Kristen L. Padilla, PhD, LSSP, BCBA

Kristen L. Padilla is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology Department and serves as the Director of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD). Dr. Padilla is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Her primary scholarly interests are in the areas of behavioral assessment, behavior management, and autism spectrum disorder.

As Director of the BCDD, Dr. Padilla supervises graduate students specializing in school psychology and applied behavior analysis that provide intervention and assessment services. She also serves as the parent and community liaison, coordinates programming efforts, and works with local agencies to provide trainings in working with children with autism spectrum disorder and behavioral difficulties. She also collaborates with faculty from the Diana Garland School of Social Work to supervise social work interns at the BCDD to provide family support services. She teaches graduate courses in ethics for behavior analysis, practicum in school psychology and applied behavior analysis, and teaching children with autism and developmental disabilities.

Prior to working at Baylor University, Dr. Padilla spent several years working with children in classroom and clinic settings. She worked as an LSSP conducting intellectual, academic, and social-emotional assessments; counseling students; and providing behavior consultation.

Dr. Padilla has received several awards for her outstanding service to the field. In 2015, she received the Early Career Spotlight Award from the National Association of School Psychologists, the Outstanding School Psychologist award from the Texas Association of School Psychologists, and was named Task Supervisor of the Year by Baylor’s Diana Garland School of Social Work.