Advisory Board | UTRGV

Advisory Board

Advisory Board Information

The Behavior and Child Development Lab Community Advisory Board (BeChilDLab-CAB) is composed of two parents, one pediatrician, one licensed BCBA, one special education teacher, and one UTRGV doctoral student. Members of the BeChilDLab Community Advisory Board inform our research process and priorities.

In doing so, they advise our team on ways to reach and engage Latino and Spanish-speaking parents who are vastly underrepresented in autism research. In addition, the BeChilDLab-CAB provides perspectives and advice to our team on how to build a partnership between researchers and the RGV community, including parents and key community stakeholders. In that way, the lab team will employ a systematic method to maximize the accessibility, feasibility, and acceptability of the research projects and enhance the participation of Latino and Spanish-speaking parents of autistic children in the RGV region.

Participants in the Community Advisory Board review research summaries and attend meetings to share their input on proposed studies and ideas for future studies. CAB members are diverse both in their expertise and community involvement.

Valerie Neeley, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Valerie Neeley, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Valerie Neeley, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Valerie Neeley received her masters in Experimental Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in May 2010 from the University of Texas-Pan American. She became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2010 and has been actively serving her community in the field of ABA for 13 years. Valerie is currently a senior lecturer for the Department of Psychological Sciences at UTRGV. She also serves as a clinical supervisor for The Behavioral Effect, LLC in McAllen, Tx. Her experience has been working with individuals with Autism and related developmental disorders in the home, school, and clinical settings.

Rocio Calderon

Rocio Calderon

Rocio Calderon

Rocio Calderon is a dedicated mother of three wonderful children on the autism spectrum. Drawing from her personal journey as a parent, she has emerged as a passionate advocate within her community. Currently employed at UTGRV, Rocio leverages her professional expertise to make a meaningful impact in the lives of families, navigating the challenges of raising children with special needs. Beyond her university role, she actively engages with her community, channeling her experiences into advocacy work that empowers parents to navigate the educational landscape for their children. Rocio is a valued member of our advisory board, contributing invaluable insights and firsthand knowledge to help shape policies and initiatives that promote inclusivity and support for families with neurodiverse children.

Dr. Alberto Allegre

Dr. Alberto Allegre

Dr. Alberto Allegre

Dr. Alberto Allegre, MD, is a Board Certified Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician at UT Health RGV. Dr. Allegre received his Medical Degree (M.D.) from The Tecnológico de Monterrey School of Medicine in 2010 and completed his Pediatrics Residency training at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 2015. After completion of his residency training, Dr. Allegre continued his medical education and completed a Fellowship in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Arkansas Children’s Hospital in 2018. Dr. Allegre joined the UTRGV School of Medicine Faculty in 2018 and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics.

Suzy Perez

Suzy Perez

Suzy Perez

Susy Perez is the proud mother of 3 beautiful boys with Autism, which is the reason why she works so hard with Autismo en mi vida RGV to spread awareness, promote inclusion, and try to bring training opportunities for parents and community members. She holds a bachelor's degree in business management, and a master's degree in special education. Susy, together with Aida Garcia and other parents, co-founded the parent support group in 2015, which is now a 501c3 nonprofit organization with close to 1,700 local members. Susy currently works for The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley as a Program Coordinator and interpreter for a bilingual program that teaches evidence-based strategies to parents that have children with Autism in our community. Susy is also a member of The Advocacy Leadership Network with Autism Speaks and is part of the advisory board with UTRGV BeChildLab, where she also helps recruit and collaborate with their Caregiver Skills Training program (CST). She is a published co-author for a book called "Hope lighting" and has been published in research grants that focus on Autism and the Hispanic community. She currently lives in Brownsville, Texas and is committed to do everything she can to help parents become the leaders and advocates that their children need. Susy loves to run in her free time, where she has completed numerous 5K’s, 10K’s, and 8 half-marathons. She is currently training to complete 3 more half-marathons by the end of 2023.

“No one is too big or too small to advocate for their kids. We can all be leaders in our community in our own way”

Ana Ramirez, M.A., BCBA

Ana Ramirez, M.A., BCBA

Ana Ramirez, M.A., BCBA

Ana C. Ramirez is a bilingual board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), and a doctoral student in clinical psychology in the Department of Psychological Sciences at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Ana is also a Master Trainer for the World Health Organization (WHO) and Autism Speaks Caregiver Skills Training (CST). Her research focuses on assessment and treatment of autistic children and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, particularly on bilingualism, cultural differences, and ethnic disparities.