Munroe-Meyer Institute
UNMC_Acronym_Vert_sm_4c
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Amanda N. Zangrillo, PsyD, BCBA-D

Adjunct Professor, Munroe-Meyer Institute, Department of Severe Behavior
Licensed Psychologist
Board Certified Behavior Analyst

402-559-8866

Amanda N. Zangrillo, PsyD, BCBA-D

Amanda Zangrillo, PsyD, BCBA-D, is an Adjunct Professor and licensed psychologist in the Department of Severe Behavior at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Life from University of Kansas in 2003. From 2003 to 2007, she worked as a Research Assistant and Coordinator of Clinical Operations at the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, Georgia. There, she gained valuable experience in the application of Behavior Analytic principles in the assessment and treatment of Severe Destructive Behavior and the application of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. During this time, she also earned a Master’s of Science degree from Georgia State University in Educational Psychology and Board Certification Behavior Analyst credential. She later earned a Doctorate of Psychology in School Psychology from University of Southern Maine. Zangrillo also worked as the Director of the Severe Behavior Program where she oversaw the day treatment, intensive outpatient and follow-up clinics. The Severe Behavior Program clinics provide assessment and treatment to children with severe problem behaviors. The aim of services is to provide evidence-based behavioral assessment, intervention, and training to individuals and their caregivers, focusing on decreasing problematic and maladaptive behaviors and teaching functional, alternative behaviors using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis.  

Zangrillo also serves as the Director of Training for Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship Experiences completed in the Intensive Applied Behavior Analysis Track, which includes experiences in the Severe Behavior Program, Early Intervention Program and Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program. 

  • PsyD: University of Southern Maine, 2012.
  • MS: Educational Psychology, Georgia State University, 2008.
  • BS: Human Development and Family Life, University of Kansas, 2003.

Specialty Certifications

  • Licensed Psychologist, Nebraska.
  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Doctoral Level.
  • Medication Aid Certification, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Zangrillo provides patient care services in the Department of Severe Behavior Disorders at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

Publications from PubMed

*denotes graduate student co-authors

  • Brown, K. R.*, Zangrillo, A. N., Gaynor, R. (2020). Effects of caregiver implemented group contingencies on siblings’ destructive behavior. Behavioral Development, 25(1), 30–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/bdb0000093
  • Zangrillo, A. N., Simmons, C. A. *, Fisher, W. W., & Owen, T. O. (2020). Use of a paired-stimulus demand analysis to evaluate demands for inclusion in Functional Analyses. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 53(2), 665-667. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.651
  • Owen, T. O., Fisher, W. W., Akers, J. A., Sullivan, W. E., Falcomata, T. S., Greer, B. D., … & Zangrillo, A. N. (2020). Treating destructive behavior reinforced by increased caregiver compliance with the participant’s mands. The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Published in early view. doi.org/10.1002/jaba.674
  • Clinical and Research Practica in Severe Behavior Program and Autism Diagnostic Clinic for Undergraduate, Masters, and Doctoral-level Students.
  • HPSY 914: Behavior Psychology in Autism and Related. 
  • HPSY 920: Assessment and Treatment of Severe Behavior Disorders.
  • Behavioral approaches to the assessment and treatment of symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.
  • Caregiver training programs related to accessing and implementing support/treatment services for treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
  • Factors effecting treatment adherence.
  • Function-based approaches to understanding and treating severe behavior disorders.
  • Verbal behavior.

  • Faculty Stand-Out Award, UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute, 2017.

  • Association for Behavior Analysis International.
  • Nebraska Association for Behavior Analysis.
Severe Behavior Department

University of Nebraska Medical Center
Munroe-Meyer Institute 
985450 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5450

Clinic Appointments

Child playfully sticking tongue out at camera, Adobe Stock.
Severe Behavior Services

Explore programs and services available through MMI's Severe Behavior Disorders Department.