McNeese Autism Program

12/02/2025

Giving Tuesday is a wonderful chance to support programs that directly impact SWLA. A small gift to the SWLA Out of the Darkness Walk can help expand su***de prevention education, resources, and healing across our community.

Please support the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention to help save lives and bring hope to those affected by su***de. Donate or register to walk!

11/19/2025

Tonight’s the night! Dine in at Jason’s Deli on Ryan St to support the McNeese Autism Program! You can also order online and use code FUND20.

Thank you in advance for supporting the work our BCBAs, Interns and RBTs do to impact lives. 💛

11/19/2025

MAP November News:
✨ Staff Spotlight: Sofia Melville ✨

💙💛 Sofia’s journey with us began when she was still an undergraduate student, but it didn’t take long for her to prove that her presence at MAP was more than a passing step. In a remarkably short time, she graduated and fully committed to joining the Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis program, choosing our clinic as her clinical home this semester. That decision alone speaks volumes about her dedication to the science and to the families we serve.

What truly sets Sofia apart is the intentionality she brings into every space she enters. She is exceptionally caring, deeply thoughtful, and impressively well-read. Her observational skills are central to competent behavior analytic practice. It shows up in the way she notices the small but meaningful behavioral shifts in our clients, attends to subtle environmental variables, and responds with clinical precision rather than assumption.

But beyond her technical strengths, Sofia is simply a kind person. She chooses her words with care, interacts with both clients and colleagues with respect and humility, and brings an unwavering diligence to everything she touches. Even in high-stress, fast-moving situations (the ones we know all too well in this field), she adapts with grace, flexibility, and a quiet confidence that strengthens the teams around her.

Sofia’s growth has been beautiful to witness. She is perfectly captured in these photos: confident, poised, and aligned with her path. And she is more than perfectly positioned on her route toward genuine professional greatness.

Sofia, we are proud of you. We admire your loyalty, your consistency, and the heart you bring to this work every day. Should you ever need us the way you have so effortlessly shown up for MAP, please know the feeling is mutual, and we are here for you just as fully.

Thank you for being an integral part of our mission, our culture, and our future. 💙💛

11/16/2025

MAP November News:
✨Staff Spotlight: Nadia Marrero Maring ✨

Today, we are honored to highlight someone whose presence at the McNeese Autism Program has already made a profound impact: Nadia.
This is one of those rare cases where we can openly say that we’re holding on as tightly as possible. Nadia represents everything we hope to cultivate in future clinicians, leaders, and scientist-practitioners. And the best part? She arrived already embodying so many of these qualities.

From the beginning, Nadia has always had a curious mind; the kind that doesn’t settle for surface-level answers, but seeks understanding, clarity, and truth. She is effortlessly kind and compassionate with every single person she interacts with, and she shows up with a level of dedication that is rare even among seasoned professionals.

As an Undergraduate Registered Line Technician (RLT) at MAP, Nadia consistently delivers high-quality behavioral services to our learners. She is methodical and intentional in everything she does. Nothing is done halfway. Nothing is done without thought. Her commitment to excellence shows in the way she prepares, the way she communicates, and the way she supports her clients with both scientific precision and genuine human care.

Beyond her work at MAP, Nadia is also the President of McNeese’s Psi Chi International Honor Society (a role she holds with the same grace, diligence, and leadership she brings to every environment she enters). Even before she joined us, she proactively sought out opportunities, mentors, and resources to set herself up for success in the psychological sciences. That initiative is exactly why she stands out. She doesn’t wait to be great-she prepares for it.

Nadia is someone who keeps her commitments because she is thoughtful about what she promises. She’s methodical not to restrict herself, but to ensure she never has to look back and wonder if she could’ve done more. That kind of integrity is the foundation of truly remarkable clinicians.

She also exhibits something that can never be taught:
a real, innate motivation to help people.
Compassion and curiosity like hers come from a beautiful place within, and it’s a place that fuels lifelong learning, setting her up for the kind of professional in the future, who changes lives.

