Caldwell Graduates Are Leaders in the Autism Community

Antonia Giannakakos-Ferman

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.” 

Ashley Kobylarz

Ashley Kobylarz sees the rewards of working with adults with autism spectrum disorders who have “fallen through the cracks” and go on to live independent and fulfilling lives. “We do encounter some of those unfortunate cases where they did not receive the services they needed or were not eligible,” says Kobylarz, who is director of behavioral services at Community Access Unlimited in Elizabeth and an alumna of Caldwell’s master’s in applied behavior analysis (ABA) program. Many of her clients are adults who did not have insurance coverage for behavior analytical services as children or who have aged out of their coverage. 

Lauren Schnell

Lauren Schnell knew she wanted to be an academic. While studying in the master’s and doctoral programs in applied behavior analysis (ABA) at Caldwell University, she was given the opportunity to conduct research and “plan her trajectory” thanks to the support of her advisor, Professor Jason Vladescu, Ph.D., BCBA-D. “Jason pushed me to identify what I wanted to do after graduation and then take the steps to get there. I love doing research. It was born out of my experience as a doctoral student at Caldwell. I knew I needed to publish.”   

Ashley Kemmerer

Ashley Kemmerer’s husband recently reminded her that when they first met, she told him how she wanted to be a director in an organization serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This year she reached that milestone when she was selected for the position of director of training and clinic operations at Graham Behavior Services based in West Long Branch, New Jersey, which provides early intervention and adult services for those with ASD and other developmental disabilities.

Kelly May

Kelly May has her dream job, as a behavioral health clinician for the Child Development and Autism Center, part of Morristown Medical Center. The center serves children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays and those with special needs who are seeking out a diagnosis. “I help make sure patients are getting what they need,” said May. That means anything from being an advocate for the patients and their parents while collaborating with schools, to navigating therapy, to connecting patients with services and educating parents—

Danielle Cicalese

New Jersey is known for its outstanding services for children with an autism spectrum disorder. Yet some parents still cannot access quality resources. “It is still a fight. It is still a struggle to find help for parents when they really need crisis care,” said Danielle Cicalese, an alumna of Caldwell’s master’s in applied behavior analysis.    

That need is why she leads a team at Crossroads School in Westfield, New Jersey 

Sandra Gomes

Sandra Gomes remembers the joy a student’s parents had when their son started eating foods other than bacon. It was a big step. The child, who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), was a learner of Gomes’s at Somerset Hills Learning Institute where she is an assistant director and supervision coordinator.