Dr. Ferro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies and the Training Director for the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities, the University of South Florida Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She has a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Florida and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral.

Dr. Ferro’s areas of expertise include research aimed at developing interventions and supports for learners with severe behavior problems and applications of behavioral support for young children. Her early childhood experience includes six years as a Head Start Delegate director in Florida, two years providing training and mental health services to Navajo Head Start, and eight years training school districts in Arizona in Positive Behavior Support (PBS).  She also provides preservice education to graduate students in positive behavior support, behavioral interventions, and severe disabilities.

She is the author of many journal articles and chapters related to functional behavioral assessment, treatment integrity, and PBIS leadership training. She is also a co-author of Functional behavioral assessment and function-based interventions: An effective, practical approach.