William Jenson, Ph.D.
Professor of School Psychology
Research Interests
Dr. Jenson’s interests include the development of applied behavior analytic interventions for children on the autism spectrum and children with externalizing disorders, behavioral assessment, school based interventions, parent training, applied technology, and meta-analytic research.
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Biography
Dr. William R. Jenson is a Professor and past Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. He received his Ph.D. in School Psychology/Applied Behavior Analysis from Utah State University in 1975. He Directed the Adolescent Residential Unit in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Children’s Behavior Therapy Unit (CBTU) for Salt Lake Mental Health. CBTU is a day hospital program for severely emotionally disturbed and autistic children. In 1978, he co-founded the Carmen B. Pingree Center for Autism and Learning in Salt Lake City. The Pingree Center is a leader in the education and treatment for individuals on the autism spectrum in the Intermountain West.
Grants
Awards
In 2015, Dr. Jenson received the University of Utah’s Distinguished Innovation and Impactaward for the work he has done in developing evidence based practice interventions for children and their families.
Publications
He has authored and co-authored over one hundred articles, chapters, and books including the Tough Kid Book, Tough Kid Tool Box, Tough Kid Parent Training Book, Tough Kid New Teacher’s Book, Tough Kid Principal’s Briefcase, Understanding Childhood Behavior Disorders, Structured Teaching, Best Practices: Behavioral and Educational Strategies, Teaching Behaviorally Disordered Students: Preferred Practices, School-Based Interventions for Students with Behavior Problems, Functional Assessment and Intervention Program, Get’m on Task computer program, Superheroes Social Skills Program for Children with ASD, Tough Kid Bully Blockers Program, the Tough Kid On-Task in a Box, Functional Behavior Assessment of Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy and Interventions Book, The Functional Behavior Assessment of Bullying and Interventions Book and several others.