Committees

Ambassador's Committee

The Ambassador's Committee aims to disseminate information about ABA to relevant groups outside our field, with a set introduction to ABA that can be presented to any group followed by a short presentation about the application of ABA relevant to that group. We are working on materials and selecting target audiences right now and would love your assistance. If you are interested in either preparing materials or presenting to audiences, please fill out the form below and we will contact you shortly.

Want to get involved? Email us at [email protected]

School Committee

ORABA's School Committee is dedicated to help Oregon public schools gain access to ABA providers and support for students and teachers currently receiving ABA services, as well as participating in local collaboration groups and assisting with the creation of formal procedures related to ABA in schools.

Want to get involved? Email us at [email protected]

Conference Committee

ORABA's conference committee organizes our yearly ABA conference (in October) and includes planning all aspects of the event (theme, guest speakers, location, food, sponsors, parent and student opportunities, materials, brochure, CEU setup, etc.) It meets approximately once a month via zoom.

Want to get involved? Email us at [email protected]

Public Policy Committee

This committee is working on legal issues related to the regulation of the practice of ABA in the state.

Want to get involved? Email us at [email protected]

DEI

Committee

ORABA's DEI Committee is dedicated to supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in ORABA as well as in the practice of ABA in the state of Oregon.  

Want to get involved? Email us at [email protected]

Sam Garcia
Public Policy Committee Co-Chair
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Sam received his Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism from The Sage Colleges, Esteves School of Education, in 2014. Sam has over 16 years of experience working with individuals with developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  Sam is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in Oregon. Prior to moving to Oregon in 2019 Sam has worked as a Clinical Manager with the ABRITE Organization in the Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. Sam currently serves as Assistant Clinical Director providing ABA services within the mid-Willamette Valley. Sam’s clinical interests continue to concentrate on language acquisition in children, natural environment teaching and staff training. Sam also enjoys fishing, hiking and biking with his family and friends.

Miranda Drake
Public Policy Committee Chair
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 Miranda Drake (she/her) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with her B.A. Theatre and Psychology from The College of Idaho and her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. She has worked with Therapeutic Pathways/The Kendall Centers since 2017 and is currently a Remote Clinical Supervisor. Prior to moving back to Oregon, she held the position of Site Coordinator of the East Bay Kendall Center in Dublin, CA. Before working with Therapeutic Pathways, Miranda worked at Victory Academy in Wilsonville, OR as a Lead Teacher and BCaBA. Miranda began providing early intervention services in 2006 and has worked in the field of ABA in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Australia. Miranda is especially interested in behavior analytic interventions for the acquisition of complex verbal repertoires including humor skills and utilizing ACT in providing compassionate and comprehensive caregiver training and staff supervision. She has a demonstrated passion for the dissemination of behavioral science as a producer and host of the science podcast Why We Do What We Do from 2016-2019.  She has presented on the topics of humor and language as well as post-natal feeding interventions at ABAI, CalABA, and WIBA conferences. In addition to all things ABA, Miranda enjoys reading, comedy, watching birds, doing yoga, cooking yummy food, and being Alfie and Leo's mom.

Nirvana Kowlessar 
Ambassador Committee Co-Chair
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Nirvana Kowlessar has been in the field of ABA for 11 years. She received her BA in Biology in 2011, and worked up to a Master’s Degree in Teaching and ABA in 2015. In 2010, she began working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as a Behavior Technician, providing direct support to individuals and families impacted by autism and felt compelled to stay and grow in the field. She now owns and operates her own clinical practice, Mighty Oak ABA, based in the SE Portland area. 
Nirvana is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in Oregon and has worked in Oregon since 2016. Her professional interests include advocacy for parents and families with autistic individuals, OBM, having completed multiple Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) courses program through Florida Institute of Technology, and representing ABA with a dynamic lens of inclusion, diversity, acceptance, and compassion. Outside of ABA, Nirvana treks all over the PNW nature with her husband, 3 year old son, and their dog, Dutch, while looking for a good donut or strong cup of local coffee.

Lauren Saunders

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Co-Chair
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Lauren is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Portland. Lauren attended Stephen F Austin State University in Texas and earned her MA degree in psychology with a focus on exposure to nature, mindfulness, and expressions of empathy. Lauren started her career as a behavioral health specialist for adults with cognitive disabilities and complex medical needs. While in that role, she completed ABA coursework through the University of North Texas and became a BCBA in 2017. Following her love for trees and mountains, Lauren moved to Oregon in 2018 with her partner, dogs, and rabbit. Lauren values accountability, reform, and challenging the status quo.

Nichelle
Student Representative
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Nichelle just graduated with distinction from Capella University in June 2022 with a masters in psychology and specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis. She is passionate about serving and uplifting the BIPOC community in any way possible. She is a PNW native, raised on Whidbey Island, WA, but has been living in Oregon for the past 11 years. When I am not working, Nichelle can be found cuddling her cat, exploring new music, or soaking up the sun. 

 Kensy
Student Representative
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Kensy received her bachelors of science in Psychology from the University of Ghana in West Africa. She is currently obtaining her masters in Behavior Analysis at the Oregon Institute of Technology, and works as a Behavior Technician at the Behavior Improvement Group ABA Clinic in Klamath Falls. Outside of ABA, Kensy likes to curl up with a good book and document occasional epiphanies. 

Kumulani
Student Representative
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For as long as she can remember, Kumulani has always been fascinated by human development. Her love for working with children came from growing up in a large family and always being surrounded by the younger generation. In 2020, She earned her B.A. in Communication Studies along with a minor in Sociology as well as a certificate in Educational Studies, from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. She has had the opportunity to work with elementary, middle, and high school students in the Special Education department at local public schools in Hawaii. After graduating, Kumulani moved to Oregon with plans to continue her education in Applied Behavior Analysis. She currently works for Lindegard Therapy as a Registered Behavior Analysis Interventionist as well as the Scheduler for both location. Prior to working for Lindegard Therapy, Kumulani gained previous experience providing home-based ABA throughout the Portland metro area.