Board of Directors Advisor Member

Getting to know our "Who" and "Why" behind the scenes!!

Shannon Nichols is a Behavior Analyst 2 at the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (Clinical and Behavioral Services team with the Provider Performance and Monitoring Unit) with 23 years of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness. Shannon uses that experience to help these individuals to increase their independence to the greatest extent possible in the least restrictive environment.

Prior to taking this role with the Division of Developmental Disabilities in 2023, Shannon worked directly with individuals with developmental disabilities, their support team, and their families in a developmental center setting for 17 years. During her time there, she supervised professional and technical staff in the areas of behavior assessment, behavior program development, data collection, graphing, staff training, and reliability.

Additionally, she was responsible for preparing, reviewing, and signing official

performance evaluations for paraprofessional staff. Prior to that, Shannon gained experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities in a developmental center as well as in the community in the state of Tennessee.

Shannon earned a B.A. in Psychology from The University of Reno, Nevada in 1998 and an M.A., in Counseling and Educational Psychology from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California in 2000.

When she’s not at work Shannon enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, and loves spending time with her wife traveling.