WASHINGTON — Jaime “Jim” L. Diaz-Granados, PhD, has been selected as the American Psychological Association’s deputy chief executive officer, responsible for working with the CEO in developing, implementing and assessing the association’s strategy, policies and goals, and overseeing major programmatic areas.
Until assuming this post, Diaz-Granados was APA’s chief education officer, overseeing programs to enhance the quality of teaching and learning outcomes at all levels of education and for increasing financial and policy support for psychology education and training.
“Jim brings the breadth of experience, leadership and knowledge needed at this critically important time as the association is engaged in developing a new strategic vision,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, in announcing the appointment. “Jim’s passion for psychological science, his established record of developing innovative, complex and cross-functional initiatives, and his management expertise will make him an invaluable member of my executive team. I look forward to partnering with him as we launch APA’s new strategic plan and continue our work to transform APA.”
Diaz-Granados joined APA in January 2015 as its executive director for education, a post that was recently expanded to chief education officer. In that position, he oversaw APA’s Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, re-envisioned APA’s Center for Workforce Studies, created the Center for Learning and Career Development, and oversaw major initiatives addressing the application of psychological science in K-12 and psychology education from high school through post-graduate studies. He was instrumental in launching the effort to develop an accreditation system for master’s degree programs in health service psychology, in addition to the doctoral, internship and postdoctoral programs APA has historically accredited.
“It is an honor and privilege to take on this role for APA, the premier voice for the profession and discipline. Psychology is critical to addressing the most important issues that face our society, and psychologists are making the difference in everything from design of virtual reality to advancing clinical practice to improving health equity to understanding the underlying causes of brain disease to preparing our workforce for the future. I look forward to working alongside Arthur and the executive leadership team in order to fulfill the important mission of APA.” Diaz-Granados said.
Diaz-Granados is a psychological scientist whose research has focused on the neurodevelopmental effects of alcohol abuse. He has received more than $1.5 million in federal research grants and awards during his career. Before joining APA, Diaz-Granados was chair of Baylor University’s department of psychology and neuroscience. He also held faculty positions in the Baylor departments of psychology, neuroscience and biomedical studies. He previously served as the director of the Baylor Addictions Research Consortium and as a member of review panels and committees with the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. A longtime leader in psychology higher education, Diaz-Granados was the board president of the Council of Graduate Departments in Psychology and served on the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Diaz-Granados earned his PhD in psychology with a concentration in behavioral neuroscience in 1994 from the University of Texas at Austin, where he also completed his undergraduate studies in 1986.
Catherine Grus, PhD, will step in as APA’s acting chief education officer.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes nearly 115,700 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.