Riggleman, Samantha

Associate Professor

Samantha has worked as an Associate Professor and an ABA and BACB Graduate in the Department of Special Education at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. She is a Doctoral-Level, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and a certified International Behavior Analyst. Her work has been published in the Young Exceptional Children, Beyond Behavior, Journal of Special Education Technology, and Rural Special Education Quarterly. Her research focuses on the social-emotional development of young children, suspension and expulsion rates for young children in pre-school, and the uses of technology in training early childhood special education instructors. Samantha has over 15 years of experience working with adults and children in various settings, including schools, day programs, and juvenile justice centers, as a behavior specialist. She has implemented positive behavior support plans, created inclusive spaces, and trained staff, teachers, and parents. We are excited to have her expertise to lead our newly established ABA program at SOE.

Education

• PhD in Special Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
• MAT in Special Education at Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA
• BS in Psychology at Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA

Research Interests

• Social-emotional development in young children
• Expulsion rates for young children in preschool settings
• Early intervention and identification of emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) and mental health
• Self-monitoring in early childhood
• Teacher training and the use of technology in training teachers
• Inclusive education and practices for young children with behavioral disorders
• Applied behavior analysis (ABA)

Professional/Community Affiliations

• Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), Program Area Coordinator
• The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) PA State President
• Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Policy & Advocacy Committee Member
• The International Association for Special Education (IASE), Newsletter Editor

Publications/Research Listings

• Coogle, C., Zimmerman, K., Lane, J., & Riggleman, S. (accepted). Searching for gold: How to find good evidence and resources for your practice? Young Exceptional Children.
• Macy, M., Diamond, L., Riggleman, S., McCorkle, L., & Zelan, A. (accepted) Fostering scholarly writing through the division for early childhood consortium for innovations in doctoral excellence (DECIDE) mentorship. Early Childhood Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-024-01806-6
• Randolph, K. M., Riggleman, S., Taylor, M., Hyun Oh, J., & Lohmann, M. (in press). Preparing early elementary preservice teacher candidates to positively support students with challenging behavior. Submitted to Journal of Special Educator Preparation.
• Riggleman, S., Higgins, J., & Lohmann, M. (2025). Crafting behavior goal cocktails: What’s in yours? Writing behavioral goals in early childhood. Beyond Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/10742956241313104
• Sheppard, M., Riggleman, S., & Blackwell III, W. (in press). Exploring the use of witness testimony in special education due process hearings. Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice.
• Howe, E., Riggleman, S., & Passmore, A. (in press). Evidence-based practices via remote service delivery for early intervention in rural communities. Rural Special Education Quarterly.
• Lohmann, M., Riggleman, S., & Higgins, J. (2023). Using a mobile device for early childhood classroom behavior data collection. Early Childhood Education Journal. Online Advance https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-023-01443-5
• Higgins, J. P., Riggleman, S., & Lohmann, M. J. (2023). A practical guide to writing behavior intervention plans for young children. The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship, 12(1), Article 7, 1-25. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/josea/vol12/iss1/7
• Kucskar Mitsch, M., Riggleman, S., & Buchter, J. (2021). Responding to young children’s socialemotional needs through video modeling. Young Exceptional Children, 24(1), 16-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/1096250620910708
• Kucskar Mitsch, M., & Riggleman, S. (2020). Effectively integrating direct instruction and discrete trials across routines, activities, and environments. Beyond Behavior, 29(3), 152-161.
• Riggleman, S. (2020). Using data collection applications in early childhood settings to support behavior change. Journal of Special Education Technology, 36(3), 175-182. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162643420942763
• Buchter, J. & Riggleman, S. (2018). Using technology to meet the needs of children 0-3 with disabilities in rural areas. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 37(3), 176-182.
• Riggleman, S. & Morgan, J. J. (2017). Using the behavior expectation discrepancy tool to support young children with challenging behaviors. Young Exceptional Children. Online First: https://doi.org/10.1177/1096250617697238
• Riggleman, S. & Buchter, J. (2017). Using Internet-based applications to increase collaboration among stakeholders in special education. Journal of Special Education Technology, 32(4), 232- 239.