Bio
Dr. Claudia J. Ferrante is a Professor of Management and the Deputy Director of Academics in the Department of Management at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Dr. Ferrante graduated from Bucknell University in 1988 with a B.S. in Biology. She earned her MBA and Master of Health Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, in 1990, her Master of Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University, in 2001 and completed her doctorate in Organizational Behavior from Carnegie Mellon University in 2003. Dr. Ferrante joined the Academy faculty in June 2002 and has taught Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Management Practicum in Nonprofit Consulting, Seminar in Applied Management Principles, Management Perspectives, Power and Influence, Management and Command and several Independent Study courses. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her teaching, research and service efforts.
Prior to coming to the Academy, Dr. Ferrante worked as a Management Consultant for an international accounting firm, the Assistant Director of Finance at a hospital, and as a Financial Analyst for a health maintenance organization – all in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She also operated her own consulting practice and is a CPA.
Dr. Ferrante is a member of the Academy of Management, the Management & Organizational Behavior Teaching Society, and the Southern Management Association.
Education
Ph.D., Organizational Behavior, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2003)
Master of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2001)
Master of Business Administration, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1990)
Master of Health Administration, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1990)
Bachelor of Science, Biology (Minor: Mathematics and Education), Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania (1988)
Professional Experience
Professor, Department of Management (2009–Present)
Associate Professor, Department of Management (2005–2009)
Assistant Professor, Department of Management (2002–2005)
Honors & Awards
Best Professional Development Workshop Award in the Management Education and Development Division, 2026 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Philadelphia, Pa.
James R. Woody Outstanding Instructor Award (Upper Level), 2026 at the United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
J.B. “Ben” Arbaugh Outstanding Member Contribution & Leadership Award, 2024, Academy of Management’s Management and Education Development Division.
Outstanding Service to the Management Education and Development Division of the Academy of Management as Mentoring Program Coordinator, 2022 through 2026
Outstanding Reviewer for the Management Education and Development Division of the Academy of Management, 2021, 2023
Best Reviewer Award for the Health Care Management, Hospitality Management, and Public Administration Track, 2018 Annual Meeting of the Southern Management Association
Outstanding Reviewer for the Public and Nonprofit Division of the Academy of Management, 2018, 2015, 2014
Rita A. Jordan Award for Intellectual Contribution, 2012, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
Organizational Behavior Teaching Society Honor Roll Award, 2012 Annual Meeting of the Organizational Behavior Teaching Society, St. Catharines, Ontario Canada
F. Theodore Helmer Outstanding Instructor Award (Core), 2011, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
Most Innovative Session Award, 2009 Annual Meeting of the Southern Management Association, Asheville, N.C.
McDermott Award for Excellence in Social Sciences and Humanities Research, 2009 United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
Outstanding Academy Educator Award, 2006 Department of Management, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
Organizational Behavior Teaching Society Honor Roll Award, 2006 Annual Meeting of the Organizational Behavior Teaching Society, Rochester, N.Y.
Carl A. Janssen Award, Department of Management, 2004 United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
James R. Woody Outstanding Instructor Award (Upper Level), 2003 United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
Research and Scholarly Interests
Organizational behavior
Human resource management
Service-learning
Experiential learning
Curriculum development
Curriculum management
Coaching and mentoring
Publications
Ferrante, C. J., Heppard, K. A., Green, S. G., Heyler, S. G, Harting, T. R., & Cycyota, C. S. (2026). Preserving Identity in Crisis: Sustaining Strategic Organizational Essence to Address External Challenges. Journal of Business Strategies 43(1), 30-44.
DePorres, D., & Ferrante, C. J. (2025). How Values Impact Educational Outcomes: Management Consulting Capstone at the US Air Force Academy. In M. B. Rao, A. Singh, & P. M. Rao (Ed.), Worldviews and Values in Higher Education: Community Engagement, Partnerships, and Outreach. Emerald Publishing Limited.
Ferrante, C. J., Heppard, K. A., DePorres, D. P., & Green, S. G. (2025). The Evolution of Capstone Sequences for Undergraduate Programs. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 25(1) 32-45. https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v25i1.7561
DeMarr, B. J., & Ferrante, C. J. (2025). Using Integrated Assignments to Reinforce Course Material. In Proceedings of the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference. Fort Wayne, IN.
