College of Education and Human Development

Department of Educational Psychology

People

M. Y. Savana Bak

  • Pronouns: she, her, hers

  • Associate professor

My current research focuses on 1) social communication interventions for autistic children using multi-mode language data from the children’s natural environment and 2) supporting communities to advocate for culturally responsive interventions.

    DEGREES

    PhD, Michigan State University
    MS, Drexel University

      AREAS OF INTEREST
      • ALAB: A Lab for Autism Research
      • Autism spectrum disorder
      • Language and social communications
      • Behavior measurement
      • Intersectional and culturally responsive interventions
        BIOGRAPHY

        My current research focuses on 1) social communication interventions for autistic children using multi-mode language data from the children’s natural environment and 2) supporting communities to advocate for culturally responsive interventions. My research objective encompasses investigations concerning 1) current language assessments for autistic children who are non- or minimally-verbal, 2) importance of culture in social communication assessment and learning objectives, and 3) cross-cultural and global considerations of evidence-based practices.

        Advising statement

          PUBLICATIONS

          Reilly, A. M., Bak, M. Y. S., & Johnson, L. D. (2024). Researcher-reported variables that impact translation of social communication evidence-based practices for elementary-aged students with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06499-9

          Pan, Q., Bak, M. Y. S., DeLiema, D., Symons, F., & Dueñas, A. D. (2024). Using interaction and quantitative analysis to examine the effects of video modeling on play of a preschooler with autism. Journal of Behavioral Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-024-09550-y

          Bak, M. Y. S., Dueñas, A. D., Reilly, A. M., Abas, H., & Pan, Q. (2023). The demographics of autistic individuals in social communication evidence-based practice: A systematic review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-023-00424-z

          Bak, M. Y. S., Plavnick, J. B., & Byrne, S. M. (2019). Vocalizations of minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder across the school year. Autism, 23, 371-382. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361317747576

          Bak, M. Y. S., Dueñas, A. D., Avendaño, S. M., Stanley, T., & Graham, A. C. (2021). Tact instruction for children with autism spectrum disorder: A review. Autism and Developmental Language Impairments, 6, 1-22 https://doi.org/10.1177/2396941521999010

          Bak, M. Y. S., Plavnick, J. B., & Byrne, S. M. (2019). Vocalizations of minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder across the school year. Autism, 23, 371- 382. doi: 10.1177/1362361317747576

          Dueñas, A. D., Plavnick, J. B., & Bak, M. Y. S. (2019). Effects of joint video modeling on unscripted play behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 236-247. doi:10.1007/s10803- 018-3719-2

          M. Y. Savana Bak

          • Educational Psychology 
            Room 241 Education Sciences Bldg.
            56 East River Road
            Minneapolis, MN 55455-0364

          • 612-624-6083
          • mbak@umn.edu

          • Office hours by appointment