Assistant Professor
Dr. Jessel is interested in supervising graduate students in ABA in Fall 2027, pending departmental supervision allocations.
Ph. D., BCBA-D
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joshua-Jessel
Google Scholar: Joshua Jessel Profile
Dr. Joshua Jessel completed his master’s degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where he worked with individuals who exhibited dangerous behavior on the neurobehavioral inpatient unit of the Kennedy Krieger Institute. He went on to earn his doctoral degree at Western New England University with his primary research focusing on the assessment and treatment of complex behavior among Autistic children. Dr. Jessel continued to extend this line of research as a postdoctoral fellow at a clinic in Texas and has since directed multiple research-based outpatient clinics across the United States.
Dr. Jessel’s current research interests involve developing compassionate and trauma-informed methods for addressing complex behaviour exhibited by learners with intellectual and developmental disabilities specific to functional assessment and skill-based supports. Dr. Jessel has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed research articles, books, and book chapters.
Designing novel practical functional assessment and skill-based treatment procedures.
Incorporating a trauma-informed care framework into functional assessment and skill-based treatment procedures.
Evaluating comprehensive models for addressing challenging behavior using consecutive controlled case series.
Leyman, A., MacDowell, P., & Jessel, J. (2026). Evaluating the long-term efficacy of a trauma-informed approach to addressing challenging behavior in the home. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 51(1), 6-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/15407969251319255
Jessel, J., Beaulieu, L., & Rajaraman, A. (2025). How to design more culturally- and trauma-informed functional analyses: A tutorial. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 1267-1282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-025-01047-y
Fruchtman, T., Jessel, J., Pan, B., McLeod, S., & Rajaraman, A. (2025). The performance-based IISCA can inform effective and socially meaningful skill-based treatment. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 921-940. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01036-7
Raghunauth-Zaman, N., Jessel, J., & Chou, V. (2024). Parent guided communication training with neurotypical toddlers of three Latin American families. Behavior Analysis in Practice. Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00983-5
Izquierdo, S. M., Jessel, J., Jones, E. A., & Fiani, T. (2024). Functional analysis of contextually inappropriate social behavior in children with Down Syndrome. Behavior Modification, 48(3), 285-311. https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455231222912
Jessel, J., Fruchtman, T., Raghunauth, N., Leyman, A., Howard, M., Lemos, F. M., Costa Val, H., & Hanley, G. P. (2023). A Two Step Validation of the Performance-Based IISCA: A Trauma-Informed Functional Analysis Model. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17, 727-745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-023-00792-2
Jessel J., Ingvarsson, E. T., Kirk, H., Whipple, R., & Metras, R. (2018). Achieving Socially Significant Reductions in Problem Behavior following the Interview-Informed Synthesized Contingency Analysis: A Summary of 25 Outpatient Applications. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 51, 130-157. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.436
Rajaraman, A., & Jessel J. (accepted). Trauma-Informed Care. In M. Capriotti (Ed.). Fundamentals of Clinical Behavior Analysis
Ghaemmaghami, M. & Jessel, J. (2026). Conducting Practical Functional Assessments in the School Setting. In J. Jessel (Ed.). Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Classroom. Springer Nature.
Jessel, J. (2026). Practical Single-Case Designs for Demonstrating Experimental Control in the Home, School, or Community Setting. In J. Jessel (Ed.). Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Classroom. Springer Nature.
MacDowell, P., & Jessel, J. (2026). Compassionate Care in Applied Behavior Analysis. In J. Jessel (Ed.). Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Classroom. Springer Nature.
Sturmey, P. & Jessel, J. (2025). Problem Behavior: Overview and Contemporary Issues. In J. Jessel, and P. Sturmey (Eds.), A Practical Guide to Functional Assessment and Treatment for Severe Problem Behavior. Elsevier.
