April Hoosier Happy Hour

Jad Makarem was born in Detroit, Michigan, and spent the majority of his childhood in the United Arab Emirates. In 2014, Jad returned to Detroit, where he attended Wayne State University, double majored in Political Science and Mathematical Economics, and minored in Middle Eastern Studies. After working as a behavior technician for two years, Jad pursued a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, graduating from Western Michigan University in 2022. Jad became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in June of 2023, and joined Sunshine in March of 2024, as the Lead BCBA for the Mitchell, Indiana location. During his development in ABA, Jad had the opportunity to work with a very diverse clientele. Many of the individuals he serviced as a technician and BCBA were between the ages of 11-16, growing up in varying economies, and encompassed a plethora of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This experience, coupled with Jad’s own experience as a minority, shapes his desire to eliminate barriers to accessing ABA therapy. One of Jad’s other focuses as Mitchell’s Lead BCBA was to develop a confident, efficient, and ethically motivated team of BCBAs and behavior technicians to service any individual who seeks treatment with Sunshine. At this time, Jad is developing Sunshine’s overall fourth location in Linton, Indiana. With the goal to recreate the success achieved at the Mitchell location, Jad hopes to continue contributing to the growth and inclusivity of ABA.