Natalie Williams Awodeha | SIU

Behavior Analysis and Therapy (Online)

Originally from Oklahoma City, Dr. Williams Awodeha holds a B.A. in Psychology from The University of Oklahoma, M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling from Langston University, and Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Ohio University. She completed the BACB-approved course sequence at Florida Institute of Technology. Research interests include cultural and linguistic inclusion in ABA, employment disparities for African Americans with cognitive disabilities, and peer-to-peer support groups for women of color with mental health concerns (see CV for complete list of publications).

Dr. Williams Awodeha currently serves as a Research Associate for South Carolina State University’s 1890 Research and Extension Grant: The Effects of Horticultural Therapy with At-Risk Youth Living in a Rural Community (SCX208-02-19) USDA/NIFA, and she served as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program housed with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Research and Capacity Building for Minority Entities at Langston University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. During her doctoral studies, Dr. Williams Awodeha served as Graduate Research Assistant to the Dean of The Patton College of Education & Human Services at Ohio University in Athens. This position included a role as Project Coordinator for the Southeast Ohio Teacher Development Collaborative and the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Grant.

Academically, Dr. Williams Awodeha enjoys teaching research methods, multicultural counseling and therapy, ethics, and assessment and measurement. She has conducted peer-reviewed presentations in Kenya, Puerto Rico, and across the United States on topics ranging from employment for people with disabilities, assistive technology use among diverse populations, and integrated social skills groups for young children with autism spectrum disorder.

Dr. Williams Awodeha currently works full time as a BCBA in Seattle, Washington. She plans to gain additional experience delivering high quality ABA services to adolescents and young adults, while also pursuing the BCBA-D. She is also advocating for cultural and linguistic inclusion within the practice of ABA, along with development of culturally competent standards within practitioner preparation programs and licensing and credentialing bodies.