Ray Miltenberger, PhD, professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies and director of the Applied Behavior Analysis program, delivered the prestigious Montrose Wolf/Don Baer Lecture at the 51st Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), held May 22–26 in Washington, D.C.
The lecture is named in honor of two pioneers in the field of applied behavior analysis: Montrose Wolf and Don Baer. Wolf is widely recognized for his work on social validity, while Baer is known for his contributions to promoting generalization in behavior analysis research.
Miltenberger was selected for this honor in recognition of his extensive career in applied research addressing socially significant problems and emphasizing generalization.
“I was humbled and honored to be invited to present the address named after these two giants in our field,” Miltenberger said. “I am thankful to have worked with so many dedicated students who conducted research with me over the years.”
In a career spanning four decades, Miltenberger has collaborated on published research with 173 students, first at North Dakota State University and, for the past 19 years, at the University of South Florida. His keynote address, "On the Breadth and Limitations of Behavioral Skills Training: Lessons Learned From 40 Years of Research," explored his findings in four primary areas: interview skills training, safety skills training, staff management, and improving sports performance.
Miltenberger has attended every ABAI annual convention since 1979, marking 47 consecutive years of participation. The ABAI is the leading international organization for professionals involved in the science, practice, and education of behavior analysis. Its annual convention brings together researchers and practitioners from around the world to share the latest research in the field.