During The New England Center for Children’s 45-plus years of operation, many women have impacted NECC. This Women’s History Month, we take a moment to remember the contributions of Myrna Libby, Maria Felix Lonergan, and Renee Mansfield. These three women continue to change the lives of children with autism and the staff who work at NECC, even after they have passed.
Maria Felix Lonergan
1974-2015
Maria Felix Lonergan, BCBA, dedicated her career to improving the lives of children with autism at NECC for nearly 20 years. During her two decades at NECC, Maria worked as a teacher and case manager, an academic specialist, a program specialist, and education administrator. A licensed SPED teacher and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Maria mentored numerous staff. She was an advocate for students’ rights to effective and meaningful education and she challenged our students to learn more and our teachers to provide more varied experiences. Maria’s work ethic, integrity, teamwork, and resolve to bring about meaningful student progress were unparalleled.
In memory of Maria and her significant contributions to NECC, the Maria Felix Lonergan Award is awarded to a NECC teacher who exemplifies three main themes inspired by Maria: mentorship of new professionals, advocacy for students’ effective education, and professionalism.
Myrna Libby
1945-2008
Myrna Libby, Ph.D., BCBA, was a director at NECC for 20 years whose impact on NECC endures. Myrna was the principal program architect of NECC’s curriculum. As clinical director at NECC, she was a tireless advocate for using scientifically validated approaches to improve the lives of children with autism. For Myrna, the actual test of any program was whether it made a meaningful difference in students’ behavior. Her clinical work directly benefitted the lives of many and will continue to positively influence countless others for generations to come.
In 2009, the Myrna E. Libby Scholar Award was established to honor a NECC staff member whose work exemplifies Myrna’s vision that research guides the education and treatment of individuals with autism, and so improves their lives.
Renée Mansfield
1957-2018
Renée Mansfield, MA, BCBA, LABA, was the heartbeat behind the ACE® ABA Software. An extraordinary innovator, Mansfield’s leadership as the department’s executive director was instrumental in bringing the software to market and establishing it as the leader in autism education software. In 2002, NECC decided that it was time to digitize its lesson plans and turned to Renee to spearhead the process. Renee was integral in developing the ACE department and, ultimately, in the ACE’s success. What began as a simple curriculum database has now grown into a software program that offers a comprehensive approach to assessing and treating the complex needs of individuals with autism.
The beautiful garden space enjoyed by staff and students in the John and Diane Kim Autism Institute is dedicated to honoring her.