Anita Li

Expertise

Behavior analysis, behavioral health; instructional design; applied behavioral pharmacology; developmental disabilities; diversity

Research Interests

Anita’s research focuses on applied behavior analysis, organizational behavior management, and equity-centered practices in behavioral science. She also conducts research on gender and representation in behavioral science, instructional design and training, psychotropic medication in autism services, and translational applications of behavior analysis to health, education, and workplace settings.

Education

• Ph.D. Psychology (2020), Western Michigan University - Kalamazoo, Michigan 
• M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis (2015), Florida Institute of Technology - Orlando, Florida
• B.S. Psychology (2010), University of Florida - Gainesville, Florida

Biosketch

Anita Li, Ph.D., has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2013 and has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings. She has presented more than 30 papers and workshops, including invited addresses, at both national and international conferences in behavior analysis and has published her research in several journals, including Behavior Analysis in Practice, Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, and Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. In addition to her research and teaching, Anita serves in numerous professional leadership roles, including on the board of directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, conference planning committee for Women in Behavior Analysis, DEI committee for the Association of Behavior Analysis International, and as president of the OBM Network.

Selected Awards and Honors

• Psychology Department Teaching Award (2026) - Lowell, Massachusetts
• OBM Network Early Career Award (2026) - San Francisco, California
• All University Graduate Teaching Award Recipient (2020) - Western Michigan University
• All University Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award Recipient (2018) - Western Michigan University

Selected Publications

• Li, A., & Wong, C. (2026). An analysis of variables impacting behavior analysts’ intention to leave a position and leave the field. Behavior Analysis in Practice. Advanced online publication.
• Li, A., Curiel, H., & Cardoso-Sao Mateus, C. (2024). Implementation of precision teaching to teach sight words via synchronous learning: A case study. Behavior Analysis in Practice. Online first.
• Bucklin, B. R., Li, A., Rodriguez, M., Johnson, D. A., & Eagle, L.M. (2022). Pay-for-performance: Behavior-based recommendations from research and practice. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management. Online first.
• Rotta, K., Li, A., Curiel, E. S. L., Curiel, H., & Poling, A. (2021). Women in behavior analysis: A review of the literature. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15, 592-607.
• Li, A., Curiel, H., & Poling, A. (2021). Citations of Murray Sidman’s work in JEAB: Evidence of a long and large contribution. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 115(1), 31-35.
• Li, A. (2020). Solidarity: The role of non-Black racial minority members in promoting racial equity. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14, 549-553.
• Rotta, K., Li, A., & Poling, A. (2020). Participants in behavior-analytic sports studies: Can girls play too? Behavior Analysis in Practice, 13, 820-825.
• Curiel, E., Curiel, H., & Li, A. (2020). Generative time telling in adults with disabilities: A matrix training approach. Behavioral Interventions, 35(2), 295-305.
• Curiel, H., Curiel, E., & Li, A. (2020). Multiple-stimulus-without-replacement preference assessment tool. Behavioral Interventions, 35(4), 680-690.
• Mahoney, A., Li, A., Curiel, H., & Poling, A. (2019). Self-and cross-citations in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior: 2004-2016. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 52(4), 1130-1139.
• Li, A., Gravina, N., Pritchard, J., & Poling, A. (2019). The gender pay gap for behavior analysis faculty. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12, 743-746.
• Poling, A., & Li, A. (2019). Commit heresy: Stop using contingency. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 13, 226-231.
• Li, A., Curiel, H., Ragotzy, S. P., & Poling, A. (2019). Using a lottery to promote physical activity by young adults with developmental disabilities. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12(3), 612-616.
• Li, A., Mahoney, A., & Poling, A. (2018). The present and future status of basic research in behavior analysis: Introduction to the special issue. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 18(2), 117-118.
• Li, A., & Poling, A. (2018). Board certified behavior analysts and psychotropic medications: Slipshod training, inconsistent involvement, and reason for hope. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 11(4), 350-357.
• Brewer, A., Li, A., Leon, Y., Pritchard, J., Turner, L., & Richman, D. (2018). Toward a better basic understanding of operant-respondent interactions: Translational research on phobias. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 18(4), 328-332.
• Curiel, H., Curiel, E. S. L., Li, A., Deochand, N. & Poling, A. (2018). Examining a web-based procedure for assessing preference for videos. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 4(11), 406-410.
• Li, A., Curiel, H., Pritchard, J.K., & Poling, A. (2018). Participation of women in behavior analysis research: Some recent and relevant data. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 11(2), 160-164.
• Li, A., Wallace, L., Ehrhardt, K., & Poling, A. (2017). Reporting participant characteristics in five behavior-analytic journals, 2013-2015. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 17(1), 84-91.
• Li, A., MacNeill, B., Curiel, H., & Poling, A. (2017). Prescribing risperidone or aripiprazole with other psychotropic drugs: A literature review. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 25(5), 434-439.
• Poling, A, Ehrhardt, K., & Li, A. (2017). Pharmacotherapy. In Matson, J.L. (Ed.), Handbook of Treatments for Autism (pp. 459-476). Springer.

