Gabriella Nellis

Tell us about your work as a behavior technician prior to law school. 

As a behavior technician, my job is to directly implement behavior-analytic services. Applied behavior analysis is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior; I have used it to teach children how to complete difficult multi-step tasks, to overcome extreme behavioral problems like self-injurious physical aggression, and even to speak for the first time. The work can be intense, but it is extremely rewarding. Because behavior technicians typically work in the child’s natural environment, we spend lots of time getting to know community and family spaces. Nothing compares to the feeling when a child uses their newfound skill independently and we get to cheer and celebrate their progress. I am really excited to apply the theories of behavior analysis to the legal field in general while also using my new legal skills to bring more help, and hope, to families affected by autism.
 
As a Henderson native, what do you love most about Las Vegas's sister city?

The city of Henderson has a special place in my heart, not only because it is where I was born and raised, but because of the effort the city puts in to make it a community. The abundance of well-maintained parks, libraries, rec centers, and events make it a great place to live. 
 
What's your most rewatchable movie?

My most rewatchable movie is “Secondhand Lions.” As a kid, my dad and I would re-watch this movie together, so it is very sentimental to me. It’s impossible not to re-watch a movie with lines like, “Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil.” 
 
What can you not wait to do once COVID-19 exits the stage?

I can't wait to socialize in-person! I miss being able to wander around a classroom, bar, or store just to chitchat with people.