Meet Mollie Dennis, First Graduate of Empire State University’s Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Program

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- December 6, 2023) Mollie Dennis never thought online school would work for her. Fast forward three years later, and she’s the first graduate of Empire State University’s Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism (ABA) program.

“Being the first graduate of SUNY Empire’s Applied Behavior Analysis program is a true honor,” Dennis said. “The field of applied behavior analysis is continually growing, and the beginning steps of having great behavior analysts starts with a high-quality education that SUNY Empire provides.”

The Center Moriches, Long Island native originally started her ABA master’s program at another school, but felt the experience wasn’t meeting her needs. She struggled to balance the commute to her in person classes with work and other responsibilities, and looked into transferring when she heard about SUNY Empire’s program. Her initial hesitation disappeared after her first meeting with Assistant Professor and Program Director Noor Syed.

“The small class sizes, individualized meetings, help with state licensure, as well as many other things drew me to ultimately choose SUNY Empire to be my home for the next three years,” Dennis said. “Another great part of the program is that because it's fully online, I have been able to connect with future behavior analysts all over New York State.”

The M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism program launched at Empire State University in January 2022 with an inaugural cohort of 20 students, including Dennis.

“Working closely with my professors to develop curriculum has taught me so much about being a student and a leader,” Dennis said. “Being able to set the stage for many students to come is a privilege that most people do not have.”

Syed and Assistant Professor in the ABA program Lauren Allen can’t wait to see their first graduate from the program cross the stage.

“We thank Mollie, along with all of our students, for our program culture of compassion and bidirectional feedback,” they said. “We continue to learn with and from all of our students, and are thankful to have such wonderful candidates (and now a graduate!) who are value-aligned towards empathy, equity, and dignity for the clients we support.”

Syed added, “It has been such a pleasure to have Mollie in our program, and we are extremely excited to see her career growth post-graduation. Mollie is determined, hardworking, is constantly seeking to advance her learning and, most importantly, is an advocate for the clients she supports. It was a true joy to be Mollie’s mentor during her time with Empire State, and the collective faculty are excited to work with Mollie in the future as a colleague and alum of the M.S. in ABA Program.”

Dennis plans to continue on the path to becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.

“I hope to work in a school district helping students achieve and strive for success just as my professors have taught me,” she said.