May 7, 2025

Sarah Ibrahim’s completion of the Applied Behavior Analysis program taught her more than just skills to use in her eventual career as a Healthcare Manager. It gave her a connection to the community, working with kids all over the city and allowing her to apply things from the classroom to real world engagement. When asked about the translation from classroom to career, she emphasized the head start she gained from her experience.

How has/did your experience at Drexel University School of Education help you grow professionally?

My experience with the School of Education assisted with my professional growth by fostering a professional environment where I was able to network with professionals that are actively in the field. It also assisted with developing my knowledge of evidence-based interventions that I was able to apply within my career.

Can you share a specific moment or achievement that highlights your time at Drexel?

One moment that highlights my time at Drexel was serving as the Vice President for the Drexel Student Council for Exceptional Children. Being on this council allowed me to connect with the community by hosting student-led events and volunteering at the Philadelphia Zoo on Autism Day. It was helpful to understand the need for resources in the community which confirmed the importance of me getting a degree that focused on behavioral support to increase those resources.

How has/did the program prepare you for your current role or career advancement?

The program has assisted me in my current role by applying evidence-based methods to improving behaviors and processes. One specific change was made with our new hire training. My research project was to determine the effect that Behavioral Skills Training (BST) had on quality assurance and the project showed to be effective. Now, all new hires under me follow a BST method to be trained in operational workflows. This implementation has prepared me to function in roles higher than my current manager role.

What aspects of Drexel’s approach to education do you find most impactful?

The incorporation of real-life experience was the most helpful to me. Discussing various theories from known theorists such as Skinner or Pavlov, and then applying their findings to clients or students we were supporting was helpful to understand their theories, but to also see that interventions are not one size fits all. Each child needed to be approached individually even if they shared a common diagnosis with other clients under our care.

How have/did the faculty and resources at Drexel influence your educational journey?

In general, all my professors were supportive and had a genuine concern with us grasping the material. I found that my time at Drexel had a deep influence on my career goals and how I wanted to use this education to acquire behavioral licenses and start an ABA business. One professor that continues to serve as an influence is Dr. Connell. With his encouragement, I received supervision to become a licensed behavioral specialist which I successfully achieved in October. He has also spent over a year providing me with supervision to become a BCBA which I am nearly complete. Along with another classmate, we are also in the process of starting a non-profit organization that will provide ABA support. Much of this ambition came from my time at Drexel being able to interact with professors and also visit schools to see that more resources are needed to support the community.