Leadership Team

Robert F. Littleton Jr. is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of numerous service agencies including the Evergreen Center, Beacon ABA Services of Massachusetts and Connecticut, Criterion Child Enrichment, BehaviorPedia Inc., and Human Services Management Corporation. Dr. Littleton has taught elementary and special education in the Barnstable Public Schools. He has held certifications as an Administrator of Special Education and as an Early Intervention Program Director. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and his Masters in Education in Severe Special Needs from Lesley University. Dr. Littleton completed his doctoral research in Special Education at Boston University on the treatment of toddlers with expressive language delay. He is a past President of the Massachusetts Association for Approved Private Schools and is a former Chair of the Council of Affiliated State Associations, a subcommittee of the National Association of Private Special Education Centers. He is also a founding incorporator of the Massachusetts Association for Applied Behavior Analysis. Dr. Littleton was the catalyst and has been a key contributor to the development of graduate training programs for behavior analysts at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth and Cambridge College. He has served as a committee chair for the Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium and as a trustee the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. He is currently a trustee of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst Foundation and the Milford Regional Medical Center. In 2012, Dr. Littleton was an inaugural recipient of the Salute to Service Award from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Dr. Cliff R. Cabral brings over 30 years of experience in the health and human services field to his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Evergreen Center. His career has been marked by a diverse range of roles, showcasing his expertise as a clinical and senior leader in the health and human services sector.

Since November 27th, 2003, Dr. Cabral has demonstrated exceptional leadership in various settings, including psychiatric hospitals, residential programs, community mental health centers, and a wide variety of community based educational and supportive services for individuals of all ages and abilities. His commitment to individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism, physical disabilities, neurobehavioral disorders, and special needs, aligns seamlessly with Evergreen Center's mission.

Prior to joining Evergreen, Dr. Cabral served as the Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Healthcare Partners, where he provided strategic and operational leadership. His achievements include leading the BH Link project in Rhode Island, the state’s only dedicated 24/7 behavioral health crisis facility and emergency call center. Dr. Cabral also spearheaded the passage of legislation in support of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in Rhode Island, ensuring a positive transformational change to the behavioral health system across the state. Dr. Cabral's extensive experience also encompasses roles as Vice President at Seven Hill Rhode Island and Seven Hills Behavioral Health, overseeing operational and administrative initiatives for dozens of health and human service programs across RI and Massachusetts.

As the CEO of Evergreen Center, Dr. Cabral is committed to continuing his legacy of transformative leadership. He brings a wealth of expertise in health and human service administration, strategic planning, government relations, grant procurement and fundraising, and clinical supports. Dr. Cabral's proficiency in navigating the complex landscape of laws and regulations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ensures Evergreen's commitment to providing the highest quality care for individuals with diverse needs.

Dr. Cabral holds a Doctorate in Health Administration from Central Michigan University, a Master of Arts in Agency Counseling from Rhode Island College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Roger Williams University. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, and a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor.

James has worked with individuals with disabilities for over 16 years, beginning with his first job as an overnight staff for a residential program located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. James also served as a residential supervisor and a job coach for a public school program before moving to New England in 2013. After completing his clinical field experience for BCBA certification, James spent three years serving as the District BCBA for a Massachusetts public school system. He returned to residential treatment in 2018 as the Director of Professional Development for the Evergreen Center, where he has supported improved outcomes for both students and staff by providing a combination of high-quality in-vivo and computer-based training. James completed his Doctorate in Applied Behavior Analysis through the Evergreen Center’s partnership with Cambridge College in 2023. James’ primary clinical interests include evidence-based staff training and the application of Organizational Behavior Management to human service settings.

Dr. Dione Christy is the Senior Advisor of the Office of Belonging: Cultural Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Practice (B:CEID) with the Human Services Management Corporation. Previously, she served as a visiting adjunct Professor of Practice with Nova University, as an Advising Senior Consultant with the Virginia Department of Education, Division of Quality Schools, and as Chair/Senior Lead Evaluator with the Cognia Corporation. Dr. Christy has also served as President of a Washington-based public service organization and as Nonprofit Senior Executive of a Northern Virginia-based National Association overseeing superintendent and principal leadership development. Dr. Christy has previously been appointed to the Educator Workforce Diversity Initiative Task Force and State Equity Plan of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Harvard University and Boston Public Schools Inclusion and Equity Advisory Committee and Equity Working Group. Dr. Christy has been invited to speak at thought leadership events and has numerous service honors and awards such as the United States President’s Education Awards for Educational Excellence, Chamber of Commerce’s International ATHENA Individual Leadership Award, Economic Council and the Education Foundation’s Administrator of the Year, Executive Women’s National Female Executive Award, and DWYER Award for Excellence in Special Education. Dr. Christy earned post-doctorate advanced certification in change leadership, education reform, and urban education superintendent from Harvard University; global education senior policy fellow designation from the Institute of Education Leadership (IEL), a Ph.D. (College of Sciences Marshall, Kappa Delta Pi honors, distinction) in leadership and education from Barry University, and an M.S. in speech-language pathology supervision and administration from Nova University. Additionally, she is certified in Facilitative Leadership for Social Change from the Interaction Institute for Social Change.

