Tara Sheehan

Tara Sheehan, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor and Program Administrator in the Department of Human Services at Nova Southeastern University's Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Her research focuses on effective supervision, parent training, behavior momentum theory, and behavioral economics, with a clinical emphasis on severe behavior disorders in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Florida International University and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 20 years of experience in applied behavioral interventions.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Florida International University (2014)
• M.S. in Psychology, Florida International University (2006)
• B.S. in Psychology & B.A. in English, State University of New York at Albany (2000)

Research Interests: Dr. Sheehan’s work spans clinical and translational research, emphasizing evidence-based practices for individuals with ASD and related disabilities. She has collaborated on NIH-funded projects exploring behavioral persistence and intervention strategies in educational and clinical settings. Her recent work includes interdisciplinary studies to improve access to dental care for ASD patients through behavior management techniques.

Awards: None explicitly listed.

Advising & Grants: Dr. Sheehan has coordinated academic programs (e.g., Autism Consortium Program, Mailman Segal Center) and supervised clinical initiatives. Her professional experience includes roles as a clinical supervisor, adjunct professor, and behavior analyst across multiple institutions.

Labs & Teams: Active in Nova Southeastern University’s Severe Behavior Disorders Program and the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development, focusing on translational research and clinical training.