Better Together: How Organizational Partnerships Create Pipelines that Build Capacity and Advance Careers

When Tanya Tovar, MS, BCBA, LABA speaks to the value of partnership between Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) Corporation and William James College, she does so from a unique vantage point: The organization’s Regional Coordinator for Eastern Massachusetts is also a student in the College’s Leadership Psychology PsyD program. Wearing both hats gives Tovar a one-of-a-kind perspective on the role organizational partnerships play in creating pipelines that build capacity and advance careers for staff already in place.

“Collaborating with a College that supports individuals with diverse backgrounds, experience, and expertise to advance their careers as [behavioral health and leadership] professionals is invaluable,” says Tovar pointing to the various work-friendly and flexible programs that allow employees to remain in their current position while developing knowledge and skills in behavioral health.

In her supervisory role, Tovar regularly implements classroom learning on the job. From diagnosing systems challenges to providing intentional feedback, she is leading with purpose and shaping effective teams. She’s also modeling the value of returning to the classroom in order to achieve professional goals—a perk available to all 175 staff members across 33 states at PBS.

How the PBS-WJC Partnership Works

Jacqueline Medici joined PBS as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in the fall of 2024. During their intake interview, Medici was encouraged to pursue a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in order to climb the career ladder—a step they had previously contemplated but not acted upon. In hindsight, learning about their new employer’s educational partnerships proved game changing.

“Receiving a scholarship and earning higher compensation made going back to school a win-win,” says Medici, who had begun to feel stagnant working as an RBT.

Given their field of competence, supporting children with autism, becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) made sense. The fully online master’s program at William James College was a logical choice for Medici, a resident of New Mexico. Its emphasis on providing culturally responsive care to underserved populations was equally alluring.

“Supporting a client’s autonomy, through an ethical, person-centered approach, is important to me,” says Medici, pointing to an alignment in personal values and program goals. 

In their current role as student analyst, Medici juggles direct client sessions and supervised field work hours with classroom learning—much of which is immediately applicable on the job.

“I use first-then language multiple times a day to reduce challenging behavior and promote positive outcomes,” says Medici, referencing the Premack Principle, a recent topic of class discussion. While not necessarily new to them, using preferred activities as motivation for  less-preferred activities (First we are going to wash the dishes, and then we can play video games) provides Medici with real-time opportunities to adjust and improve strategies they use on the job every day.

Stemming from their own lived experience, Medici’s long-term career goals involve utilizing ABA to support individuals affected by eating disorders. Now three years in recovery, they identify as a fat activist who seeks to spread awareness about ableism. 

“Addressing the discrimination against individuals living with physical and intellectual disabilities, and adjusting the framework in order to find a pathway forward in the process, is what keeps me going,” says Medici, pointing to a burgeoning area of application in the field of ABA—one a graduate degree from William James College will position them to address. 

Why Partnerships Matter

“Partnerships that position behavioral health and psychology professionals to advance their careers benefit everyone,” says Carolyn Cross, MS, associate director of recruitment, employer partnerships. For employees, the partnership supports professional development by making an advanced degree more affordable and accessible. Practicum supervision opportunities coupled with generous scholarships (that vary by degree program and partner organization) create pipelines into hands-on practice with an established provider, strengthening training and career readiness. Employers benefit from the chance to build capacity among current staff and retain them, which simultaneously supports career goals and yields less turnover—a direct benefit to clients and their families. 

“Partnerships link academic training at William James College with real-world applied experience through employers like PBS,” says Cross, who welcomes inquiries from behavioral health organizations keen on supporting their employees—to gain skills and advance careers—through education and training opportunities. 

“We all start somewhere,” says Tovar, a mother of two children, pointing to the wide range of individuals she counts as colleagues. From recent high school graduates and new parents to primary caregivers and folks finding a second career in behavioral health, advancing in the field of ABA is within reach of everyone at PBS.

“The partnership between my employer and William James College puts feasible options in place for all staff members to simultaneously further their education and achieve professional goals—no matter the stage of life.”

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