Gospel Y. Kim, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA

Dr. Gospel Kim is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, specializing in special education. Dr. Kim earned her doctorate in special education with an emphasis on early childhood education and Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Kansas. She completed two postdoctoral fellowship programs at the UC Davis MIND Institute: Autism Research Training Program (ARTP) and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND).

Dr. Kim holds teaching certifications in early childhood PK-3 in the US and early childhood special educator licensure in South Korea. She is a former public-school teacher for young children with or at a high likelihood of developmental disabilities in self-contained and in general education classrooms. Dr. Kim is a board-certified behavior analyst and has worked as a behavioral therapist in university-based clinics and community childcare settings, and has served as a behavioral consultant in non-profit organizations.

Dr. Kim’s research focuses on disseminating and implementing evidence-based interventions in community settings to support young autistic children and their families. She is particularly interested in collaborating with community partners and families to support social, communication, and emotional development for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities or delays. Her work is grounded in community-based participatory research (CBPR) and implementation science frameworks.

Degrees

Ph.D. Special Education (Specialization: Early Childhood Unified; Minor: Applied Behavior Analysis)
2023 | University of Kansas

M.A. Special Education 
2019 | Ewha Womans University

B.A. Special Education (Minor: Early Childhood Education)
2015 | Ewha Womans University

Certifications

• Teacher Certification in Texas: Early Childhood - Grades PK-3
• Teaching License in Kansas: Early Childhood Unified - Birth-K
• Teacher Certification in South Korea: Early Childhood Special Education
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D)
• Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in Texas, Kansas

Research Interests

• Autism
• Social-communication development
• Social-emotional development and behavioral support
• Family-centered practices
• Naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI)
• Implementation science
• Community-based participatory research (CBPR)