Joe has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2001 and has served as a consultant and trainer for 15 years working in both early intervention and public school settings prior to joining the Evergreen Center in 2012.  Joe is the Chair of Cambridge College’s master’s program in ABA and teaches in the PhD program. He has published several research articles related to teaching individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Joe has served as a Guest Reviewer for several journals including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis and Practice, Behavioral Interventions, and the Psychological Record. He is a current board member and past president of the Massachusetts Association of Applied Behavior Analysis (MassABA).

John received his Doctorate in Learning Processes and Behavior Analysis in 2011 from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). Since 2001, John has provided services to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and his clinical work has included consultation and training in early intervention and residential treatment settings. He has published 18 articles and book chapters in the areas of staff and parent training, choice and preference for instructional procedures, developmental disabilities, and applied behavior analysis. John is passionate about teaching applied behavior analysis, staff training, and the application of behavior analysis to improve the wellbeing of students with disabilities.

Rebecca joined the Evergreen Center in the fall of 2019 as their Behavior Education Treatment Director. She earned her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Columbia University, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with Doctoral designation (BCBA-D), and a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA) in Massachusetts. In addition to her role at the Evergreen Center, Rebecca serves as adjunct professor in both the ABA Masters and Doctoral Programs at Cambridge College. Her passions and research interests include the assessment and treatment of severe challenging behavior, and the evaluation of individualized methods to promote verbal behavior development.

Nicole joined Evergreen’s executive team in 2015 as the Director of Family Services and Admissions. In 2023, she was promoted to her current position in response to her commitment to comprehensive, individualized student services and effective interdisciplinary collaboration. Nicole holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA), specializing in Non-Profit Management. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) as well as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW). Nicole has worked with youth living with mental health struggles and developmental disabilities for over fifteen years, with the majority of her career focused on residential treatment for high needs individuals. Evergreen provided her with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of ABA and to witness the positive impact it has in applied settings. Nicole is passionate about providing effective, evidence-based treatment in a compassionate framework that prioritizes family involvement. 

Jennifer is a Speech-Language Pathologist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. As the Director of Therapy Services, she leads a talented team of specialists that ensure our students have the motor and communication skills to be successful in their living and learning environments.  

Jen studied Speech-Language Pathology at Boston University and MGH Institute of Health Professions. She returned to school to study Applied Behavior Analysis at Simmons University and is currently working on her doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology through Northwestern. 

Although she began her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist and is still passionate about promoting communication for all individuals, her work has expanded to include a variety of interdisciplinary roles. She works to integrate knowledge and interventions from a variety of disciplines into the program for our students, helping them to develop skills and working to enhance their quality of life. In her doctorate studies, Jen is researching indirect service delivery models within Allied Health fields and how to ensure that students receive the most effective and efficient evidence-based interventions. In addition to her work at Evergreen, she teaches graduate-level special education and early intervention courses through Cambridge College.  

Jen is a Registered Nurse and has worked in the healthcare field for over a decade. She earned her Associate of Science degree in Nursing from Becker College, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and Master’s of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Jen has worked in a variety of clinical settings including residential, long-term care, day programs, and outpatient treatment centers. She is a MAP trainer and IV certified. At the Evergreen Center, Jen is passionate about ensuring the healthcare needs of each student are exceedingly met, all while working alongside the other interdisciplinary team members. Teamwork makes the dream work! In her spare time, Jen enjoys baking, running, and spending time with her family.

Peggy joined the Evergreen team in 2022 as the Director of Adult Residential Supports.  She has over 20 years of experience in the human services field.  Peggy is dedicated to providing quality social supports that foster opportunity, independence and personalized choice.  As a member of several statewide inclusion networks, she has been highly involved over the years in creatively facilitating and promoting solid and meaningful community ties by furthering inclusion within organizations and communities. 

Peggy is passionate about empowering people to take control over their life choices and reach their maximum potential for self-determination through an individual centered approach.  She has developed and led several self-advocacy and healthy relationship groups, as well as providing training to staff and families in these areas. 

Maureen joined the Evergreen Center's Community Services division in Malden in 2000. Maureen holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Maureen has worked with children, teens, and families struggling with mental health issues and behavioral struggles for more than 25 years. Maureen is passionate about providing children and families in crisis a stable support network within the foster care system.