Philadelphia Metropolitan ABA – 2025 Chapter Update

By Scott O’Donnell and Art Dowdy

The Philadelphia Metropolitan Association for Behavior Analysis (PMABA) is the regional chapter of the Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The objective of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Association for Behavior Analysis (PMABA) is to provide continuing education and networking for behavior scientists in an informal setting that has the atmosphere of a social gathering. Another primary goal of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Association for Behavior Analysis is to increase cohesiveness among local behavior analysts who might otherwise be isolated as a result of working in diverse settings with service providers and researchers who are not behavior analytic, as a number of our members are the only behavior analysts at their places of employment. Our email list serve provides announcements on local PMABA events including workshops, conferences, expert speaker events as well as employment opportunities and recent legislative or advocacy issues relevant to local behavior analysts. The PMABA chapter seeks to better serve as a scientific and professional reference and networking group for its members.

This past year we were fortunate to have an expert speaker share their behavior analytic knowledge with PMABA. Javid Rahaman spoke on treatment on challenging behavior. PMABA is looking to increase the number of meetings per year back up to at least two CEU events and one Black Scorpion event.

PMABA had a special election for president. Two members ran and a clear winner was decided. The incoming president, Scott O’Donnell, is interested in restarting the Black Scorpion Events. Though Black Scorpion Society meetings, originally facilitated by Dr. Phil Hineline has slowed some due to the pandemic. Our goal is to begin Black Scorpion meetings again in the upcoming year. These events consist of local behavior analysts who gather and discuss behavior science and journal articles at a local watering hole – only a few things in life are more fun! Most often a discussant leads the conversation who often selects an article which aims to satisfy our cravings for fun and intellectual conceptual debates and discussions. Former discussant leaders have included Dr. Phil Hineline, Dr. Don Hantula and Dr. Saul Axelrod among others on a wide array of topics from consumer choice to the double agent robot procedure to deviancy training, and the future of behavior analysis.

The incoming president is also looking closely at the bylaws to check wording, insuring the message reflects our mission, and update to ensure consistency with the guidelines set forth in the ABAI manual.

PMABA chapter is led by the following executive council members: Scott O’Donnell, PhD (President Elect), Art Dowdy PhD, BCBA-D, Current President; Amanda Guld Fisher PhD BCBA-D; Past President; Beth Rosenwasser PhD, BCBA-D, Information Officer, Jessica Kendorski, Secretary PhD BCBA-D. We are always looking for members interested in getting involved in the organization by joining or, perhaps, taking on a leadership position. Please contact us using the email address provided above if you are interested.

PMABA had planned a board meeting, which was conducted in January of 2025. Some of the topics discussed included forming the organization into an official non-profit, changes to the bylaws, officer assignments, and re-establishing events.

PMABA (http://pmabainfo.wixsite.com/pmaba) acts as a resource for local behavior analysts providing membership information, local events, and other important information. Frequently, open positions are shared, giving members an advantage in the local job market. We added an online payment option for membership and CEUs. We plan to hold a membership drive in the fall, involve more students, and are planning future CEU events as well.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the PMABA chapter should visit our website for membership information and contact Beth Rosenwasser at beth.rosenwasser@gmail.com to be added to our email listserv to receive information about upcoming events, job opportunities, and other local behavior analytic information. Also please like our Facebook page by searching PMABA where we post all upcoming events.