Our Staff
Tony Smith
Executive Director
Tony Smith joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2020. He brings with him 10 years of executive leadership with organizations that provide services for youth in the DMV region. Tony graduated from the University of Maryland in 2014 with his BA in Economics.
Dr. Amber Shriver, PhD, BCBA, LBA
Co-Clinical Director
Dr. Amber Shriver joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2017. She has over seven years of experience providing behavioral support to children in clinic, home and school settings. She received a Master of the Arts in Applied Developmental Psychology from George Mason University, a Master of Education in Special Education from George Mason University, and a PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology from George Mason University. She specializes in working with families to help children learn executive function strategies and emotional regulation. Additionally she has served as an adjunct member of the faculty at The Catholic University of America, George Mason University and George Washington University.
Her research interests are in the application of nutrition and healthy lifestyle programs to support children and their families in managing behaviors and moods; as well as behavioral interventions with a focus on executive functions (i.e., cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and working memory) and emotional regulation. She believes in a holistic and comprehensive approach to the treatment of developmental and behavior disorders during childhood with an emphasis on family functioning.
Her research interests are in the application of nutrition and healthy lifestyle programs to support children and their families in managing behaviors and moods; as well as behavioral interventions with a focus on executive functions (i.e., cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and working memory) and emotional regulation. She believes in a holistic and comprehensive approach to the treatment of developmental and behavior disorders during childhood with an emphasis on family functioning.
Nirina Andriani, MA, BCBA, LBA
Co-Clinical Director
Nirina Andriani joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2020. She has over 6 years of experience in the field of ABA. She received her bachelors degree in psychology at American University in Washington D.C., and obtained her Masters in psychology with a concentration in ABA at Capella University. She enjoys working within the pediatric population and loves to implement naturalistic teaching procedures.
Natalie Tucker, MEd, BCBA, LBA
Co-Clinical Director
|
Natalie Tucker joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2020. She has over 12 years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. She received a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing science from Arizona State University in 2008. Following graduation, she moved to Austin, Texas and worked at a school for children
with autism. While there, she was able to utilize the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and realized the success it has on individuals with autism. She then decided to pursue BCBA course work and received a master’s degree in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University in 2012. She has had the privilege of working with individuals with autism in both the school, home and clinic settings. She is a licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Virginia and Arizona. |
Dr. Lucia Stillerova, PhD
Director of Parent Training and Research
|
Dr. Lucia Stillerova joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2018. She has over two years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. She received her PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology from George Mason University and her Master of the Arts in Clinical Psychology from University of St. Cyril and Methodius. She has presented her research at national conferences, and published in international journals. She also serves as a part-time faculty member at George Mason University. Her research focuses on social–emotional teaching and learning in early childhood development.
|
Sonya Allen, MA
ABA Program Director
Sonya Allen joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2019. She has over ten years of experience providing home-based Mental Health Skill Building services. She has a MBA from Strayer University.
Valerie Leigh Matson, RBT
Non-ABA Program Director
|
Valerie Leigh Matson joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2018. She has over 2.5 years of experience providing behavioral support to children and young adults in multiple settings, to include: in-home, in-clinic, school, and virtual settings. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Maryland's University College. She is currently completing her Master of Art’s degree in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience at George Mason University. She is also works as a teaching assistant at George Mason teaching numerous labs in an array of classes under the psychology concentration. Additionally, she is a prior active-duty Air Force with more than 12.5 years of active service as a paralegal.
Valerie is passionate in early childhood and young adulthood behavior. She stresses emphasis on families working as a whole unit, specifically on family function and behavior changes by applying treatment for development and behavioral disorders in both early childhood and young adults transitioning to adulthood and “real world”. Her research interests in cognitive behavioral neuroscience include deception and conflict monitoring in the brain. |
Meghan Cook, BCBA, LBA, MAT
BCBA
|
Meghan Cook joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2018. She has over 8 years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She graduated from James Madison University in 2013 with a Master's degree. She received a post-graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from George Mason University in 2017. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces, and educating people about the neurodivergent community. When she is not working, she enjoys playing board games and spending time with her cats.
|
Abigail Weaver, MEd
Practicum Student
|
Abigail Weaver joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2021. She has over two years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. She graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent 2018 with a Bachelors degree is Psychology; and from George Mason University with a Masters degree in Special Education in 2020. During her Masters program she was a part of The Honor Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement, and The Honor Society for Education.
|
Ivan Wilson, RBT
Practicum Student
|
Ivan Wilson joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2019. He has over ten years of experience in working as an RBT. He has a bachelor's degree from Radford University. He loves to work with special needs individuals, and to support families through managing a variety of behavioral issues. He is originally from Baltimore, MD, and he has been living in Northern Virginia for about 12 years. He is currently enrolled in University of West Florida’s ABA program. He has an interest in helping students with AAC devices, and learning skills to be able to help them increase their ability to communicate with others.
|
Christina Smith
RBT
|
Christina Smith joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2019. She has over two years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. She has lived in Prince William County her entire life, and currently lives in Dumfries with her husband and 3 children. Prior to working at Pathways she was a preschool teacher. She looks enjoys watching the children thrive in their natural environment and working together with families to improve everyday routines.
|
Leonard Ross
RBT
|
Leonard Ross joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2018. He has over 3 years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He earned his Bachelors degree from Voorhees College in South Carolina. He enjoys working 1:1 with his client providing direct therapy as they learn and grow together each day. Nothing is more rewarding to him then seeing his clients overcome their challenges and gain pride in themselves. When he is not working with his clients he enjoys playing basketball, listening to music and spending time with his daughter.
|
Maxine Bailey
RBT
|
Maxine Bailey joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2020. She is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park pursuing a major in Psychology, and a minor in General Business. She is very passionate about working with children; and learning about human behavior and the way the brain functions.
|
De'Stanye Swittenberg
ABA Therapist
De'Stanye Swittenberg joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2018. She has over three years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. She enjoys using her skills to contribute to the benefit and progress of children with Autism and other developmental disorders. She is currently a Masters Student at GMU pursing her Master of Social Work to help promote positive gains for children with developmental disabilities.
Jimin Kim
ABA Therapist
|
Jimin Kim joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2020. She is currently a senior at the University of Maryland College Park studying towards her Bachelors of Science (BS) in Psychology. She is also a research lab assistant studying the impacts of racial and ethnic context on people's behaviors. In the past, she has worked as a teacher's assistant at a daycare facility. She lives in Howard County, Maryland. She likes to travel and spend time with friends and family.
|
Claire Flannery
ABA Therapist
|
Claire Flannery joined Pathways Behavioral Health in 2021. She is currently a senior at The Catholic University of America majoring in Psychology and Brain Science, and minoring in Sociology. Claire is also a current member of the university’s field hockey team. She is originally from New Jersey. Claire loves helping children reach their maximum potential to excel in different environments.
|