We are especially proud to share that upon graduation, Nadia will be joining our ABA Master’s Program to pursue becoming a future Board Certified Behavior Analyst. And we already know what kind of analyst she will be:
A thoughtful, methodical scientist-practitioner.
A compassionate, steady clinician.
The kind who elevates the field by caring just as deeply as she thinks.

Nadia, MAP is truly honored to have your presence, your diligence, and your commitment.
We are proud of the leader you already are, and even more excited about the leader you are becoming. Your growth is something we cannot wait to continue witnessing! 💙💛

11/12/2025

MAP November News:
✨Staff Spotlight: Malik Scott ✨

Let’s shift the focus to someone who has truly grown alongside the McNeese Autism Program—Malik Scott!

Malik has been part of the MAP family ever since he began his undergraduate degree at McNeese, and from day one, he’s been one of the kindest souls you’ll ever meet. His compassion radiates not only through the way he supports our learners during sessions, but also in how he interacts with every single person around him. There’s a calmness and understanding in the way he approaches people that reminds us what it truly means to connect before you correct.

Over the years, Malik has assisted on multiple direct client care teams, contributed to data collection and target development, and even participated in programming meetings—offering thoughtful insight on what he’s observed in sessions. He’s also been an invaluable member of our Super Start Social Skills Team, where his natural empathy and patience have helped create meaningful moments for so many of our learners.

If you ask any of our Behavior Analysts, they’ll tell you the same thing: Malik is a natural. In fact, we have been gently (…while some more aggressively) trying to convince him to join our Applied Behavior Analysis graduate program here at McNeese! However, Malik’s heart is currently set on counseling—and honestly, we can all see why. His ability to listen deeply and create safe, supportive spaces is something truly special.

Still… we can’t help but imagine what a superhero he’d be if he were both a Behavior Analyst and a Counselor—and if anyone could pull that off, it would be Malik!

As he prepares to graduate this December, we’re all feeling that bittersweet mix of pride and disbelief. It’s hard to imagine MAP without him, but we know that wherever life takes him next, he’ll bring the same kindness, intelligence, and dedication that have made him such an integral part of our team.

Malik, thank you for everything you’ve done—for our learners, for your colleagues, and for the energy you’ve brought to MAP. We’re endlessly proud of you and so excited to see all that you’ll accomplish. And hey… we still have a couple of months left to convince you to come to the dark side—er we mean Applied Behavior Analysis (just kidding… mostly).

Here’s to you, Malik—you’re not just good at what you do, you’re great. 💛

11/10/2025

MAP November News:
🍂 Falling for Progress—One Smile at a Time 🍂

This season, our learners reminded us that change can be beautiful—especially when it’s measured in growth. Fall is a time for transformation, and that’s exactly what we celebrate every day at the McNeese Autism Program. Each picture captures not just a moment, but the outcome of countless moments of teaching, learning, and connection.

Behind every joyful laugh and leaf toss, there are carefully crafted behavior-analytic goals being met—skills like attending, imitation, communication, social interaction, and life skills—all embedded naturally through play and positive reinforcement.

We’re grateful to our families for trusting us with these incredible little humans, and to our staff and interns whose compassion and science-based dedication make days like this possible.

Because here at MAP, progress doesn’t just happen—it’s shaped, nurtured, and celebrated. 🍁💛

11/08/2025

✨Ended the Week on a High Note! ✨

The McNeese Autism Program (MAP) had such a wonderful end to the week as we joined Freshman Foundations—a fantastic opportunity to connect with brand-new Psychology majors beginning their academic journey!

Together with our colleagues from the Kay Doré Counseling Clinic (KDCC) and several of our instructors and faculty members, we were able to share insight on the many directions a Psychology degree can take you—from counseling and clinical psychology to the ever-growing field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). We also discussed how thinking about graduate school pathways early on can make a world of difference, and our faculty shared some of their own experiences and advice for success.

At MAP, we were especially excited to highlight that students don’t have to wait until graduate school to gain real-world experience—our program offers undergraduates the opportunity to work directly alongside graduate students and Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). Through supervised, hands-on training with clients, students see firsthand how the science of behavior is applied in a clinical setting to create meaningful, measurable change. For many, this experience helps clarify whether they’re ready to contribute to a field dedicated to understanding and improving human behavior.

A huge thank-you to Dr. Matzenbacher for organizing this event and for inviting us to share both our knowledge and our passion for this field with McNeese’s newest Psychology students.

And speaking of gratitude—a warm thank-you also goes out to Ms. Angela Leonard from Frazar Memorial Library, whose generosity and kindness, alone, will make such a difference for our learners. Ms. Angela donated beautifully illustrated oversized books, a bookshelf, tables, chairs, and even a bright frog-themed rug—all perfect for our Super Start social-skills and language groups.

These large, vibrant books don’t just make story time more engaging—they serve as behavior-analytic teaching tools, helping our learners build foundational pre-verbal and language skills such as receptive identification (learning to recognize and name objects like “hippo,” “anaconda,” or “penguin”)—skills that later evolve into more complex language and concept formation.

Ms. Angela, your thoughtful contributions will bring joy and learning to so many young minds, and we can’t wait to see our learners’ excitement when they discover everything in place on Monday! 💛 (as you ca see the adults are clealry excited for the big books here too)!

We are endlessly grateful for our campus partnerships and the support that allows our program to keep doing what it does best—changing lives through science, compassion, and collaboration.

11/03/2025

MAP November News:

✨October Employee of the Month: Jordan Daigle✨

Jordan’s professional growth within MAP has been extraordinary to watch. Beginning his journey with us as an undergraduate freshman years ago, he has since returned as a graduate intern and graduate assistant—fully dedicated to advancing his training and becoming a future Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Jordan embodies the core values of applied behavior analysis: compassion, accountability, and precision. He brings a level of emotional intelligence and consistency to his work that enhances not only client outcomes but also team morale. He is intentional with his words, thoughtful in his actions, and genuinely invested in the wellbeing of those around him.

In addition to providing high-quality direct services, Jordan has played a key role in the dissemination and implementation of MAP’s training curriculum. As an active member of the Training Team, he has helped deliver onboarding content, trained new Registered Line Technicians and interns, and contributed to ensuring that skill acquisition and session fidelity remain at the forefront of our training model.

Jordan’s expanding interest in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) reflects his systems-level mindset—he continues to explore ways to improve programming fidelity, staff performance, and long-term retention outcomes across our organization.

🌿 Fun fact: Jordan also has an incredible green thumb! He’s become our unofficial plant whisperer—making sure that the greenery around MAP thrives just as much as the people and programs he nurtures.

We are so grateful to have Jordan on our team. His compassion, professionalism, and commitment to excellence make him a true asset to MAP and to our field. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved recognition! 💙

11/02/2025

11/02/2025

Each Halloween, our campus transforms into something extraordinary—not just a maze of costumes and candy, but a living reminder of what makes this university feel like home: connection.

This year’s Campus Candy Crawl was a true collaboration across departments, and we’re deeply grateful to every team who welcomed our clients and staff with open doors (and even wider candy bowls). From Athletics to Frasch Hall, your creativity, kindness, and humor turned a simple event into a campus-wide act of community care. 💛

🧩 With heartfelt appreciation to:
Fieldhouse Athletics • Alumni Office • Office of University Advancement • Facilities/Maintenance • MSU Police Department • Student Central Office • College of Agriculture • President’s Office • Provost’s Office • IRE South • Nursing & Health Professions • Psychology and Counseling at Hardtner • IT/MARCOM • VP Business Affairs • Purchasing • Human Resources • Dean’s Office • Freshman Advising • English & Foreign Language • and PRIME 💙💛

Your presence reminded us that joy can be as simple as laughter echoing down a hallway, a costume that makes everyone smile, or a shared piece of candy between departments who might not otherwise cross paths.

