ABA Therapists
Valentina Rocha, B.A.S., RBT
Valentina graduated Sacred Heart University in 2017 studying both psychology and speech language pathology. She is bilingual in both English and Spanish. After graduating Valentina interned with Lindsay Scott SLP which is how she found her way to Michelle Ragozzine and Associates.
Valentina has been at MR&A working as an ABA therapist since November 2017 and is now pursuing her masters degree in ABA at the Chicago School Of Professional Psychology to one day become a BCBA. Valentina is very dedicated and passionate about the field and is excited to see where the next few years take her.
Amber Reese, B.A.S., RBT
Amber received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a Minor in Composite Sciences from East Carolina University. She is pursuing experience in ABA Therapy and striving to become a BCBA.
Amber is from North Carolina where she first began working with kids with autism at the Autism Society of NC. There she found a passion to improve the well being of children with disabilities and to bring advocacy to autism within the community.
Her plans in Connecticut are to grow as an ABA Therapist and travel to various places where these needs are scarce. Amber is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in ABA at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She plans to complete her degree in Spring 2024 and obtain her BCBA certification to continue her passion working with kids
Ivana Izzo, BA, RBT
Ivana received her BS in Behavioral Studies with a concentration in Psychology from Manhattanville College. While at Manhattanville she worked for a LCSW for two years where she was able to work with children with various behavioral and developmental disabilities. During this time she realized she wanted to pursue a career working with special needs children. She has always been passionate about working with kids and is super excited to be an ABA Therapist at MR&A!
Morgan Colombo, BA, RBT
Morgan graduated from Franklin Pierce University in 2019 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. While attending, Morgan also minored in Public Health. Morgan started working for MR&A during the summer of 2019. Since then she has worked in public schools, homes, the community and in MR&A's very own preschool. Within these settings Morgan has worked closely with related fields such as speech, OT, PT, and special education. She has also worked with many different clients ranging from preschool to teens.
During her free time, Morgan coaches a nationally ranked cheerleading team through Milford Pop Warner. She loves coaching her young athletes and watching them reach their full potential. Morgan is very dedicated and passionate about this field and is excited to see where the future takes her.
Alanna Mossberg, BS, RBT
Alanna graduated from the University of Rhode Island in May 2019 with her Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus in family and community settings. She also received a Minor in Psychology. While attending the university she took numerous classes related to human development, child development, and many different psychology courses.
Alanna was also an intern at the Woonsocket Head Start. It was here that she was able to gain experience as a Mental Health Specialist. She worked with young children with developmental, behavioral, and emotional difficulties.
Alanna has a passion for working with children and is excited to be a part of the Michelle Ragozzine and Associates team as an ABA Therapist.
Mackenzie Curley, BS, RBT
Mackenzie graduated from Monmouth University in May of 2020, with a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and a Minor in Biology. In college, she was President of an honors society. Mackenzie also traveled to Guatemala for service, where she focused on building a health and wellness facility for a local community. She found her passion within this field while working at The Kennedy Center. She planned and participated in group activities for children and adolescents with ASD and other disabilities.
Mackenzie is currently pursuing an ABA graduate program at the University of Saint Joseph and is planning to become a BCBA. She has been so fortunate to have gained the knowledge and experience thus far as an ABA Therapist and is looking forward to what lies ahead!
Jocelyn Daly, BA, RBT
Jocelyn is graduating from the University of New Haven in the spring of 2022 with a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Criminal Justice. She interned with MR&A for a semester and loved the experience she got from it.
Before joining the team here, she worked at a daycare in Massachusetts and that is where she discovered her passion for working with children. She is excited to be a part of this team because it combines her love of working with children and her love of psychology.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, she is planning on working towards her master’s to further her experience in the psychology field. She is looking forward to being an ABA therapist here at MR&A and learning everything she can from this experience!
Abigail Waples, BA
Abigail graduated from Hunter College in May of 2020 with a Bachelors in Sociology and a minor in Geography.
After graduation, Abigail was hired to work with preschool age children in Stamford. It was there that she found her love working with children with special needs. After being introduced to ABA in the school system, Abby quickly decided she wanted to move her career in that direction.
Abby recently moved east to continue her education and be with her family. She is very happy to be a part of the MR&A team!
Madison Berhaupt, BA, RBT
Madison graduated from the University of New Haven in December 2021 with a BA in Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. She is currently working on completing her Master’s in Community Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology at the University of New Haven.
