David Schena

David Schena is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Eastern Illinois University, specializing in autism spectrum disorders and neurodiverse transitions to adulthood. His research emphasizes skill development in self-advocacy, financial literacy, and daily living for autistic individuals.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Applied Psychology and Prevention Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell (2023)
• M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis, University of Massachusetts Lowell (2022)
• B.S. in Brain and Behavioral Science, Purdue University (2019)

Research Focus: Dr. Schena's work centers on evidence-based interventions for neurodiverse populations, prioritizing participant perspectives in research design. His methodology integrates behavioral analysis with community-based participatory approaches to address gaps in adult transition support systems.

Publication Trends: Recent publications (2020-2023) consistently address autism spectrum disorders through behavioral lenses, with recurring themes in adult transition challenges, self-advocacy training, and life-skills coaching. Collaborative work with Dr. Amy Hillier dominates his output, appearing in specialized journals like Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Advances in Autism, reflecting strong ties to clinical behavior analysis communities.

Professional Engagement: Active in American Psychological Association Divisions 25 (Behavior Analysis) and 33 (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities), plus the Association for Behavior Analysis International, demonstrating commitment to translating research into practical behavioral interventions.