Mary Marden Velasquez

Mary Marden Velasquez, Ph.D., serves as the Centennial Professor in Leadership for Community, Professional and Corporate Excellence and director of the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work. Her research program has received over 20 years of continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Her educational background includes:

• Master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Texas Health Science Center-School of Public Health
• Ph.D. in behavioral sciences from the University of Texas Health Science Center-School of Public Health

Velasquez specializes in developing behavioral interventions using the Transtheoretical Model and Motivational Interviewing across integrated primary care, substance abuse treatment, prenatal health, and HIV prevention. Her work emphasizes translating evidence-based practices into real-world medical settings, with recent focus on tablet-based interventions for substance-exposed pregnancy prevention and cultural adaptations for Latinx populations. She is internationally recognized as a leading trainer in motivational techniques for healthcare professionals.

Her scientific honors include:

• Centennial Professorship in Leadership
• Founding role in the International Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers

Velasquez directs the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute and leads major NIH-funded initiatives including the Tablet-based intervention for substance-exposed pregnancy prevention and the National Social Work Collaboration for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Her grant portfolio demonstrates sustained focus on implementing brief interventions in primary care settings, with recent expansion into vaccine uptake and health equity research for underserved populations.