Apr 21, 2025  
2024-2025 Student Handbook 
    
2024-2025 Student Handbook

PsyD Faculty


Faculty 

As stated in our “Program Values”, our faculty constitutes the program’s main asset.  We have been able to select and retain a group of seasoned and junior faculty members who enjoy teaching, interacting, and training students.  They are professionals mindful and reflective of their own personality and professional growth and who value the program’s philosophy and mission.   This faculty is multidisciplinary and therefore capable of providing a broader range of didactic and clinical experiences to our students.  By the end of their training, our students are familiar with the different professional roles needed to practice contemporary Clinical Psychology in diverse clinical, educational, and community-based settings.     


Core Faculty: Professional and Research Interests 

 

Yaritza López Robledo, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dean of School of Behavior and Brain Sciences     

Psychotic and Personality Disorders, Forensic Psychology 

 

Giselle M. Medina Vélez, Psy.D., Professor, Program Director   

Pediatrics Psychology, Integrated Health Care, Development, Child and Adolescents Psychotherapy 

 

Nydia Ortiz, Ph.D., Professor  

Family Therapy and Systemic Interventions, Narrative Therapies, Addictions, Primary Care Psychology, Supervision  

 

Julio Jiménez, M.D., Professor   

Psychoneuroimmunology, HIV/AIDS, Behavioral Medicine, Psychopharmacology, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy 

 

Ernesto Rosario, Ph.D., Professor   

Test Construction, Research, Statistics 

 

María Garrido, Psy.D., Professor     

Personality Assessment with MMPI-2/A/RF, Cognitive and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Consultation in Legal Systems 

 

Nydia M. Cappas, Psy.D., Professor 

Primary Care Psychology, Psychology of Gender, Diversity, Administration in Mental Health 

 

Javier Hernández, Psy.D., Associate Professor 

Clinical Neuropsychology, Health Psychology Inpatient Settings, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation 

 

Walter Rodríguez, Psy.D., Assistant Professor   

Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychological Assessment and Rehabilitation 

 

Valerie Toro, Psy.D., Associate Professor 

Ethics, Emergency Psychology, Primary Care Psychology, Family Therapy 

 

Hiradith Menéndez, Psy.D., Associate Professor 

Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy 

 

Viviana Hoyos, Psy.D, Associate Professor 

Primary Care Psychology, Projective Assessment, Behavior Modification 

 

Efrain Ríos, Psy.D. Assistant Professor  

Behavior and Genetics, Neurodevelopmental correlates of Psychoanalytic Theory, Neuroscience of Learning 

 

Eunice Alvarado, Psy.D., Associate Professor 

Cognitive Assessment, Forensic Psychology 

 

Marielly González, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Psychological Assessment, Psychotherapy  

 

Oxalis Jusino, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Psychoeducational Assessment, Projective Personality Assessment 

 

Stephanie Vega, Psy.D., Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Student Affairs  

Cognitive and Projective Assessment 

 

Joan Colón, Psy.D., Assistant Professor, Clinical Practice Coordinator (Ponce) 

Psychological Assessment, Psychotherapy, Health Psychology 

 

Rafael Oliveras, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Pediatrics Neuropsychology, Genetics, Autism 

 

Paulette Soto, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Psychological Assessment, Social Psychology, Sexual Abuse, Child Maltreatment 

 

Luis K. Hernández, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Dialectial Behavioral Therapy, Psychological Assessment, Forensic Psychology 

 

Bárbara Barros, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Women’s Health Psychology, Perinatal Psychology, Endometriosis, Health Disparities and Public Policy 

 

Javier Piazza, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Family Therapy, Supervision and Consultation and Addictions 

 

Laura Deliz, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Neurodevelopmental disorders 

 

Johana Estrada Rodríguez, Psy.D., Assistant Professor, PsyD program Coordinator, San Juan Center 

Psychological Assessment, Health Psychology, Psychotherapy 

 

Yassira Cedano, Psy.D., Assistant Professor, Clinical Practice Coordinator - San Juan Center 

Psychological Assessment  

 

Glorimar Velázquez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Psychological Assessment, Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics Psychology, Psychotherapy 

 

Deborah Vera, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Trauma, Violence, Ethics, Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Supervision and Crisis Intervention 

 

Marilis González Lorenzo, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Psychotherapy, Development, Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Psychooncology, History 

 

Adam Rosario Rodríguez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Statistics, Qualitative & Quantitative Research, CyberPsychology, Artificial Intelligence, Positive Psychology 

 

Luzelix Ruiz Lugo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Women’s Health Psychology, Chronic Psychopathology, Forensic-Correctional Psychology, Addictions 

 

Laura Trinidad Olivero, Ph.D., Associate Professor 

Neuroscience, Neuropsychological Assessment, Health Psychology, Forensic Psychology  

 

Luis Caraballo Feliciano, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Health Psychology, Administration in Mental Health 

 

Axel Rivera Reyes, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Family Therapy, Trauma, Telehealth   


Associated Faculty 

 

Juan Fernández, Ph.D., Professor 

Anatomy and Neuroanatomy, General Physiology 

 

Marta Febo, M.D., Professor 

Standardized Patients Director  

 

Axel Ramos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Clinical Health Psychology, Community based participatory research 

 

Beatriz Cintrón, Psy.D., Assistant Professor 

Projective Personality Assessment, Primary Care Psychology 

 

Jonathan Echevarría, Psy.D., Adjunct Faculty 

Psychotherapy, Addictions 

 

Ivette Mirles, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Psychopharmacology, Psychological Assessment, Health Psychology 


Administrative Staff  

 

Deadina González, MBA, Administrative Coordinator  

 

Bianei Escalera, BA, Administrative Assistant 

 

Roemery Ramos, Receptionist 

 

Alanis Fuentes, BA, Administrative Assistant