Brenda Bassingthwaite, PhD, BCBA

Assistant Professor, MMI Department of Psychology
Program Director of Schools/ABA, MMI Psychology
Licensed Psychologist
Board Certified Behavior Analyst

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Phone: 402-559-6408

Brenda Bassingthwaite, PhD, BCBA, is an associate professor, licensed psychologist and licensed behavior analyst in the Department of Psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation. Bassingthwaite serves as a Training Coordinator on MMI’s Pre-doctoral Internship Training team and Program Coordinator for the School-based ABA Services Program in the Department of Psychology. Bassingthwaite began her career as a school psychologist for Heartland Area Education Agency in Iowa prior to receiving her PhD in school psychology from the University of Iowa. She completed her internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, gaining clinical expertise in applied behavior analysis to reduce individual’s engagement in complex behaviors (e.g., self-injury, aggression, property destruction). She remained there for ten years as a clinician focusing on the assessment and treatment of complex behaviors and as a program director for a decade long training initiative providing apprenticeships in functional behavior assessment to school-based teams throughout the state. Through this work, Bassingthwaite gained a national reputation for creating systems change for managing complex behaviors in school settings and has consulted across the country on the development of similar programs.

Bassingthwaite’s clinical focus in the Department of Psychology is providing behavior consultation for students engaging in complex behaviors through school-based contracts and grants. Her current research interests include the evaluation of innovative technologies (e.g., video modules, virtual reality, e-learning platforms) to teach adult learners how to create supportive learning environments for all students and how to promote positive behaviors in students. She enjoys teaching trainees (e.g., master’s level, pre-doctoral interns, post-doctoral fellows) how to apply behavior analytic skills in school settings while building their awareness of their own professional leadership strengths.  Additionally, Bassingthwaite serves as a mentor to junior faculty and serves on graduate committees for students in academic programs at UNO and UNMC.