Mary Velasquez, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Research and Professor; Director, Center for Social Work Research; Director, Health Behavior Research and Training Institute

Dr. Mary Marden Velasquez is Professor, Associate Dean for Research, Director of the Center for Social Work Research, and Director of the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute at the University of Texas-Austin. Dr. Velasquez holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology and a Ph.D. in community health science from the University of Texas Health Science Center-School of Public Health. For the past 18 years, she has been involved in the conceptualization, design, and implementation of research studies using the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change (TTM). Her area of specialty is the development and implementation of interventions using the TTM’s stages and processes of change and Motivational Interviewing. Dr. Velasquez’ work includes development of interventions in the areas of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, alcohol and other drug abuse, respiratory health, prenatal health, HIV prevention, and smoking cessation. A recent emphasis has been on developing curriculum for teaching medical students and residents to use brief motivational interventions in medical settings. She is lead author on a stage-based treatment manual for substance abuse (Velasquez, Maurer, Crouch & DiClemente, 2001), and author of numerous journal articles and book chapters on using brief interventions to facilitate treatment adherence and promote behavior change in clients with a variety of health problems. Dr. Velasquez also has an extensive background in Motivational Interviewing and is principal investigator on several NIH and CDC-funded studies using this approach. She is an internationally recognized trainer in both Motivational Interviewing and the Transtheoretical Model, and is a founding member of the Steering Committee for the International Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.

Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

Professional Interests

Development and implementation of interventions using the Transtheoretical Model of Change and Motivational Interviewing, health behavior interventions including HIV prevention, prenatal health, alcohol and other substance abuse, smoking cessation, and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Education

• Ph.D., The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• M.A., University of Houston-Clear Lake
• B.S., University of Houston-Clear Lake

Teaching History

Faculty Research

• CHOICES+: Preconception approach to reducing alcohol and tobacco-exposed pregnancy (CDC)
• How Does Motivational Interviewing Work? Mechanisms of Action in Project CHOICES (Univ. of VA / NIAAA)
• Multidisciplinary Approach to Reduce Injury and Substance Abuse (NIDA)
• Residency Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral for Treatment: Southeastern Consortium (SECSAT) (Mercer College of Medicine / SAMHSA)
• Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT) : GA Basics (GA Dept of Health  / SAMHSA)
• Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral for Treatment (SBIRT / InSight) (TX DSHS / SAMHSA)
• Statewide Motivational Interviewing for Texas Department of State Health Services (TX DSHS / SAMHSA)
• The Georgia-Texas Improving Brief Intervention Project (Mercer College of Medicine / NIAAA)
• UTMB-UT Austin Collaboration: Translating Evidence-Based Behavioral Interventions into Community Practice
• A Transtheoretical Model Group Therapy For Cocaine (NIDA)
• Smoking Relapse Prevention Among Postpartum Women (NIH