College Administration and Primary Faculty

Robert DeFranco is President, CEO and Instructor of psychology, behavior analysis and animal behavior at ACAS He is a board certified behavior analyst and board certified companion animal behaviorist having completed his B.A. in psychology from SUNY Stony Brook, M.S.in psychology from Walden University, and has a completed dissertation in psychology from Walden University. He is the former president of the Nora Charles Human Resources in NYC for eight years and former Executive Director of the Animal Behavior Center of New York (ABCNY) and the Queens Community Animal Shelter in NYC for thirteen years before relocating to Florida in 2004. He is the current president and founder of the American College of Applied Science, the Executive Director of the Florida Center for Behavior Analysis (nonprofit) and the Florida Institute for Behavior Analysis (nonprofit), and Chairperson of the American Foundation for Animal Rescue (nonprofit), and the Bright from the Start Education Foundation (nonprofit). He is a Guardian Ad Litem for the Seventh Circuit Court in Florida, past president of the Rotary Club of Crescent City and a practicing behavior analyst who works with children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and other behavioral health concerns. He is also a therapy dog trainer.

James Jakubow PhD
VP Academic Affairs, Professor of Psychology and Thesis Advisor

Dr. Kathleen Morgan is Academic Program Director, Professor of Animal Science, and a graduate thesis advisor at ACAS. Her experience includes Associate Professor, Wheaton College, Docent Trainer, Southwick’s Zoo, Mendon, MA; Associate Instructor, University of California, Davis; Lecturer, California State University, San Bernardino CA. She received her Ph.D. in Comparative Psychology from UC Davis, M.A. Psychology from UC Davis and B.A. Psychology from Canisius College. Dr. Morgan has extensive work with animal and animal behavior. Dr. Morgan’s awards, followships and grants include Wheaton College Williams Chair in Social Sciences (2005-2010); Mars Faculty/Student Research Partnership Award (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007); Gebbie Faculty/Student Research Partnership Award (1996; 1997; 1998; 1999); NATO Travel Award (1994); NSF Travel Award (1994); Wheaton College Provost’s Faculty Research Award (1994/95; 1996197; 1999/2000); Wheaton College Hewlett Mellon Junior Faculty Research Award (1993); Western Psychological Association Student Scholarship (1 990); California Primate Research Center (1989/90); University Research Expeditions Program (19B6). Her professional affiliations include American Zoo and Aquarium Association; Animal Behavior Society; Project Kaleidoscope; Faculty for the 21 5t Century Council on Undergraduate Research; New England Faculty Development Consortium; Sigma Xl Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Boston Area; Neuroscience; Group; North East Undergraduate/Graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience (N.E.U.R.O.N.). Her research experience includes Director of Southwick’s Zoo; Projects included studies of Research captive animal behavior and visitor behavior. Principle Wheaton College 2008-2009 Relative numerosity in Investigator laboratory rats; Principle Wheaton College 2006-2007 Relative numerosity in dogs Investigator and primates; Principle Wheaton College. Use of referential speech by Investigator parakeets; Principle Wheaton College; Behavioral ecology of yellow Investigator spotted salamanders.

Dr. Lemire is Director of Academic Advising and Profession of Psychology at ACAS. He received his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction Secondary Education from Kansas State University, Ed.S. from University of Wyoming, Laramie in Educational Administration, Ed.S. in School Counseling  from Idaho State University; Social Science Education M.Ed. in Social Science Education from  Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon, and B.A. in Psychology/Sociology from infield College, McMinnville, Oregon. His certifications include Nationally Certified School Psychologist; California Community College Instructor’s Credential; California Community College Counselor’s Credential; California Community College Student Personnel Worker’s Credential; Wyoming Teaching Credential: Social Studies, School Counselor, Psychological Technician; School Psychologist. Colorado Teaching Credential: Administrator’s Endorsement. New Mexico Teaching Credential: Social Studies, Counseling, Administration. Arizona Teaching Credential: Social Studies. California Teaching Credential: Student Personnel and Teaching Endorsement. Oregon Teaching Credential: Social Studies, Pupil Personnel School Psychology; Oklahoma Credential: Teaching, Administration, Counseling, School Psychology; Alaska Teaching Credential: Administrator’s Endorsement, School Psychology; Utah Teaching Credential: School Counseling and Administrative Endorsement South Dakota Teaching Credential: School Psychology, School Counseling, Administrative; Nevada Teaching Credential: School Counseling, School Psychology Endorsement; Kansas Teaching Credential: Administrative Endorsement; American College of Counselors Certification: Counselor, Psychologist, Psychotherapist; Nationally Certified Psychologist: North American Masters in Psychology; Certified Rational Addictions Therapist: National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists. Instructor – Western Oregon University in Klamath Falls, OR – Response to Intervention, Positive Behavior Support, Individual Education Plans. His career includes Instructor – Southwest Oregon Community College, Coos Bay, OR –  Psychology; Instructor – Highland Community College, Hoyt and Meridan, KS – Ethics, Philosophy, Abnormal Psychology, General Psychology, Sociology; Instructor – Allen County Community College, Burlingame, KS – General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Human Sexuality, Philosophy, Abnormal Psychology; Instructor – Neosho County Community College, Ottawa, KS – Developmental Psychology, Sociology; Instructor – Eastern Wyoming College – Sociology, Foundations of Education, Child Psychology, Anthropology, Philosophy, Outcome-Based Education; Instructor – Pratt Community College, Pratt, KS – Theories of Personality, Human Growth and Development, Introduction to Mental Health and Counseling, Developmental Study Skills; Instructor – Western Wyoming College, Green River, WY – Introductory Psychology and Adolescence (undergraduate and graduate-level psychology courses); Instructor – University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, Dept. of Educational Foundations and Instructional Technology – Undergraduate educational psychology and various electives including independent studies and Teaching and Learning Styles.  Also taught undergraduate tests and measurements; Instructor – Western Wyoming College, Evanston, WY – Various classes in counseling, middle schools, psychology, education and sociology; Instructor – Utah State University, Logan, Utah – Taught Human Growth and Development at Evanston, Wyoming campus; Instructor –  Eastern Wyoming College,   Torrington, WY – Human Relations and the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler; Instructor – University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO – Human Relations and  the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler.