By Rolanda Gallop
After earning her degree from Florida Tech, Christina Banbury ’23 M.A. earned a second master’s degree in nonprofit administration and leadership from Moody Bible Institute. In March 2025, she became a licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She then founded Behavior On Demand, a Christian nonprofit dedicated to developing the next generation of behavioral therapists while helping them discover their purpose in Christ. Her organization has formed partnerships with local churches, businesses and, most notably, Moody Bible Institute, where she leads an internship program that trains undergraduate seniors to become Registered Behavior Technicians.
Residence: Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Florida Tech Degree: Behavior Analysis Practice, M.A.
Job Title: Executive director at Behavior on Demand Nonprofit; Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Impactful Faculty: Shane Spiker and William Carlucci
Why did you choose Florida Tech? To further my capabilities within the field of behavior analysis, since securing an afterschool contract with Atlanta Public Schools to deliver ABA therapy. Also, earlier on in my career, Florida Tech had one of the top notable programs for the f ield of behavior analysis.
How did your experience at Florida Tech prepare you as a professional? It became another gateway for me to advance my career and move toward mastery—something that doesn’t come easily when I’m known for taking on more projects than I probably should at once.
Specifically, were there any courses or faculty that had a significant influence on your education? Absolutely, Dr. Shane Spiker for his authenticity in storytelling about how he started his career and Dr. William Carlucci for his IOA Data in-class challenges.
Share your best Florida Tech student memory. One of my most memorable moments at Florida Tech was attending a speaking engagement by Florida Tech alumnus Mike Moses [’91 M.S.], president of Spaceline at Virgin Galactic. While his main presentation was inspiring—filled with insights into leadership, space exploration and innovation—what truly connected with me was a small story he told, affectionately known as the “Donut Story.” It was a surprisingly powerful lesson about how something as simple as a box of donuts can build trust, create opportunities and shape relationships in unexpected ways. Ironically, before I attended Florida Tech, an investor I worked with used the same gesture.
What have been the highlights and milestones of your life and career so far? Getting to drive my nonprofit forward, completing the final stages leading up to us launching our app (launching in 2026) and the connections that I am constantly making with all types of people from different countries and settings, and doing business cross-culturally, especially during my time living in Chicago. Also, since graduating, I have joined a global women’s organization (P.E.O.), where I serve on the philanthropy and fundraising committee, was given a nomination for vice chair on a feeding the homeless NGO organization and, most recently, I joined the governing board of the BACB as a volunteer subject matter expert.
What advice do you have for current COPLA students who want to make the most out of their time at Florida Tech? Attend your program with no regrets; if there’s an opportunity—take it; and take the time to truly gain the full value of your investment in your education.
This piece also appeared in the spring 2025 issue of COPLA Connections.
