Staff
Executive Director
Executive Director
Erik Carter is the Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities at Baylor University. His research and writing focus on fostering inclusion and belonging in schools, workplaces, and faith communities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Director
Director
Kristen Padilla is a clinical associate professor in educational psychology. She is a board-certified behavior analyst and school psychologist. Her research focuses on the validity and reliability of assessments based in applied behavior analysis and graduate training in conducting assessments within the field.
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Director, BCDD Clinic Clinical Assistant Professor, School Psychology
Director, BCDD Clinic Clinical Assistant Professor, School Psychology
Dr. Ragan teaches courses related to practicum and clinical experiences in school psychology as well as multicultural issues with children and families. She supervises school psychology students, conducting psychology assessments and counseling at the Center. Dr. Ragan’s primary research interests include best practices in clinical supervision, family-school collaboration, and a focus on systematic reviews and meta-analytic methods.
Program Director Baylor Collaborative on Faith & Disability
Program Director Baylor Collaborative on Faith & Disability
Jason Le Shana is Program Director of the Baylor Collaborative on Faith & Disability. His professional and ministry experience include appointments as a university campus minister, adjunct professor, worship pastor, and denominational consultant. He oversees the day-to-day operations and strategic partnerships central to Baylor’s Faith and Disability work.
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Program Coordinator
Program Coordinator
Grace Casper is the Program Coordinator for the Center. She plans all events and trainings, assists with the faith and disability initiative, designs promotional materials, and coordinates community partnerships.
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Postdoctoral Research Associate Baylor Collaborative on Faith & Disability
Postdoctoral Research Associate Baylor Collaborative on Faith & Disability
Melody Escobar, PhD, is a research associate at Baylor University, Collaborative on Faith and Disability. Her research and publications in Christian spirituality and practical theology focus on families who experience disability, innovative models of ministry, and curricula advancing inclusion and belonging in academic and spiritual life. She lectures in religion and disability, eco-justice, and mysticism. Her forthcoming book, Revelations of Divine Care (Baylor University Press, Studies in Religion, Theology, and Disability Series), explores the lived experiences of caregivers of disabled children and the writings of Christian mystic Julian of Norwich.
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Postdoctoral Research Associate
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Emily Frake, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral research associate at the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities. Her research focuses on understanding and creating inclusive spaces and places of belonging for people with disabilities in all areas of life. As a former special education teacher, Dr. Frake is particularly passionate about inclusive postsecondary education opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Research Assistant Baylor Collaborative on Faith & Disability
Research Assistant Baylor Collaborative on Faith & Disability
Kari is a graduate of the School of Education’s Educational Psychology program and is dedicated to championing the rights of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is committed to fostering environments where they experience belonging and their contributions are recognized and valued.
Office Manager, BCDD Clinic
Office Manager, BCDD Clinic
Adrianna Martinez is the administrative assistant for the clinical services and programs for the BCDD clinic site located at the Hillcrest-MacArthur Center. She supports faculty and students by screening clients for needed services, scheduling appointments, and tending to the needs of parents who have children recently diagnosed with autism or other developmental disability. She makes sure each client and family are is connected to appropriate resources and services.
BCDD Clinic: 2201 MacArthur Dr Suite 101, Waco, TX 76708
Program Manager, Bridges to Belonging
Program Manager, Bridges to Belonging
Elyse McMullen, LMSW, MDiv, is the Program Manager for the Bridges to Belonging project, a collaboration of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD), the Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I), and George W. Truett Seminary. Through this project, Elyse focuses on creating spaces of belonging in congregations for youth and young adults, specifically those with disabilities, mental health challenges, and chronic illnesses. Her experience includes teaching at the secondary and elementary level, congregational social work, school-based social work, and youth ministry.
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Postdoctoral Research Associate
Postdoctoral Research Associate
MacKenzie Wicker is a postdoctoral research associate in the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities at Baylor University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in the state of Texas. Her research interests center on equipping adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for competitive and integrated employment; supporting educators and families through the transition to adulthood for students with IDD; and fostering inclusion and belonging for transition-aged youth with IDD across multiple settings.
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