“Caldwell has one of the most outstanding, comprehensive, intensive programs, and that is to the benefit of the students.” – Antonia Giannakakos–Ferman, Ph.D. 

Antonia Giannakakos-Ferman’s eyes light up when she tells you about the College Teaching course she took while in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) doctoral program at Caldwell University. Add to that the opportunities she had to adjunct teach and to be a teaching assistant, and her interest in academia grew. “Caldwell has one of the most outstanding, comprehensive, intensive programs, and that is to the benefit of the students.” 

Today, as an assistant professor and the program coordinator for graduate programs in applied behavior analysis at Manhattanville College, she brings that training to her students. “Even when faced with a difficult challenge, I’m never unsure of what to do, even if it means to connect with another professor or dig deeper in the literature.” Her Caldwell professors continue to be available as mentors “with no hesitation.”  

Giannakakos-Ferman sees how the growing number of people with autism spectrum disorder has created a demand for more well-trained providers from strong academic programs and field experience. She keeps her hand in the clinical world to stay contemporary with practices working part-time at a private agency that provides ABA services,

“From age three,” Giannakakos-Ferman wanted to be a teacher. The influence surely came from her mom, who was a special education teacher, but Giannakakos wanted general education. That was until her senior year at Western Connecticut State University where she learned about applied behavior analysis. She found the field intriguing. With a bachelor’s degree in education and educational psychology, she enrolled in Caldwell’s master’s program in ABA. 

While Giannakakos-Ferman was immersed in Caldwell’s graduate program, ABA Professor Ruth DeBar asked her if she had ever considered getting her doctorate. Her answer at first was a sincere no, but the question did get her thinking. After her teaching and research experiences, she wanted to learn more. Giannakakos soon found herself in the doctoral program, publishing, attending conferences and meeting well-known researchers. After earning her doctorate, she continued her studies as a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Montreal. 

In the fall she will join her alma mater, Western Connecticut State University, coming full circle as a tenure-track assistant professor in the Education and Educational Psychology Department.  

“I’m so unbelievably grateful for the education and clinical experience I got at Caldwell. It has served me well.”  

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