On the occasion of its 128th annual meeting, the American Psychological Association recognizes Melba J. T. Vasquez, PhD, for her outstanding lifetime contributions to psychology as a generous leader, a prolific scholar while maintaining a thriving independent practice, and a pioneer in building structures to enhance diversity and advocate for psychologists of color and women’s leadership in APA and society.
Vasquez is a pioneer and beacon for psychologists of color in APA. In co-founding both APA Div. 45 and the National Multicultural Summit, Vasquez joined others to establish organizational structures and opportunities to highlight psychologists working at the forefront of ethnic minority scholarship and practice. Throughout her career she has promoted and mentored marginalized psychologists toward higher levels of involvement and accomplishment in and outside APA.
Vasquez’ passion for social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion multiculturalism, and feminism shines throughout her leadership. Vasquez served as the 2011 president of APA, the first Latina and woman of color to hold this office. Her presidential initiatives targeted intransigent issues in our country: immigration, educational disparities, and preventing discrimination/enhancing diversity. She has served on the APA Board of Directors, and multiple terms on APA Council and held dozens of roles in APA governance boards, committees and task forces. Vasquez is a past president of APA Divs. 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology) and 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women), and the Texas Psychological Associationopens in new window.
A sustained and prolific scholar of professional ethics, social justice, ethnic minority psychology, psychology of women, supervision and training, counseling and psychotherapy, Vasquez has published extensively. She is co-author of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling, How to Survive and Thrive as a Therapist, and APA Ethics Code Commentary and Case Illustrations. She has written more than 100 journal articles and book chapters, and served on the editorial boards of 10 journals. She is a much sought after keynote speaker who has placed multicultural and social justice issues front and center in psychology.
Vasquez has received many prestigious national awards, honorary degrees from universities, lifetime achievement and distinguished contributions awards from APA and many of its Divisions (17, 35, 42, 45, 49) and state psychological associations (California, Texas); awards that honor Vasquez for her diversity, advocacy and leadership contributions and accomplishments. She has been honored with fellows status in 11 APA Divisions.
A native of San Marcos, Texas, Vasquez obtained her bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State University in 1972 and a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1978, a first generation college student, and the first in her family to attend graduate school. After serving as a psychologist in university counseling centers and teaching in the counseling psychology doctoral programs at Colorado State University and the University of Texas, she embarked upon full-time independent practice in Austin, Texas, while continuing active involvement in scholarship, mentoring, professional leadership and advocacy.
Vasquez’ colleagues describe her as a visionary leader who helps us discover a better future, a leader who lives inclusion in everything she says and does, a superb role model for what it means to disagree strongly without being disagreeable, a leader who helps us all operate from our better selves. Colleagues admire her for her courage, compassion, graciousness, and generosity. Most important though, colleagues see her as a fearless, fierce, formidable leader making APA a more successful and better organization.
With deep gratitude for your exceptional career as a scholar, practitioner, committed social justice advocate, and one of the most extraordinary leaders in American psychology, the American Psychological Association is privileged to present Vasquez with the 2020 APA Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology.