James Connell, PhD, (Louisiana State University) Associate Professor. Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst- Doctoral. Founding Clinical Core Director, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Founding Director ABA and School Psychology graduate programs. Identifying the variables that influence adult behavior change in community settings; autism intervention; widespread dissemination of evidence-based interventions in school and community settings.
Dr. Connell has his PhD and master’s degree in School Psychology from Louisiana State University, the number 2 ranked School Psychology program in the country, and completed his studies with an American Psychological Association Internship at the May Institute in Boston. In addition, Dr. Connell is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctoral Level, and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Dr. Connell has dedicated twenty plus years to underserved populations in underserved communities. His research spans response-to-intervention, school-wide positive behavioral intervention and supports, academic level and rate of growth in K-5, education equity through proactive models of support, and consultation in community settings. In addition to general education and special education research through the lens of school psychology, Dr. Connell has numerous publications in building better interventions for those with an autism exceptionality.
Dr. Connell has significant experience as an expert witness, across multiple states and multiple age ranges, for families and organizations that serve others in educational, group home, hospital and clinical settings. He is widely published, and considered expert in the areas of autism, developmental disabilities, early intervention, and consultation to behavioral health, hospital/clinic and education agencies. Prior appointments include the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with a joint appointment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Temple University.