Remembering Beth Sulzer-Azaroff
Beth Sulzer-Azaroff’s life shows that sharp science plus kind mentorship multiplies good outcomes across generations.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Alavosius (2022) wrote a short tribute to Beth Sulzer-Azaroff.
The piece lists her key writings and the people she mentored.
It shows how one dedicated professor can shape an entire field.
What they found
The paper found that Sulzer-Azaroff mixed tight science with warm mentorship.
Her students went on to train more students, creating a ripple effect.
The field still uses the textbooks and ethical rules she helped write.
How this fits with other research
LeGoff (2004) tells a similar story about Jack Michael. Both papers show that great mentors change how future behavior analysts think and act.
Fiebig et al. (2020) warn that modern BCBAs burn out without self-care. The Sulzer-Azaroff story adds a missing piece: mentors who care can also protect us from burnout.
Jaramillo et al. (2022) give step-by-step tactics for fighting hidden racial bias. Sulzer-Azaroff’s example reminds us that mentoring people from all backgrounds is a living way to reach the same goal.
Why it matters
You can copy her style today. Pair rock-solid protocols with real interest in your supervisees. Ask about their goals, share your own missteps, and set weekly writing or skill targets. One caring BCBA can spark the same chain reaction in a clinic, school, or home team.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Schedule a 15-minute check-in with each supervisee this week: ask what skill they want to master next and offer one concrete resource to get there.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
Beth Sulzer-Azaroff was a pioneer in behavior analysis, contributing to many areas including organizational behavior management. Her work spanned many decades and influenced many in our field. She passed on February 26, 2022. Family, friends, students, colleagues, and clients mourn and remember her enormous influence. I was among her doctoral students (1983–1987) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she mentored my graduate studies. During an era when behavior analysis saw contributions from a number of pioneers, Beth stood out. Her scholarship, hard work, positive leadership, versatility, values, and commitment to behavior analysis earned respect and appreciation across domains of our discipline. This short paper celebrates her leadership, scholarship and mentorship.
Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 2022 · doi:10.1080/01608061.2022.2070574