Melba J. T. Vasquez attended Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University-San Marcos) and majored in English and political science. She received a Doctor of Philosophy in counseling psychology from The University of Texas in 1978, then worked at the university"s counseling center.
Vasquez was the APA"s first Latina president She has authored multiple works on ethics in psychotherapy. She is in private practice in Texas.
She was a middle school English and political science teacher before beginning a psychology career.
She taught psychology both at The University of Texas and at Colorado State University before moving into private practice. She has been in practice in Austin, Texas since 1991.
When Vasquez was elected president of the APA in 2011, she became the first Latina elected to the position. She had previously served as president of the Texas Psychological Association, the Society of Counseling Psychology (APA Division 17) and the Society for the Psychology of Women (APA Division 35).
She cofounded the Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues (APA Division 45).
She coauthored Ethics for Psychologists: A Commentary on the APA Ethics Code and four editions of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Practical Guide.
