Mary Hunter earned an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in behavior analysis from the University of North Texas. Mary’s business, Behavior Explorer, offers educational courses and programs for individuals interested in the science of behavior. In addition, she teaches as an adjunct instructor in the behavior analysis department at the University of North Texas. In 2019, Mary and Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz published their first book, PORTL: The Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab.
Mary’s research interests include studying the process of shaping and finding better ways to teach people to train animals. Her master’s thesis, which examined the effects of a single reinforcer during shaping, was published in 2019 in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. She is a full member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and has presented her research at the organization’s annual convention.
Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz is an associate professor in the Behavior Analysis Department at the University of North Texas, where he has worked since 1994. In 1995, he received his Ph.D. in Experimental Child Psychology from the University of Kansas, where he studied under Dr. Donald M. Baer and Dr. Ogden R. Lindsley. Since 2020, he has served as the director of the Beatrice H. Barrett Behavior Analytic Neuroscience Initiative at the University of North Texas. Among his many significant contributions to behavior analysis is the behavioral development cusp, introduced in 1996 together with Dr. Baer. This groundbreaking work provides a behavior analytic account of the rapid changes that are often considered developmental and offers practitioners guidance when selecting target behaviors. Additionally, Dr. Rosales-Ruiz has been at the forefront of bringing the science of behavior to the growing field of human-animal interactions. His work on functional analysis and shaping has helped bridge the gap between academia and applied animal training. He is also the co-creator of PORTL, the Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab, a tabletop game which allows students and practitioners to experience behavioral principles and practice their teaching skills. Dr. Rosales-Ruiz is a fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and of the Eastern Psychological Association.
Hannah D. McGee joined the Behavior Explorer team in 2022. Hannah is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in behavior analysis at the University of North Texas. A career as a dog trainer led Hannah to discover the field of behavior analysis and sparked her interest in the scientific study of animal behavior. Hannah’s current research centers around the concepts of consent and coercion in animal training and exploring ways we can better understand our animals’ communication. Hannah has always shared her home with a variety of animals, from dogs and cats to snakes and tarantulas, and is always ready to learn about and work with new species. Additionally, Hannah has a passion for the skill of animal training and believes that we can enhance our interactions with animals by improving our own skills.
Sarah Owen joined the Behavior Explorer team in 2022. Sarah is a certified canine behavior consultant and trainer (CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA). She began her career in dog training as a service dog trainer before moving to Seattle, WA, where she worked primarily with puppies and “growly dogs.” In 2021, she was accepted into the master of science program in behavior analysis at the University of North Texas. Before training dogs professionally, Sarah worked in marketing and as a newspaper reporter and editor; she holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arizona State University. When she isn’t training or studying, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and (very) amateur photography.
Maia Nahele Huff-Owen joined the Behavior Explorer team in 2024. Maia is a professional dog trainer (KPA-CTP), a university lecturer in philosophy, and an aspiring perpetual student of all things behavior. Growing up on a working cattle ranch as an avid horseback rider and competitor, animal partnerships have been a part of her life since childhood. Through dog training, Maia delved deeper into animal behavior sciences, which has led to her pursuing a master’s degree in behavior analysis at the University of North Texas.