Biography and education
Dr. Raulston is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Doctoral designation (BCBA-D) with more than 15 years of teaching, clinical, and applied research experience.
She received her bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University in 2007, her master's degree with a concentration in applied behavior analysis (ABA) from Texas State University in 2013, and her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Oregon in 2017.
Her scholarship is centered on early interventions to support the social emotional development of autistic children and those with related developmental differences. Within this broad framework, three overlapping lines of research emerge: (1) early social skills interventions, (2) family capacity and well-being, and (3) prevention of behavior problems.
She received her bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University in 2007, her master's degree with a concentration in applied behavior analysis (ABA) from Texas State University in 2013, and her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Oregon in 2017.
Her scholarship is centered on early interventions to support the social emotional development of autistic children and those with related developmental differences. Within this broad framework, three overlapping lines of research emerge: (1) early social skills interventions, (2) family capacity and well-being, and (3) prevention of behavior problems.
Featured grants
- Raulston, Tracy Jane (Principal). CARES Applied Behavior Analysis Educator Training Program, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Institutional (Higher Ed), $191000. (Funded: September 1, 2025 - March 31, 2026). Grant.
- Ousley, Ciara (Principal), Raulston, Tracy Jane (Supporting), McNaughton, David (Supporting). Coaching Families of Young Children with Autism and Minimal Speech in Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Strategies Using Video Feedback, Organization for Autism Research, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $2000. (Funded: 2021). Grant.
- Raulston, Tracy Jane (Principal), Roeser, Robert (Co-Principal), McIntyre, Laura Lee (Co-Principal). Mindful Routines: Development of a Mindfulness-Enhanced Behavior Support Program for Families of Young Children with and at risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social Science Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, $22601. (Funded: 2020). Grant.
- Caraway, Nell (Co-Principal), Hieneman, Meme (Co-Principal), Raulston, Tracy Jane (Supporting). ASD Parent Trainer: Online coaching for parents of children with autism (APT), National Institutes of Health, Federal, $1421507. (Funded: 2015 - 2018). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Raulston, T. J., Ousley, C., Hinton, E., & Ramirez, A. (2024). Beyond trial counts: Considerations for measuring play and engagement during early intervention for autistic children. Behavior Analysis in Practice.
- Raulston, T. J., Ousley, C., & Gilhuber, C. (2023). A scoping review of playdate literature with children on the autism spectrum. Early Childhood Education Journal, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-023-01616-2.
- Raulston, T. J., Kosty, D., & McIntyre, L. L. (2021). Mindful parenting, caregiver distress, and conduct problems in children with autism. American Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 51, 357–363.
- Raulston, T. J., Hansen, S., Frantz, R., Machalicek, W., & Bhana, N. (2020). A parent-implemented playdate intervention for children with autism and their peers. Journal of Early Intervention, 42, 303–320.
- Raulston, T. J., Hieneman, M., Caraway, N., & Pennefather, J. (2018). Enablers of behavioral parent training for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28, 693–703.
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award in Scholarly/Creative Activities, College of Education, Texas State University. 2025
- Award / Honor Nominee: Texas State Alumni Association’s Teaching Award of Honor, Texas State University College of Education. 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Outstanding Junior Researcher, Penn State College of Education. 2021
- Award / Honor Recipient: Doctoral Research Award, University of Oregon College of Education. 2016
- Award / Honor Recipient: Florence Wolfard Scholarship, University of Oregon College of Education. 2016
Featured service activities
- Graduate Advisor
Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration
- Other
Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration, Special Education Program
- Other
Clinic of Autism Research, Evaluation, and Support (CARES)
- Other
Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Member
Texas Association of Behavior Analysis Promoting Engagement Committee
- Member
Research Enhancement Committee (TXST Curriculum and Instruction Department)