Selected Presentations

• Li, A. (2026, April). Pay equity in applied behavior analysis. Invited address presented at TXABA 2026, San Antonio, Texas.
• Li, A. (2025, November). Enhancing psychological safety during supervision: Learning to approach difficult topics. Keynote address presented at COABA 2025, Denver, Colorado.
• Johnson, D.A., Li, A., & Blake, J.F. (2025, October). Introduction to Organizational Behavior Management. Invited workshop at OBM Network 2025, Reykjavik, Iceland.
• Li, A. (2024, May). Contemplative pedagogy and teaching the science of behavior. Invited paper presented at ABAI 50th Annual Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• Li, A. (2024, April). Assessing and pinpointing burnout and considerations for organizations. Invited paper presented at KansABA 2024 Annual Conference, Overland Park, Kansas.
• Li, A. (2024, March). The role of culturally responsive supervision on staff retention and promotion. Keynote address presented at the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts 14th Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Li, A. (2022, January). Factors and measures of burnout in practice and considerations for supervisory systems. Webinar presented for ABAI, Online.
• Li, A. (2021, March). Solidarity. Invited paper presented at RIABA Special CEU Event: Antiracist Actions in Behavior Analysis, Online.
• Li, A. (2021, March). Using OER in General Psychology. Paper presented at Open Education Resources Online Symposium, Online.
• Li, A., Gravina, N., Pritchard, J., & Poling, A. (2019, May). The gender pay gap for behavior analysis faculty: It's big and bad. Paper presented at the ABAI 45th Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.
• Li, A., Curiel, H., Pritchard, J.K., & Poling, A. (2019, May). Participation of women in behavior analysis research: Some recent and relevant data. Paper presented at the ABAI 45th Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.
• Li, A., & Poling, A. (2018, May). Board certified behavior analysts and psychotropic medications: Slipshod training, inconsistent involvement, and reason for hope. Paper presented at the ABAI 44th Annual Convention, San Diego, CA.
• Li, A., & Poling, A. (2018, February). Using behavior-change medications to benefit people with autism: An overview. Invited address delivered ABAI Autism 12th Conference, Miami, Florida.
• Li, A. (2017, November). Psychotropic drugs and autism spectrum disorder. Paper presented at ABAI 9th International Conference, Paris, France.
• Li, A. (2017, October). Psychotropic drugs and autism spectrum disorder. Invited paper presented at Applied Behavior Analysis: Theory and Practice – 2017 conference hosted by RusABA, Moscow, Russia.
• Li, A., Curiel, H., Bakalyar, K., Miller, A., & Poling, A. (2017, May). Increasing physical activity in college students with autism spectrum disorder. Paper presented at the ABAI 43rd Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado.
• Li, A., Miller, A., Curiel, H., & Poling, A. (2017, May). A preliminary evaluation of correspondence between healthy food statements and preference. Paper presented at the ABAI 43rd Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado.

Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research

• UMass Chan Medical School (2026 – 2028) - Respite-Based Service-Learning Program for Massachusetts Colleges (PI)
• University of Massachusetts Lowell Seed Grant (2025-2027) - Bridging Pathways: A Multidisciplinary Mentoring Program to Empower Underrepresented High School Students in Psychology, Education, and Engineering (PI)