Below are the bios and platform statements for the candidates for each position available in the Michigan Chapter Election:
President-Elect:
Dr. Jennifer D. Kowalkowski, PhD
Bio: Dr. Jennifer D. Kowalkowski is a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine & Community Health at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. She also serves as Director of Behavioral Medicine and Associate Program Director at the Corewell Health East Family Medicine Residency in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Michigan University’s Lee Honors College, her master’s in behavior analysis from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and her doctorate in clinical psychology from Eastern Michigan University. She is also certified as a doctoral-level board certified behavior analyst. She has received formal education and mentorship in Relational Frame Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), including an ACT-focused dissertation for parents of children with autism.
Her work centers on ACT, integrated care, physician wellness, and anxiety disorders. She is a long-time member of ACBS and BAAM and passionate about inclusive, values-driven science.
Platform Statement: I’m honored to be considered for President-Elect of the Michigan ACBS Chapter. As a psychologist, educator, and leader in academic medicine, I bring over 20 years of experience integrating contextual behavioral science into clinical care, education, and community health.
I currently serve as Director of Behavioral Medicine and Associate Program Director in a large family medicine residency, where I lead interdisciplinary teaching, DEI and wellness initiatives, and ACT-based training for physicians and medical students. I’ve also presented at local and national conferences on the application of contextual behavioral science in healthcare and medical education.
In addition to professional committee work, I served as President of our local Parent Teacher Association, a nonprofit leadership role that deepened my experience in community engagement, collaboration, and values-driven governance.
I’m committed to helping shape a Michigan chapter that reflects the ACBS vision: to alleviate suffering, promote well-being, and support members through rigorous, compassionate, science-based community.
President:
Dr. Scott Gaynor, PhD
Bio: Dr. Scott Gaynor, is a Professor at Western Michigan University where he has been on the faculty since 2001, serving as Co-Director of Clinical Training for the doctoral program in clinical psychology since 2008. Undergraduate experiences with Drs. Alan Baron, Jay Moore, and Marshall Dermer in the early 1990s at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee introduced him to behavior analysis. Graduate study at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in the mid-to-late 1990s—mentored by Drs. Rick Shull, Scott Lawrence, and Rosemery Nelson-Gray—solidified his appreciation for the breadth, scope, and depth of behavioral principles. Early in his graduate training he was introduced to clinical behavior analysis/contextual behavior therapy via the FAP “gold book” and copies of mimeographed ACT “manuals” and session transcripts. Over the past 30 years, he has continued to learn, practice, supervise, train graduate students, and conduct research from this perspective. Dr. Gaynor is a charter member of ACBS.
Platform Statement: The Michigan ACBS Chapter is the brainchild of enthusiastic and committed graduate students at Western Michigan University. Their vision is a chapter that contributes to the promotion of human well-being by connecting students, mental health practitioners, and researchers in the state of Michigan who share a common interest in contextual behavioral science. Should I be selected as President, my goal will be to establish a foundation that allows their vision to be achieved. Initial steps will be to promote the chapter broadly within the state, establish a plan for building connections among members across the state (e.g., via virtual meetings), identifying how the chapter can provide “value-added” to members, and determining ways to partner with allies regionally and nationally. For example, the chapter’s first meeting was held at the Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan’s annual conference, potentially sowing the seeds for a mutually beneficial relationship with BAAM.
Secretary-Treasurer:
Dr. Amy Paggeot, PhD
Bio: Dr. Amy Paggeot graduated with her PhD from Eastern Michigan University, where she received excellent training in contextual behavioral science and interventions. She completed her internship at the Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System. Her postdoctoral fellowship at the John D. Dingell VAMC included an emphasis on interprofessional communication and program development. Dr. Paggeot currently owns her own practice and is adjunct faculty at Eastern Michigan University, where she supervises PhD trainees at EMU’s Community Behavioral Health Clinic. Her areas of interest include emotional regulation, impulsivity, mindfulness, and their applications in the treatment of anxiety disorders, trauma, and relationship distress. Dr. Paggeot is deeply committed to the professional development of early-career psychologists, with a particular interest in providing supervision and mentorship to doctoral students and new professionals entering the field.
Platform Statement: As a Board member for the Michigan chapter of ACBS, my mission will be to support the organization in its aims to facilitate dissemination and collaboration of contextual behavioral science, as well as alleviating human suffering through teaching, research, supervision, and CBS-based interventions. I hope to use my experiences building and maintaining a business, as well as engaging in networking and interprofessional communication, to help build a robust organization that can support its members in their connections, collaboration, and learning around contextual behavioral science and interventions. I will strive to listen carefully to chapter members and to help the organization respond nimbly to the needs of its members as we grow. We stand on the shoulders of giants, and I hope to help propel upcoming generations to further heights of knowledge and innovation.
