Emily L Baxter
Assistant Professor
Education
PhD in School Psychology, Syracuse University
MA in Psychology with an Emphasis in Behavior Analysis, UNCW
BA in Psychology, University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)
Specialization in Teaching
My teaching focuses on applied behavior analysis, learning, and supervision of clinical practice. I teach across the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels in courses such as Learning and Behavior Change, Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis, and Practicum and Internship in ABA. My teaching emphasizes competency-based training, applied skill development, and data-driven decision-making. I am particularly interested in mentoring students through direct research and practicum supervision, helping them bridge conceptual knowledge with applied clinical work in community and educational settings.
Research Interests
My research examines how behavioral principles can be applied to promote meaningful and lasting behavior change across both human-operant and applied settings. I focus on behavioral relapse, caregiver training, community-based behavioral interventions, and the practical training of future behavior analysts.
Through my community-engaged research at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, I study how interventions can be designed to reduce relapse of problem behavior and strengthen skill acquisition in natural environments such as homes, schools, and clinics. I also investigate effective methods for training and supervising graduate students and practitioners in applied behavior analysis, emphasizing competency-based instruction and performance feedback.
Additional lines of my research explore the integration of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) processes into behavior-analytic interventions and the development of classroom behavior management strategies that are both data-driven and feasible for educators. Across all areas of my work, I am guided by a commitment to translational research, community partnership, and the preparation of highly skilled, compassionate practitioners.
Professional Service
I am actively involved in professional service at the departmental, university, and national levels. At UNCW, I serve on the Faculty Senate, the Center for Teaching Excellence Advisory Board, and the Institutional Review Board. I chair the Awards Committee and have served on the Executive Committee for the American Psychological Association Division 25 (Behavior Analysis), and I hold leadership roles in the Southeastern Association for Behavior Analysis as Sponsorship Coordinator and former Program Chair. I am on the editorial board of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, and am an Associate Editor for the Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin. My service efforts center on advancing diversity, inclusion, mentorship, and the visibility of behavioral science within professional organizations.
Community Engagement
My work extends beyond campus through collaborative partnerships that apply behavioral science to community needs. I have partnered with the Autism Society of North Carolina, Roger Bacon Academy, DC Virgo and other local agencies to design caregiver and teacher training programs focused on effective classroom management and behavioral intervention. I currently serve on the New Hanover County Health and Human Services Board as a Licensed Psychologist representative. My community-based projects aim to make evidence-based behavioral practices accessible, practical, and sustainable for families, educators, and service providers in the greater Wilmington area.
Honors & Awards
Charles L. Cahill Grant, UNCW (2025) – Awarded $6,000 to conduct research on the behavioral, cognitive, and physiological effects of awareness training to decrease speech disfluencies. This was completed in collaboration with Drs. Karen Daniels and Carole Van Camp.
Community-Based Learning and Scholarship Grant, UNCW (2024) – Co-PI on a $7,500 project with the Autism Society of North Carolina to create RBT training modules. This was completed in collaboration with Dr. Carole Van Camp.
Charles L. Cahill Grant, UNCW (2023) – Awarded $6,000 for a caregiver training project in the Wilmington community.
Community Engagement Grant, UNCW (2023) – Awarded $5,000 to develop teacher training in classroom management and direct instruction. This was completed in collaboration with Dr. Catherine Williams.