Lead Consultant
Dr. Whelan graduated from The George Washington University with Bachelor and Master’s degrees in speech-language pathology and studied applied behavior analysis at UMass Boston. A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA), he obtained his doctoral degree in behavior analysis at Western New England University under the advisement of Dr. Gregory Hanley. His clinical experience includes delivering speech and behavior analytic services in public schools, private residential schools, and adult day programs. Dr. Whelan currently serves as the Executive Director at TACT, an agency that provides ABA services to children and adults in homes, clinics, and school districts. There, he oversees the Community and School Consultation Department, the Professional Practice Department, and he works to build capacity among behavior analysts and technicians who provide high-quality clinical services to children and adults with autism.
His research interests include the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, training staff to implement Practical Functional Assessments and Skills-Based Treatments, and evaluating strategies for delivering effective services that result in long-term, generalized effects. His research has been published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Child and Family Behavior Therapy. He has served as a guest reviewer for Behavioral Interventions, Behavior Analysis in Practice, and the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
