Biography

Julie Riley has spent the last 20 years working to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.  She is currently the Director of K-12 Initiatives at LSUHSC Human Development Center (HDC), which is Louisiana’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.  At HDC, Julie is the Director of the Louisiana Autism Spectrum and Related Disabilities (LASARD) Project, which provides training and coaching to educators of students with disabilities across Louisiana.  Julie has been with HDC and LASARD since 2009.  Prior to that, Julie was the Associate Director of the Florida State University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities and a Clinical Research Diagnostician for the FIRST WORDS Project, an autism prevalence study funded by the CDC. Julie has also worked as a behavior specialist, special education teacher, and school counselor.

Julie obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Montevallo, and a Master of Education degree in School Counseling from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she also completed additional coursework in School Psychology.  Julie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst in Louisiana.  Julie’s professional interests include supporting and training teachers, promoting inclusive practices, increasing social interaction, and solving challenging behavior issues.