Christopher Walmsley

Christopher Walmsley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. He holds a PhD in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University, where his dissertation focused on memory deficits in older adults. Prior to this, he earned his M.A. in Behavior Analysis and B.A. in Psychology (Summa Cum Laude) from Western Michigan University and the University of New Hampshire, respectively.

His educational background includes a focus on radical behaviorism and its applications in contemporary contexts. His professional credentials include Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Doctoral (BCBA-D).

Dr. Walmsley’s research interests center on behavioral gerontology, ethical conduct in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and the challenges faced by practitioners in clinical settings. He explores how structured activities impact well-being in aging populations and advocates for evidence-based practices to counter pseudoscientific interventions in memory care. Specific research areas include memory intervention generalization, decision-making models for practitioners, and adaptive functioning assessments for older adults with neurocognitive loss.

His articles highlight trends in aging-related behavioral interventions, ethical decision-making processes, and ABA applications for developmental disabilities. Notable publications include works on spaced retrieval techniques and ethical comparisons between experts and novices.

• Scientific Awards:
• Assigned Time for Exceptional Service to Students, Humboldt State University (2017)
• Graduate Student Travel Grant, Western Michigan University ($700, 2015 and 2012)
• Graduate Student Research Grant, Western Michigan University ($975, 2011)

In advising, Dr. Walmsley has supervised master’s projects such as 'Surveying Levels of Staff Burnout Among ABA Practitioners' and 'Teaching Conversation Skills Using BST and Video Modeling Via Telehealth.' His grants include research and travel support from Western Michigan University. He is affiliated with the Behavior Analysis and Aging Lab (located in BSS 406), dedicated to advancing behavioral gerontology research.