Clinical Director

Susan Milla, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Associate Executive Director, Ascent: A School for Individuals with Autism. A native New Yorker, Susan grew up in Queens and graduated with a degree in psychology from Queens College. Susan moved to the Midwest in 1990 to study Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Kansas. She received her M.A. in Human Development in 1992 and her Ph.D. in Developmental and Child Psychology in 1998. Susan began working with children with autism in 1990. She returned to the East Coast in 1999 to accept the position of Director of Educational Services with the Y.A.L.E. School Southeast, a private school for children with Autism in Southern New Jersey. Committed to return to New York, Susan joined Ascent in July 2005.

Susan has taught graduate courses at Holy Family University in Philadelphia and at CUNY Queens College in the Department of Psychology. Susan also taught courses in Applied Behavior Analysis in the Department of Pediatrics at Stony Brook University in their BCBA certification program. She currently teaches at Capella University, in their online Master of Arts in Psychology and BCBA certification programs and doctorate residency program. She was on the Panel of Editors for the Handbook of Pediatric Psychology and co-authored a chapter on conceptual development in New Directions in Behavior Development. She also co-authored a chapter with Dr. Shamow for Handleman & Harris’ Preschool Education Programs for Children with Autism (3rd Ed.) Tx: Pro-Ed. which was published in 2008. 

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A Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst, Susan has been a frequent presenter at the national and state conferences for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis. In 2012, she presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis Annual Convention in Denver and at the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs on a study investigating stimulus control and motivating operations. Dr. Milla has also served on the Human Rights Committee for the Mental Health Association of Nassau County.

Susan is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis. Susan lives in Commack, NY.

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Meet Our Clinical Director, Leanne Aurigemma