Jessel, J., & Saini, V. (2023). Aggression and Tantrums. In J. L. Matson (Ed.), Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis for Children with Autism: Clinical Guide to Assessment and Treatment. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-27587-6_15
Jessel, J., Rajaraman, A., & Dowdy, A. (2022). ABA Treatment Approaches to Problem Behavior. In J. L. Matson and P. Sturmey (Eds.), Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (pp. 997-1015). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88538-0_43
Jessel, J. (2022). Practical functional assessment. In J. Leaf, J. Cihon, J. Ferguson, M. J. Weiss (Eds.), Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis Interventions for Autism (pp. 443-464). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96478-8_23
Jessel, J., Rajaraman, A., & Beaulieu, L. (2026). The Sharing History and Relevant Experiences (SHaRE) Manual: A “How-to” Guide to Help Professionals Conduct Meaningful Functional Assessment Interviews.
Jessel, J. (Ed.). (2026). Handbook of applied behavior analysis in the classroom. Springer Nature.
Jessel, J., & Sturmey, P. (Eds.). (2025). A practical guide to functional assessment and treatment for severe problem behavior. Elsevier.
Jessel, J., Dowdy, A., & Corey P. (2021). Research Methods in Special Education – Chapter 10 Overview. Invited podcast recorded and produced by SLACK books. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL5olzPNpbo
Jessel, J. (2021). Expert Review Series discussing On the Occurrence of Dangerous Problem Behavior during Functional Analysis: An Evaluation of 30 Applications. Invited podcast recorded and produced by FTF Behavioral Consultants. https://ftfbc.com/courses/on-the-occurrence-of-dangerous-problem-behavior-during-functional-analysis-an-evaluation-of-30-applications-2021-1-ceu/
Jessel, J. (2021). Safety, Control, Acceptability, and the World’s Fastest FA with Joshua Jessel. Invited podcast recorded and produced by the Practitioner Scientist Podcast. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LntWjrlj1X73kQIisNPj1?si=9tZDYB_iQ8qqeCgwFNBHwQ
Jessel, J. (2020). Expert Review Series discussing A Translational Evaluation of Transitions. Invited podcast recorded and produced by FTF Behavioral Consultants. https://ftfbc.com/courses/a-translational-evaluation-of-transitions-1-ceu/
Jessel, J. (2020). Rich to lean error correction w/ Dr. Joshua Jessel. Invited podcast recorded and produced by ABA Wizard. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-to-lean-error-correction-w-dr-joshua-jessel/id1510264715?i=1000485320353
Jessel, J. (2019, November). Punishment and its fallout. Invited podcast recorded and produced by Functional Relations. http://functionalrelationspodcast.libsyn.com/s1e4-punishment-and-its-fallout
Jessel, J. (2018). Episode 66: Latency functional analyses with Dr. Joshua Jessel. Invited podcast recorded and produced by ABA Inside Track. https://www.abainsidetrack.com/get-ceus/episode-66-latency-fas
Jessel, J., & MacDowell, P. (2024). Designing and Implementing Different Variations of the Practical Functional Assessment. Workshop presented at Family of Kidz, Long Island, New York.
Jessel, J. (2024). Practical Functional Assessment and Skill-Based Treatment: Introduction and Design Training. Workshop presented as a Behavior University Webinar.
Jessel, J. (2022). Scientific advances in the functional assessment of problem behavior. Workshop presented at Avaliação Funcional Prática (IISCA) e intervenção para Comportamentos-Problema, Luna Educação Conference in Curitiba, Brazil.
Jessel, J. (2022). Scientific advances in the treatment of problem behavior. Workshop presented at Avaliação Funcional Prática (IISCA) e intervenção para Comportamentos-Problema, Luna Educação Conference in Curitiba, Brazil.
Jessel, J. (2021). When is a functional analysis of problem behavior necessary? Pragmatic Boundaries and Practical Solutions. Workshop presented virtually at Practical Behavior Analysis, LLC.
