Natalia A. Baires
Clinical Assistant Professor & Online Program Director (PH.D., BCBA-D)
Program Affiliation: Behavior Analysis Therapy
Office: Life Science II 281 (MC 6502)
Phone: 618-453-3529
natalia.baires@siu.edu
Specializations:
Development of language and cognition via relating, behavioral and psychological flexibility/well-being, increasing compassionate care within behavior-analytic services and supervision/mentorship, social justice/equity, cultural responsiveness for racially/ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse individuals.
Dr. Natalia Baires (pronounced "by-res") is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Online Program Director for the Behavior Analysis and Therapy program. A doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), Dr. Baires has published on observational learning and the importance of distinctions between open- and closed-ended indirect assessments with her former thesis advisor, Dr. Mitch Fryling, and on sexism from a behavior-analytic perspective with her former dissertation advisor, Dr. D. Shane Koch.
Dr. Baires has conducted numerous symposia, poster presentations, and panels at national and international conferences within behavior science on topics such as the limited representation of Latina faculty in behavior analysis programs, pay disparity among behavior-analytic practitioners, contextual speech analyses of political discourses, increasing social skills in adults with autism via observational learning, and more. Additionally, Dr. Baires has conducted invited presentations in Spanish for caregivers of individuals with autism to inform on supports based in Applied Behavior Analysis and how such caregivers can maintain self-care and self-compassion during COVID-19 using an Acceptance and Commitment Training/Therapy (ACT) approach. Dr. Baires has also collaborated in providing an interdisciplinary workshop in Spanish for caregivers of individuals with autism to discuss adolescence and related topics, as well as an invited workshop for teaching direct support providers how to incorporate ACT into their professional roles.
Dr. Baires completed the Illinois Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) fellowship program, participated in SIU's Women's Civic Institute, and served as a student representative for the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science's (ACBS) Women Special Interest Group (SIG). Dr. Baires serves on numerous boards of directors within behavior science including Board Member at Large and Chair of the Illinois Association for Behavior Analysis's (ILABA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, Board Member at Large (with a DEI focus) of the Southern California Chapter of the ACBS, and co-chair for the American Psychological Association Division 25’s (Behavior Analysis) DEI Committee. Currently, Dr. Baires is a member of the California Association for Behavior Analysis, Association for Behavior Analysis International, ACBS, ILABA, and the American Psychological Association, and is an ally member of Black Applied Behavior Analysts.
In her role as an educator and advisor, Dr. Baires is committed to infusing social justice and behavior analysis within her pedagogy and curricula for future behavior scientists. Dr. Baires continuously attempts to create engaging and conducive learning environments for her students who are training to become behavior analysts/scientists, while embedding humility, compassion, and authenticity.
Educational History:
Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology (specialization in Behavior Analysis and Therapy) - Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 2020
Master of Science, Counseling (Applied Behavior Analysis option) - California State University, Los Angeles, 2015
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Chicana/o Studies - California State University, Northridge, 2012