communication in individuals with autism.

Language proficiency: English

Pronouns: They/them/their

Wen-hsuan Chang, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Texas A&M University. Drawing on her experience providing services to individuals with disabilities in both Taiwan and the United States, Dr. Chang’s research endeavors to identify family-related factors that affect youth with disabilities. Additionally, she is committed to developing evidence-based practices that equip families with the tools they need to support their children, ultimately enhancing the children’s postschool outcomes.

Anindita Banerjee became a Parent Coach for C2C during Fall, 2022. She is a doctoral student in the Educational Psychology department with a specialization in Special Education at Texas A&M University. She is entrusted with the responsibility of coaching parents and sharing behavior strategies to help kids with autism and complex communication needs develop skills to improve and practice their social communication more lucidly. Anindita served as a teacher interventionist as well as Homeroom teacher to elementary and primary level students with various developmental and intellectual disabilities for five years after earning a masters degree of Sociology with specialization in child psychology. Her main research interest focuses on communication related behavioral interventions for minimally and/or nonverbal children with autism and complex communication needs.

Language proficiency: English, Hindi & Bengali

Merly Hughes serves as a Parent Coach for the C2C Project. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Psychology specializing in School Psychology at Texas A&M University. Merly holds a Masters degree in Special Education and a Specialist degree in School Psychology and is a Licensed School Psychologist in the state of Texas. She has experience working in the public school setting levels from preschool to high school as well as working with children with multiple disabilities. Her research interests are MDR decision making styles involving bilingual children with ASD and ADHD.

Gloria Moctezuma, M.Ed., serves as the Assessment Coordinator and Parent Coach for the C2C Project. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University, specializing in School Psychology. Gloria has worked in school settings supporting students with ASD and addressing individual learning needs. She has also received training in autism evaluations under the supervision of Dr. Cynthia Riccio and continues to build her skills in assessment and intervention. Her research interests center on school belonging, bilingual students, and the role of language and cultural factors in student well-being and academic success.

Language proficiency: English & Spanish

Kimberly Williams has provided support to Special Education research and outreach projects at Texas A&M University since 2007, ensuring compliance with all participant protection expectations, and support for project staff.