UH-Clear Lake prof to oversee journal

Dorothea Lerman was recently selected as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Applied Behavior Anal

By ANNETTE BAIRD
Chronicle Correspondent
The University of Houston-Clear Lake professor of behavioral analysis who recently was selected as editor-in-chief of a journal believes her appointment will shine a light on autism and bring attention to the university and the program she helped create.
Dorothea Lerman, 43, who coordinates and helped found the university's Behavior Analysis Program, will take the reigns of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis" in January 2011, but expects to start looking over manuscripts by October.
I'm just so excited about the opportunity," Lerman said.
It will bring national and international attention to our program and recognition to the university."
Lerman's three-year appointment involves selecting work to be published in the journal and editing, something she said she loves to do.
More importantly, Lerman also happens to be well qualified for the position, according to F. Charles Mace, psychology professor at the University of Southern Maine and former editor-in-chief of the journal.
In an e-mail, Mace wrote that Lerman, who has had more than 50 articles of her own published in the journal, has distinguished herself as one of the most productive researchers in the field of applied behavior analysis.
She will bring extraordinary editorial skill and scientific acumen that will maintain JABA as the most respected scientific journal in our field," Mace wrote.
Bruce Palmer, dean of UH-Clear Lake's School of Human Sciences and Humanities, said Lerman's appointment not only is a feather in her own cap but also is a feather in UH-Clear Lake's cap.
It's a major award, especially for someone as young as she is," he said.
Lerman's route to the field of behavior analysis started as a volunteer working with adults with developmental disabilities while she was studying psychology at the University of Florida.
I felt like I was really helping people," Lerman said.
The children and adults I've worked with are so loving. It's such a joy to work with that population."
Lerman went on to earn a master's and Ph.D. in behavior analysis before taking a position as assistant professor at the Johns-Hopkins University School of Medicine. She continued her research at Louisiana State University and from 2004 at UH-Clear Lake.
Lerman's research focuses on the assessment and treatment of behavior disorders of people with developmental disabilities, early intervention and training for caregivers.