David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D
Association for Science in Autism Treatment
Our recent 25th anniversary provides us with an opportunity to look beyond those who have served on our Board of Directors and reflect on the many other volunteers who have shared their time and talent with ASAT. In this installment, we feature one of our most industrious and impactful volunteers, Dr. Vince Winterling, who resides in New Jersey and serves as the Co-Editor of Science in Autism Treatment, as well as a member of our Professional Advisory Board.
I first met Vince over 30 years ago, back when I was a newly hired faculty member at the University of North Texas, trying to figure out how to prime my publication pipeline. I was working on an article about antecedent exercise—an “n of 1” study that was essentially just me, a stopwatch, and a kid with autism. Vince, then Associate Editor of Education and Treatment of Children, didn’t accept the paper (not surprising), but he did something editors rarely do: he called me. His feedback was honest, kind, and constructive. He pointed me toward a better path, and that guidance eventually led to a publication elsewhere. That phone call was both a gesture of generosity and an act of mentorship that reflects Vince’s enduring belief in nurturing young researchers while advancing rigorous, meaningful science.
A few years later, I had the good fortune to work with Vince at a large human services organization. Although we were in different states, he was consistently supportive and generous with advice and encouragement. After moving to New Jersey, I kept bumping into Vince at conferences—sometimes literally, thanks to our brisk Garden State pace. Just prior to the COVID pandemic, our paths crossed again at the Autism New Jersey conference. Vince mentioned he was retiring, and I saw my moment. I made a bold ask: “Would you help ASAT with its newsletter?” He said yes and I was delighted. Vince assumed the role of one of our Content Editors but soon joined me as Co-Editor of Science in Autism Treatment.
Vince has proofread scores of articles over the last 6 years – research synopses, treatment summaries, book reviews, interviews, and other pieces on a vast array of topics. In every issue, his commitment to both science and advocacy for the autism community shines through. From the outset, Vince’s decades of extensive editorial experience were abundantly evident as he brought a discerning eye to every article, elevating the clarity, accuracy, and accessibility of our content. His ability to balance scientific rigor with readability has helped maintain our newsletter as a trusted resource for families, students, practitioners, researchers, as well as autistic individuals. He’s often up at the crack of dawn reviewing article drafts—his early-morning diligence is just one more example of his quiet and unwavering devotion to ASAT’s mission. Vince’s feedback is always thoughtful, always kind, and always constructive. He is an anchor of reliability and grace in our publishing process, and an incredible mentor to all.
We are deeply grateful for the care and excellence Vince brings to ASAT and to our editorial team. When he’s not sharing his time and expertise with us, Vince is quite busy—an international traveler along with his wife, keeper of a continually shrinking bucket list, collector of fine wine, and a baker (he is perfecting his Sourdough bread recipe).
Thank you, Vince. We are very lucky to benefit from your time and talents.
Reference for this article:
Celiberti, D. (2024). Celebrating Dr. Vince Winterling. Science in Autism Treatment, 22(11).
