Elizabeth Kelly

Elizabeth Kelly, PhD, BCBA, serves as Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Alliant International University's California School of Education. With 15 years of clinical experience supporting individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, she integrates field expertise into academic training for future behavior analysts.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis from University of Washington (2021)
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification

Dr. Kelly's research critically examines ethical frameworks in behavior analysis through dual lenses of social validity and quality-of-life outcomes. She pioneers methodologies for direct consumer inclusion in research design and advocates for person-centered metrics beyond traditional behavior reduction targets. Her work fundamentally challenges the field to prioritize subjective well-being as a core dependent variable.

Analysis of her 2021-2024 publications reveals three dominant trajectories: ethical decision-making processes (evident in 4 articles), pandemic-driven adaptations of telehealth services (3 articles), and social validity assessment protocols (2 articles). These intersect at the nexus of practitioner ethics, family-centered care, and evidence-based innovation in developmental disability services.

Dr. Kelly co-authored the foundational text "Ethical Decision Making in Applied Behavior Analysis" and actively disseminates research through national conferences. As Program Coordinator, she oversees curriculum development and student mentorship in ABA certification pathways, emphasizing real-world application of ethical principles across clinical, educational, and community settings.