Member at Large:
Dr. Chad Drake, PhD
Bio: I am pleased to accept a nomination for the role of founding member-at-large for the Michigan chapter of ACBS. I am not a Michigan native, but rather a recent transplant from a thirteen-year career in academia in South Carolina and Southern Illinois and a childhood in Oklahoma. I have been an ACT enthusiast for 25 years, having served as a teacher, trainer, consultant, supervisor, and researcher of ACT. Now I provide ACT to veterans struggling with substance misuse at the Battle Creek VA. I received my PhD at the University of Mississippi, grateful for the training I received there from Kelly Wilson. I’ve also received significant training from Kevin Polk and Jason Luoma, among many other figures in the CBS universe. Psychological flexibility has transformed my personal and professional life. My primary value is to love my two sons. My favorite kind of tea… is RFT!
Platform Statement: The founding members of the Michigan ACBS chapter will face a special challenge and opportunity. This initial group will create the norms, procedures, and pathways for the growth of this organization. The member-at-large role of the board serves as a communicator and coordinator between the board and the organization subcommittees and will be crucial to its development. In this role I will be committed to cultivating relationships within and without the organization, a network that will provide important support and structure to the growth of this organization. My guiding value for this work will be “to foster the development of functional contextual cognitive and behavioral science and practice across the state of Michigan, as to alleviate human suffering and advance human wellbeing”. I’ve been supporting the cause of contextual behavioral science for 25 years; I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of that cause here in Michigan.
Dr. Jody Hoffman, PhD
Bio: Dr. Jody Hoffman (she/her) is a clinical psychologist based in Ann Arbor. She works as a supervising psychologist at the University of Michigan, where she has provided ACT training to psychology and social work trainees for fifteen years. She also maintains a private practice, ACT Ann Arbor, with a specialty in the integration of ACT with ERP for anxiety and OCD-spectrum disorders. She has previously worked in leadership roles in the training subcommittee of the ACBS OCD SIG as well as two mental health clinics in Ann Arbor. In her work (and life in general), she strives towards key values of collaboration, flexibility, growth and learning, curiosity, and humility. She lives with her two children as well as her dog and newly adopted hedgehog and guinea pigs, and enjoys spending time with friends/family as well as running and cycling.
Platform Statement: Having practiced in Michigan for the past two decades, I’ve witnessed ACT grow from an rarely-encountered approach to a thriving one. As a Canadian CBT-oriented transplant, both Michigan and CBS have become home to me, and I would be honored to assist with the tending and growth of our burgeoning CBS community. The Member-at-Large role is well-suited for my skill set and interests. As members of the Michigan CBS research and practice community, we can accomplish many towards-moves together. I welcome the opportunity to provide structure to these opportunities by serving as an accessible and responsive liaison between committees and the Board, as well as assisting with committee development and strategy in a focused, values-directed, representative, and effective manner. Most importantly, I am excited to assist the Michigan ACBS chapter as we collectively strive towards our mutual values.
Kyler Jackson, MSW
Bio: Hello! I am an early-career clinical social worker practicing at a group practice in Michigan. Since earning my MSW from the University of Cincinnati and relocating, I have become deeply passionate about Contextual Behavioral Science. My focus lies in learning and applying ACT and clinical RFT to enhance my therapeutic work. To further deepen my understanding and contribute to the field, I currently volunteer as a research assistant in Dr. Clarissa Ong's Process-Oriented Intervention Sciences Lab (POIS). I am eager to contribute my energy and developing expertise to continue to support the advancement of CBS.
Platform Statement: I am seeking the Member-at-Large position because I am committed to fostering connection and effective communication within the new Michigan ACBS chapter. Over the last year I have served on the steering committee for the Values and Meaning-Making SIG, working to organize diverse speakers and perspectives around improving the use of values in clinical work. These skills are directly relevant to the liaison duties of the Member-at-Large. Communication and collaboration are core values of mine, and if elected, I will prioritize serving as a reliable and supportive link between the board and chapter committees. I am enthusiastic about the establishment of the Michigan ACBS chapter and see it as a vital opportunity to connect with colleagues, share knowledge, and foster the growth of CBS within our state!
Dr. River Farrell, PsyD
Bio: Dr. River Farrell is a licensed clinical psychologist and full-time professor at the Michigan School of Professional Psychology. They have been a member of ACBS for the past 10 years and attended their first ACBS world conference in 2015. They have subsequently presented at ACBS on three separate occasions and served on the board of the Gender and Sexual Minority Special Interest Group. Dr. Farrell has dedicated their career to supporting Gender and Sexual Minority clients since earning their PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2008. As a non-binary queer individual, Dr. Farrell brings both personal and professional insight to their work, specializing in gender identity development, therapy with gender diverse youth, and consensual non-monogamy. Throughout this work they have focused on utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to improve the lives of those they work with.
