Thom Ratkos

Thom Ratkos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Science at Berry College and serves as Director of the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program and Autism Program. He holds a PhD in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University (2017), an MA (2014), and a BS (2009) from Eastern Michigan University. His academic roles include teaching courses in behavior analysis for Berry's BCaBA course sequence and overseeing the ABA minor program.

Dr. Ratkos’ research focuses on conceptual issues in behavior analysis, verbal behavior, and integrating sociological theories with behavioral principles. His clinical background includes early intensive behavioral intervention for children with autism and assessing problem behavior in school and outpatient settings.

His publications emphasize experimental studies on verbal behavior, stimulus control, and applied behavior analysis. Notable recent works explore autoclitics, vocal blocking effects, and delayed matching-to-sample performance. He actively contributes to professional associations like the Association of Behavior Analysis International.

Dr. Ratkos’ program administration includes coordinating the ABA curriculum and fostering interdisciplinary connections between behavior analysis and sociology. His work bridges theoretical research with practical applications in education and clinical settings.