Biographical Sketch

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Martha Pelaez, Ph.D. is a Frost Professor of Psychology at the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education (CASE), School of Human Development, Florida International University. Dr. Pelaez teaches courses in Child Development, Behavioral Interventions: Research and Evaluation, and Educational Psychology. She directs infant and early childhood research lab at Endicott College, Institute of Applied Behavior Science. Dr. Pelaez research involves mother-infant interactions and early social–learning processes, as well design applied interventions with children at risk of developmental delays, depression, and early autism. Dr. Pelaez has published more than 100 articles in refereed journals (including the American Psychologist, Child Development, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Infant Behavior & Development, Psychological Record, and Perspectives on Behavior Science), dozens of chapters and monographs, and an influential textbook on Child Development (with Novak, 2004, 2022).  Her research has been supported by NIH, DOE, March of Dimes and other federal agencies.  Professor Pelaez is the founding Editor of the Behavior Development Bulletin (1990-2017) and has been a member of ten editorial boards of refereed scientific journals, including the European Journal of Behavior Analysis andPerspectives on Behavior Science. She has been awarded Fellowship status by the American Psychological Association (APA) and also a Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Dr. Pelaez is the 2023 recipient of the Nathan H. Azrin Award granted by the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 25 for her distinguish contributions to applied research with young children and their social learning. She is currently a Trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies (2000–  ). She recently served as the At-Large Representative on the Executive Council Board of Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) (2020-2024). She is past member of ABAI’s Science Board (2019-2022). Dr. Pelaez was a voting member of the Florida Board of Governors (BOG, 2005-2006) of the Florida State University System (FSUS) and as Chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates (ACFS) of the Florida State University System (SUS).

Education

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Post-Doctoral  Research Fellowship, 1992–1994  University of Miami, School of Medicine, Florida Specialty: Infant Behavior and Learning 

Ph.D. Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 1992 Major:  Developmental Psychology M.S. Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 1989 Major:  Developmental Psychology 

B.C.B.A. Board Certified Behavior Analyst, State of Florida, 1991 

Honors and Awards

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  • 2025– Nominated for Conference USA (CUSA) Faculty Achievement and Professor of the Year Award for 2025 
  • 2023 Recipient of the American Psychological Association (APA, Division 25) Nathan H. Azrin Award for distinguished Contributions to Applied Science. 
  • 2021 Top Scholar Award, Florida International University, CASE 
  • 2021-2024 At–Large Representative and Member of the Executive Council Board of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). 
  • 2021-2024 Board of Directors of the Society for Advancement in Behavior Analysis, Member (SABA).
  • 2021-2022 Science Board Member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) 
  • 2021– Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) 
  • 2021 Honorary President of the VIII International Congress on Behavior Analysis (ABA) and its Applications (SINCA, Mexico). 
  • 2000– Trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, Cambridge, MA. 
  • 2019– 2023 Advisory Board of Women in Behavior Analysis, Member (WIBA) 
  • 2019– 2022 Science Board of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Member (ABAI). 
  • 2018–2020 Vice-Chair of Florida International University, Faculty Senate 
  • 2018–2020 Member of the Board of Directors, FIU Foundations (R. Brilliant, Chair) (also in 2004-2005) 
  • 2019 Faculty Service Award, Florida International University, College of Arts, Sciences, & Education (CASE).  
  • 2015 Faculty Research Award, Florida International University, Honorary Degree and Awards Committee, a formal recognition for excellence in research. 
  • 2016 Frost Professorship Award, College of Education, Florida International University; a formal recognition for excellence in research and scholarly work. 
  • 2005–2006 Florida Board of Governors (BOG, Voting member), State University System (SUS), Carolyn Roberts (Chair), John Dasburg, (Vice-Chair). 
  • 2005–2006 Chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates (ACFS) of the Florida State University System (SUS). 
  • 2005 Faculty Service Award, Florida International University, Honorary Degree and Awards Committee; a formal recognition for “excellence in university, state, national, and international professional and academic service.” 
  • 2004-2005 Vice-Chair of Florida International University, Faculty Senate 
  • 2001– Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), Division 25, Fellowship endorsed by APA Membership Committee, P. Reid, Chair and P. Zimbardo, President. (Fellow status awarded on evaluated evidence of “outstanding and unusual contributions to the field of psychology.”) 
  • 2001 National Research Award from the National Council for Teaching and Research in Psychology (CNEIP, México).  Awarded for excellence in teaching and research. 
  • 1997 Faculty Research Award, Florida International University, Honorary Degree and Awards Committee, a formal recognition for excellence in research. 
  • 1992 International Doctoral Dissertation Award granted by the International Society for Infant Studies (ISIS): “Infant learning to reference maternal emotional cues” (J. Gewirtz, Chair). 
  • 1991 Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in Psychology. Granted to Doctoral students by Florida International University, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences.