Welcome Dr. Naima Bhana Lopez

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Naima Bhana Lopez is joining our team as an associate editor. Naima (she/her/ella) is an assistant professor of special education and board certified behavior analyst doctoral (BCBA-D) at Niagara University in Lewiston, NY. Her scholarship is focused on developing methods to increase social-communication opportunities for young children with developmental disabilities by training natural communication partners such as family members, teachers, and paraprofessionals. Her research also seeks to improve the quality of life outcomes of ethnically and racially diverse students, teachers, and families, as well as expanding services for children with disabilities in Spanish-speaking countries.

Naima received her doctorate in special education from Penn State University and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University. She has published and presented at national and international conferences in English and Spanish on the topics of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Diversity and Equity in Special Education, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Naima has been an ardent supporter of JOSEP from early on. She has contributed as an outstanding reviewer and is an active member of the Teacher Education Division (TED) of CEC.

Welcome Naima!