“Throughout my higher education process, I have always been drawn to helping other people through the use of science and research in a compassionate manner,” says Master of Science in behavior analysis alumna Gerali Mateo Peña ’26MS.
Prior to Simmons, she studied psychology at Boston University on a pre-med track, worked as a patient navigator at a local hospital, and volunteered at a pediatric care unit in Dorchester. In 2022, Mateo Peña began working as an entry-level behavior therapist (also known as a registered behavior technician).
“This was my first introduction to the field of behavior analysis, and I love what I do,” she says.
Since then, Mateo Peña has been promoted to lead therapist at a behavioral health center based in Brighton, Massachusetts. In this role, she provides one-on-one behavior implementation plans and other services (including in-home services) to clients all over the greater Boston area. Administratively, her position has enabled her to achieve a deeper understanding of clinical decision-making, insurance, and research.
Within the realm of behavior analysis, Mateo Peña is especially drawn to working with children, including those with autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
“Coming from the Dominican Republic, I am Caribbean and Latina. A major feature of my culture is that it is very communal, and values the presence of children and the elderly. We have big family structures, and I have always been surrounded by children. I often helped take care of my siblings and taught Sunday school at our local church,” she explains. “I have always been drawn to help children. If a child is taken care of by a trusted and compassionate adult, they can really grow and learn.”
Researching Behavioral Skills Training
In spring 2026, Mateo Peña defended her master’s thesis, entitled “Evaluating the Effects of Behavioral Skills Training on Therapist Presession Pairing Skills,” to Simmons’ Department of Behavior Analysis. The thesis was the culmination of a series of practicum courses. After receiving a list of articles from her professors, she chose one study to replicate and modify in a real-world setting.
Specifically, Mateo Peña’s thesis research focused on evaluating the effects of behavioral skills training, a procedure in behavior analysis that allows instructors to teach and model a skill, have the learner rehearse it, and provide immediate feedback on their performance.
“The skills that I was teaching staff are called pairing skills, which are a group of skills used to grow rapport, or build trust with your learners before you begin therapy,” she explains. “The key takeaway I got from my research was that if we embed systematic support, we can improve the skills of direct care providers.”
During this project, Mateo Peña enjoyed applying scientific principles in her workplace setting. “It has been an incredible experience,” she reflects. “And being able to showcase the results with my peers was amazing.”
Choosing a Challenging Program
One of the reasons Mateo Peña chose to attend Simmons is because of her workplace mentor, Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) Larry Ong ’17MS.
“My mentor was a great source of inspiration for me. He provided a lot of compassionate care for children across the city,” she says. “I wanted to follow in his footsteps. When I inquired about how he became a behavior analyst, he told me that he studied at Simmons.”
While working as a novice behavior therapist, Mateo Peña encountered others who had attended Simmons.
“These people had a good grasp and understanding of the science and its application. I realized that they gained many of their skills from Simmons,” she notes. “I became aware that Simmons offers a prestigious program in behavior analysis and they provide a high level of education.”
After contemplating graduate school for a few years, Mateo Peña “took a leap of faith” and applied to Simmons. “It was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” she says.
Given Simmons’ location in Boston, Mateo Peña has been able to keep her full-time employment nearby.
“The program at Simmons is challenging, and it should be,” she remarks. “I believe that if we are creating the high-quality providers that underserved populations deserve, they should go through a rigorous educational process. And Simmons provides that.”
Curated Coursework, Inspiring Faculty
“Having access to a practicum and services from the school, I feel that Simmons has helped me grow a lot as a clinician,” Mateo Peña says. “The behavior analysis program is a nice balance between theoretical content and real-world application.”
Mateo Peña is especially grateful for the “exceptional support” she has received from her professors. Associate Professor of Practice and thesis advisor Laura Hanratty supervised her practicum, and inspired her to conduct research.
“Thanks to Simmons Professor Hanratty, I was able to attend the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) conference, an annual conference in our field, which was held in San Francisco this past spring. I was also elected by the Department faculty to serve as the Accredited Program Student Delegate, and got to represent Simmons,” she says. “I met researchers from all over the world, and I would not have had that experience without Simmons faculty.” Mateo Peña will deliver another conference paper this October at BABAT (Massachusetts Professionals in Behavior Analysis).
Associate Professor and Department Chair Gretchen Dittrich has also supported Mateo Peña’s educational journey. “She is an amazing director of the master’s program. I appreciate that, despite having so many things on her plate, you can still have a one-to-one mentorship relationship with her.”
Mateo Peña found Assistant Professor of Practice Emily Perry, with whom she took “Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis” (BEHV/O 424), to be an outstanding pedagogue. “She is such an effective professor, and I vividly remember all of the concepts she taught me.” Additionally, Perry supports students to find fieldwork placements.
“My mentors have nurtured my research beyond the Simmons classroom,” Mateo Peña says. “I enjoyed studying behavior analysis at Simmons.”
Seek Opportunities
“The field of behavior analysis may seem small, but once you are in it, you will realize that there is a world of opportunities out there for you to grow, both professionally and personally. I recommend that all students seek opportunities. Do not hesitate to reach out to your professors and the staff at Simmons because they’re incredible at supporting students to achieve their goals,” Mateo Peña says.
“Taking advantage of diverse opportunities helped me become the person I am today. I have also developed a newfound sense of confidence,” she adds. “I am not done with school yet, but I feel that I am headed in the right direction because I have a wonderful support system at Simmons.”