Melissa Richards, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level. Dr. Richards has over 25 years of experience providing behavior supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, severe behavior disorders, and psychiatric disorders. After serving as the State Behavior Analyst Coordinator for the State of Tennessee, a behavior analyst at Southbury Training School, and the Chief Behavior Analyst at Clover Bottom Developmental Center, she was the Director of Behavior Services for The Columbus Organization for 15 years. As the Director of Behavior Services for Columbus Medical Services, she has supervised approximately 100 behavior specialist, behavior technicians, psychological examiners, behavior analysts, and BCBAs. She has conducted staff trainings, conducted workshops, and presented professional development events. Dr. Richards has presented nationally at conferences and has served on several Human Rights Committees. She was a founding member and President of the Tennessee Association for Behavior Analysis and served as their Chair of the Professional Standards Committee. She served two terms on the State Policy and Planning Council for Tennessee’s Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She is also a member of Mensa, International. Dr. Richards is currently Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations for The Columbus Organization, where she oversees all quality and compliance programs in an effort to ensure meaningful outcomes for people.
Melissa Richards
—
by