Before joining our team, she interned with Tow Youth Justice Institute at the University of New Haven. There she helped aid in programs that focused on youth justice and policy reforms for youth within New Haven. In the summers during her undergraduate she worked at a summer camp in New York and developed a passion for working with children. She is excited to be a part of our team and further her passions for children and Psychology.
In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with her friends and family. She is looking forward to furthering her experience in the psychology field and working as an ABA therapist here at MR&A.
Tyler Davis, BA, RBT
Tyler is graduating this summer from Southern Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. During his college years, he worked in multiple settings with children and young adults on the autism spectrum that ultimately led him down the path to becoming an ABA therapist.
In his free time, Tyler enjoys playing basketball and doing martial arts. He is also extremely passionate about working in the studio creating music.
Mary Beth Peluso, BA, RBT
Mary Beth holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Philosophy from Elizabethtown College. She has been working with children with special needs since 2006 in many environments such as daycares, schools, homes, and community settings. Mary Beth is passionate about helping children and excited to be apart of the MR&A team.
Mary Beth is a member of the International Honor Society in Psychology, Psi Chi, in their graduate designation. She spearheaded many fundraisers which led to raising money for books, food, and children’s supplies to benefit local mental health agencies and nonprofit agencies catering to women and children.
Mary Beth is also a voracious reader and enjoys nature walks with her two kids, family, friends, and her puppy, Max.
Isabelle Hajek, BA, RBT
Isabelle earned her B.A. in Psychology with majors in Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Sociology from the University of New Haven. She developed a love for working with children early in childhood during high school, and continued to do so at Leadership Education and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP) New Haven throughout college.
Throughout university, Isabelle worked on research at the TOW Youth Justice Institute and completed independent studies on child externalized behaviors. During her time working in the field, Isabelle developed an even greater liking for child psychology and has sought to pursue it for as long as she can remember.
In order to eventually seek a PhD in psychology, she aims to get valuable experience directly in the field first. She has enjoyed her previous experiences working with children and she’s excited to be able to seize the opportunity of working at MR&A as a RBT.
Keily Garcia, AS
Keily will be graduating this spring with her Associate of Arts in Psychology from Gateway
Community College. She has big plans to continue into university fall 2023 to pursue her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.
Throughout Keily’s academic career she worked in the field of early childhood education and is
a Certified Head Teacher in the state of Connecticut. She has managed classrooms, camp
sites, and field trips, with groups of children ranging from three to twelve.
During her time as a toddler and preschool teacher she worked collaboratively with the
providers of her students with autism and/or ADHD. Notably, she realized just how much she
wanted to work with special needs children and advocate for them as well.
Keily has always aspired to work with children, thus, her love and support for them. Her
plans and wishes are to grow as an ABA therapist and finish grad school to become a child
developmental psychologist, continuing her work in the field. She is ecstatic to have found a company like MR&A; who prioritizes the children and where all are welcomed holistically.
Kinsey Ratchelous, BS
Kinsey graduated from James Madison University in May of 2022, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences and a Minor in Substance Use Disorder Education.
Previously, Kinsey has spent time volunteering at ACES Mill Road School, working with children with social, emotional and behavioral challenges.
Watching her mom have a career in the special education field has motivated Kinsey to pursue her own career working with children with special needs.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her rescue dogs Mickey and Rosie. Kinsey is super excited to be joining the MR&A team and begin her career as an ABA Therapist!
Hailey Dudding, BA
Hailey graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in May of 2022 with her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Psychology. During her time at SCSU, Hailey did an internship where she assisted with an after-school program. There she worked with other counselors to devise programs and activities based on the developmental and academic levels of the students. Hailey also spent some time as a literacy tutor.
Hailey is very passionate about children and animals. It is her life goal to help and work with them in any way she can. She also enjoys horseback riding, drawing, photography, and spending time with her family.
Hailey is so excited to start this new chapter with Michelle Ragozzine & Associates!
Kaylee Sostilio, BS
Kaylee received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders with a minor in psychology at Sacred Heart University in 2022. Throughout her academic career, she has found a passion working with children with behavioral and developmental disabilities. While living in Bridgeport, Kaylee worked as a mentor to students in a local public school and gained experience as an instructional aide.
Kaylee plans to one day earn a master’s degree in speech-language pathology to pursue a career as an SLP. Currently she hopes to build her skills as an ABA therapist and is so excited to be a part of the MR&A team!