DeMarr, B. J., Taylor, V. F., & Ferrante, C. J. (2026). Compensation: A Balanced Approach. Sage Publications.
DeMarr, B. J., & Ferrante, C. J. (2024). Balancing Act: A Work-Life Integration Exercise. In Proceedings of the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference. Salem, MA.
DeMarr, B. J., & Ferrante, C. J. (2023). HR Exercise: Recommending an Employee Benefits Plan. In Proceedings of the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference. Jacksonville, FL.
Ferrante, C. J., & DeMarr, B. J. (2022). Post-Pandemic Resiliency: We Get Knocked Down, But We Get Up Again! In Proceedings of the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference. Pomona, CA.
Ferrante, C. J., & DeMarr, B. J. (2021). Show Them the Money! A Compensation & Benefits Exercise. In Proceedings of the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference. Virtual.
Harris, J. S., & Ferrante, C. (2020). Blocked Entry and Demand Shocks in Age-Group and Collegiate Swimming. In J. S. Harris (Ed.), The Economics of Aquatic Sports. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Davis, K., DePorres, D., Esquivel, S., Ferrante, C., Heyler, S., Levy, D., Packard, G., Tucker, E., & Blair, E. (2019). Thriving at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Journal of Character & Leadership Development, Summer, 79-95.
DePorres, D., Tucker, E., Levy, D., Ferrante, C., Davis, K, & Esquivel, S. (2018). Emvoicement: Establishing a Baseline for Organizational Change. OD Practitioner, 50(4), 62-64.
DePorres, D., Ferrante, C., Levy, D., Preston, J., & Tucker, E. (2018). Raising the BAR: A Call to Action. Organization Development Journal, 36(3), 45-53.
DePorres, D., Ferrante, C., Levy, D., Orlowsky, M, Tucker, E., & Wilson, J. (2018). The BAR Manifesto. OD Practitioner, 50(3), 40-46.
Green, S.G., Ferrante, C.J., & Heppard, K.A. (2016). Using Open-Book Exams To Enhance Student Learning, Performance, And Motivation. The Journal of Effective Teaching, 16(1), 19-35.
Cycyota, C.S., Ferrante, C.J., & Schroeder, J.M. (2016). Corporate Social Responsibility And Employee Volunteerism: What Do The ‘Best’ Companies Do? Business Horizons, (59), 321-329.
Knapp, K. J., & Ferrante, C. J. (2014). Information Security Program Effectiveness in Organizations: The Moderating Role of Task Interdependence. Journal of Organizational and End User Computing, 26(1), 27-46.
Ferrante, C. J., Heflin, P.E., and Levy, D.A. (2013). Giving Voice to Values and Ethics Across the Management Curriculum at the U.S. Air Force Academy. In M. Gentile (Ed.), Educating for Values-Driven Leadership Across the Curriculum: Giving Voice To Values. Business Expert Press. New York, New York, 183-194.
Knapp, K. J., & Ferrante, C. J. (2012). Policy Awareness, Enforcement and Maintenance: Critical to Information Security Effectiveness in Organizations. Journal of Management Policy and Practice, 13(5), 66-80.
Murnieks, C. Y., Allen, S. T., & Ferrante, C. J. (2011). Combating the effects of turnover: Military lessons learned from project teams rebuilding Iraq. Business Horizons. (DOI: 10.1016/j.bushor.2011.05.003); Best Paper Award for 2011, Honorable Mention.
Cycyota, C. S., Ferrante, C. J., Green, S. G., Heppard, K. A., & Karolick, D. M. (2011). Leaders of Character: The USAFA Approach to Ethics Education and Leadership Development. Journal of Academic Ethics. (DOI: 10.1007/s10805-011-9138-z)
Murnieks, C. Y., Allen, S. T., & Ferrante, C. J. (2011). Turning around the effects of turnover: Military lessons learned from OIF. In Leslie A. Toombs (Ed.), Proceedings of the Seventy-first Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (CD), ISSN 1543-8643.