To everyone who participated—you didn’t just celebrate Halloween. You celebrated belonging with the utmost inclusivity. 🕯️

Thank you for reminding us that collaboration can be sweet, connection can be creative, and the best kind of magic happens when we all show up for each other 💙💛

11/01/2025

10/30/2025

🎭 MAP Presents: Death Behind the Velvet Curtain 🎪
A Murder Mystery Masquerade Party—written and directed by Preyeta Hossain, Clinical Behavior Analyst (and part-time chaos coordinator).

In appreciation of our phenomenal staff and faculty, MAP threw a night of intrigue, costumes, and criminally good snacks. 🍿💀 Between popcorn bars and “Cotton Curse-y” mocktails, our detectives went full CSI: Carnival Edition.

Hosted by Tilly Caspora, Trainer of the Six Wonder Peacocks (known offstage as Preyeta)—and assisted by her ever-graceful, quick-witted host’s helper, Ethan Alleman, “The Golden Plume,” one of her prized Peacocks. Huge thanks to this guy for keeping the carnival (and its ringmaster) from spinning completely out of orbit. If Tilly brought the theatrics, The Golden Plume brought the operational excellence—and the cue signs reminding everyone exactly when to GASP. 🦚

🕯️ The Plot Thickens…
The night began with tragedy—Madame Vespera, the carnival’s fortune teller, was found dead. But this was no ordinary crime. Every performer had secrets she knew too well—and it was those very secrets that made them the prime suspects:
🎪 The Ringmaster (Jessica Snowden)
🎨 The Face Painter (Dr. Ellie Wroten)
🔮 The Fortune Teller’s Assistant (Malik Scott)
🤸‍♀️ The Acrobat (Lexi Broussard)

Detectives collected statements from a suspiciously articulate Mechanical Automaton, a Magician who couldn’t disappear fast enough, a Bearded Lady, Snake Charmer, Shadow Puppeteer, and the Tightrope Walker—all while piecing together clues left across the carnival floor.

💡 The Shocking Conclusion:
After rigorous interrogation (and one particularly incriminating glitter trail), the truth came out—our Face Painter, Dr. Ellie Wroten (Professor | Family Sciences), was guilty! *GASP*
Her crime? Embezzling prize-booth money and framing the Ringmaster.
Her motive? Madame Vespera found out and threatened to expose her.
The evidence? A torn ticket stub dusted in blue glitter that matched the Face Painter’s makeup exactly—plus a glass shard from a “crystal” ball found near the prize booth, close enough to temptation but not quite close enough to the dead body itself.

🧠 Detective of the Night:
Taylor DeWoody, Senior Behavior Analyst, used logic, deduction, and sheer MAP-trained contextual analysis to crack the case—earning the title Best Detective.

🏅 Honorary Mentions:
Alicia Gill, Ayanna Twensey, and Bailey Istre—teamwork makes the dream (and the alibi) work. “Nothing screams team building like a murder and a time limit.”

👑 Best Costume:
1️⃣Jordan Daigle, for wearing his fellow intern’s (Lexi Broussard’s) face—literally.
2️⃣ Malik Scott, for dazzling us all and managing to stay a suspect.

🎠 Spirit of the Carnival:
Scroll to the final photo to see who captured the essence of the night’s madness and awarded the title Spirit of the Carnival.

🎡 Final Bow:
To our staff and faculty—thank you for being the heart (and comedic relief) of MAP. Balancing workloads, brilliance, and a shared sense of humor takes brains (and perhaps a touch of all of our mischiefs— combined and bundled up into one).

A very special thank-you to Dr. Tom Szabo, Dr. Joanna Thompson, Dr. Will Fleming, and Dr. Ellie Wroten for taking time out of their incredibly full schedules to join in the fun and support our team. Your presence—both as mentors and as fellow participants—means more than you know. It’s easy to admire what each of you brings to our field and humanity overall; it’s even more meaningful to share laughter, storytelling, and connection (beyond the data and deadlines)!

Evenings like this remind us that community isn’t built in meetings or metrics—it’s built in moments of shared joy, creativity, and a little bit of carnival chaos. 🎭