Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, De La Salle University, Puerto Rico
Short bio:
Irma Roca de Torres, from the island of Puerto Rico (PR), obtained her PhD in School Psychology at Temple University, her MA in Clinical Psychology at University of Minnesota and her BA in Psychology at University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras (UPR-RP). For 36 years she was professor of Psychology at the Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Social Sciences at UPR-RP, where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses: Introduction to Psychology; Developmental, Abnormal Psychology and School Psychology; Psychological Evaluation; Learning Problems; Mental Retardation and supervised dissertation works, practice courses and internships. Besides teaching she worked for many years as Student Counselor for Psychology Majors, led Curricula Committee and Personnel Committee both at the Department and the Faculty level, participated in numerous committees, was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Acting Dean for the Faculty. While chairperson of the Personnel Committee she developed an instrument for the evaluation of faculty. She retired from UPR-RP as a Full Professor.
She is a prolific presenter in professional Congresses, Conventions and Conferences in Puerto Rico, the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe Has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, chapters and books. Has had leadership positions in professional and governmental organizations: Association of Psychology of Puerto Rico (APPR- president) Interamerican Society of Psychology (Representative from PR), American Psychological Association (APA, Representative from PR), Council of Mental Health and Addictions of Puerto Rico (President), among others. In these organizations she participated in numerous community, educational, preventive and professional activities.
After retirement Dr. Roca de Torres keeps working as Adjunct Professor at Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, supervising Psychology students in their dissertation work, and in research, publishing and editing. Her research interests include: History of Psychology in PR, Children with Functional Diversity, Psychological Measurement and School Psychology.
Psychology in Puerto Rico: From indigenous wisdom to a thriving science and practice.