Johanna Higgins

Dr. Johanna Higgins is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. She specializes in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism, with a focus on caregiver support for families of children at risk for or diagnosed with autism.

• Education:
  • B.S., Communication Sciences and Disorders, The College of Wooster
  • M.Ed. and Ph.D., Early Intervention Program (Autism specialization), University of Pittsburgh

Her research centers on naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions and caregiver training via technology-based platforms. She has contributed to publications in Journal of Early Intervention, Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, and Young Exceptional Children, with recent work exploring:

• Home visitation quality improvement
• Mobile technology for behavioral data collection
• Online caregiver training modules
• Collaborative teaming in early intervention

Dr. Higgins has received recognition including the Student of the Year Award (2012) and a LEND Fellowship (2009–2011). Her grant work includes:

• Co-PI, IT-EIVIS Grant (2021–2026, $993,543)
• PI, Nebraska EDN Professional Upgrade Partnership (2019–2020, $41,441)

She teaches courses in special education practices and applied behavior analysis at the graduate level.