Platform Statement: I am honored to seek election as Member-at-Large. With 10 years in ACBS, board experience in the Gender and Sexual Minority SIG, and a career as a licensed clinical psychologist and professor, I am committed to fostering collaboration, clear communication, and community growth. As board liaison, I will attend committee meetings, support chairs in meeting goals and deadlines, and work to ensure smooth communication between committees and the board. I will advocate for committees' needs, assist with project follow-up, and help maintain alignment with our chapter’s mission. Grounded in my work with ACT, gender identity development, and inclusive practice—and informed by my experience as a non-binary queer professional—I am dedicated to cultivating spaces where innovation, belonging, and shared purpose thrive. I would be honored to support and strengthen our community in this role.
Student Representative:
Andrés J. Beltrán
Bio: My name is Andrés J. Beltrán and I am a Fulbright Scholar and Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Western Michigan University. Originally from Chile, I earned my degree in Psychology from the University of Chile. I have several years of experience as a psychotherapist and university counselor, supporting student mental health, retention, and vocational development. My clinical work is grounded in Contextual Behavioral Science, and I am committed to integrating empirically supported treatments with cultural humility. My research interests are diverse but mainly include developing clinical interventions for emotional dysregulation and evaluating career interventions based on personal values. During my Ph.D. training, I have been providing psychotherapy in both English and Spanish to a diverse range of clients, including university students and families. My work bridges clinical care and research, with the goal of promoting well-being and meaningful mental health outcomes in underserved populations.
Platform Statement: As a bilingual, international Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Western Michigan University, I bring a deep commitment to advancing ACBS’s mission through inclusion, collaboration, and innovation. I believe students are a vital and important part of the ACBS community as they are future leaders in the field. Their voices must be heard and included in shaping the organization’s growth. Having actively participated in the Chilean and other Latin American chapters, I am passionate about building bridges across regions to foster dialogue and cross-cultural exchange.
If elected, I plan to launch a virtual student forum designed to connect ACBS student members across Michigan. This space would serve as a hub for shared learning, mutual support, and professional development. If successful at the state level, I envision expanding the initiative to foster connection and collaboration between students from other U.S. chapters and Latin American regions. My ultimate goal is to help continue cultivating a more inclusive, engaged, and globally connected ACBS student community.
Lindsey Bookman
Bio: I am currently a second-year student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at Eastern Michigan University. Prior to my admission, I earned an M.A. in Community Social Psychology and an M.S. in Clinical Health Psychology. Additionally, I spent 5 years in non-profit management and 10 years in higher education leading an office for student success. These previous experiences led me to cultivate a passion for prevention and an understanding of the contextual barriers that keep individuals from thriving. I am currently studying behavior therapy modifications for individuals with mild cognitive impairment and developing a behavioral health group intervention for individuals with brain fog. In Fall 2025, I will be on practicum at Henry Ford Health System- Genesys to gain experience implementing brief interventions in a primary care and behavioral health model. Aside from academics, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children and anything that gets me outdoors!
Platform Statement: In my past academic and professional experiences, I have found the most joy when working with great teams. I firmly believe that collaboration leads to best and most meaningful work. The Student Representative position with the Michigan ACBS Chapter offers an opportunity to both cultivate and be part of a great team and broader community; one I hope to be part of indefinitely, as I plan to stay in Michigan post-graduation. According to Newman et al. (2020), Michigan ranks 8th in the U.S. for prevalence of comorbid chronic conditions including obesity, depression, hypertension, and high cholesterol. These conditions often to lead to future disability, financial strife, reduction in quality of life, and loss of potential. Through my engagement in the Contextual Behavior Science Lab supervised by Dr. Drossel and Dr. Waltz, I am learning about how we, as researchers and clinicians, are uniquely positioned to intervene from a multi-level perspective.
Madison Dirickson
Bio: I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, with an emphasis in behavior analysis. As a research assistant in Dr. Steven C. Hayes’s lab, I discovered my passion for contextual behavioral science, ACT, and RFT. While at UNR, I presented a research poster at ACBS on the use of brief acceptance prompts to increase tolerance to experimentally induced pain. I went on to earn my master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Southern California under the mentorship of Dr. Jonathan Tarbox, conducting research on functional analysis of ACT processes in individuals in 12-step recovery programs. I am now a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Western Michigan University, where my research focuses on standardized, process-based assessment using novel computer-generated network analysis. I’ve used ACT and Process-Based Therapy for the past four years with diverse clinical and disability populations—and I’m deeply committed to bridging science and practice through CBS.
Platform Statement: I’m passionate about helping students get excited about contextual behavioral science and creating spaces where that excitement is welcomed, shared, and celebrated. As an undergrad, I was the student who couldn’t stop talking about behavior analysis, ACT, and RFT, even when it didn’t match the energy of those around me. I want the Michigan ACBS chapter to be a place where students like that can find each other—where being a “CBS nerd” is a strength, not an outlier. I believe that diverse perspectives fuel innovation in both research and clinical practice. If elected, I will advocate for an inclusive, student-centered community where everyone, regardless of background or experience level, feels welcome to contribute ideas, ask questions, and collaborate. My goal is to foster opportunities for connection, learning, and mentorship that reflect the values of contextual behavioral science: openness, curiosity, and compassionate action.