Kristen Padilla

PhD, NCSP, LSSP, BCBA, LBA

Kristen Padilla serves as the Director of the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing. Dr. Padilla received her bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and earned her Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology and PhD in Educational Psychology from Baylor University. She is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology and Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

At the center, she supervises graduate students studying the areas of school psychology, applied behavior analysis, and social work who provide intervention and assessment services. Dr. Padilla works to enhance student training experiences and research by building interdisciplinary partnerships within and outside Baylor University. She also improves the community outreach efforts of the center by providing workshops and trainings for future educators and other professionals.

Dr. Padilla has authored national and state presentations on the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders. Her primary research interests include behavioral assessment, behavior management, and autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Padilla has served as a co-investigator on multiple state and federal grants focusing on supporting parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), equipping teachers who work with individuals with ASD, providing interdisciplinary professional training in ASD, and consulting with teachers working with emergent bilinguals with and without disabilities.