Candidate Statement

Jose Martinez-Diaz PhD, BCBA

I thank you for considering me to serve you for a second term as a member of the Board of Directors of the BACB.

As my friends and students know, my mission in life is to firmly establish behavior analysis as a distinct profession, to spread behavior analysis, to improve behavior analysis services provided to others, to improve the standards of practice in our profession. Even though I welcome working with psychologists, social workers, counselors, special educators, and others in related professions, I strongly believe that those of us who are behavior analysts, and cannot claim the privileges associated with being licensed in other professions, should be able to practice independently of any other professional. I strongly believe being involved in a leadership role in the BACB is the best avenue to continue pursuing my mission.

I have been practicing behavior analysis since the 1970’s with a wide range of populations.  I went to graduate school at West Virginia University in the 1970’s. I worked at a state hospital and a state developmental center in California for nine years. Since moving to Florida in 1988, I have held various supervisory and administrative positions in both the public and the private sector. I currently run my own agency and hold an academic/administrative position. My publications include a chapter on ethical considerations in the new edition of the Cooper, Heron, and Heward textbook, Applied Behavior Analysis/2e (2007).

In 1998, after just having helped Penn State start their ABA distance learning program, I persuaded Florida Institute of Technology, a private university, to hire me and develop a graduate program in behavior analysis. Since then we have grown so that we currently have six full-time and two part-time professors in our program. We have graduated nearly 100 students with master’s degrees in Applied Behavior Analysis and currently have 75 full-time graduate students! We now also offer a degree in Organizational Behavior Management. In 2005 I was presented with the Provost’s Academic Leadership Award for replicating the program at our Orlando satellite campus and creating a program tailored for working professionals who want an advanced degree in ABA. As the chair of the Florida Tech Behavior Analysis Programs I have even been able to get the university to recognize Behavior Analysis as its own “subject” separately listed with a “BEH” prefix! We also just started a distance learning professional development in ABA, which should be ready to begin in March of this year (watch out Penn State)!

I first became involved in behavior analysis certification by being actively involved in the Florida program from 1989 through its end (It is now administered by the BACB). I have been involved in the development of all three editions of the “Task List,” and “Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Statements” used for the certification examinations. I have contribute exam items and helped with exam reviews and cut-score studies. I helped draft the Florida Certification Rule.  I also assisted in efforts to get certification established in other states by offering courses in Oklahoma, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Since being elected to a Director position on the BACB three years ago, I have served as its treasurer, as a member of its executive committee, as a member of the Florida Certification Committee, and on various task forces. I have done all this work as a volunteer, including making multiple trips to Tallahassee and other not very exciting places.

I served on the Executive Committee of the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (FABA) for eight years (1996-2004), serving as its President in 2002-2003. I was deeply moved when in 2005 FABA presented me with its highest award, the Charles H. Cox Award for Outstanding Service and the Advancement of Behavior Analysis in Florida. The award, which has only been given a few times, read: "For your Long-term Commitment to the Florida Association of Behavior Analysis and to the State of Florida as an Ethical Consultant, Creative Leader, Outstanding Teacher, and Visionary Advocate of Graduate Training."

If re-elected, I will continue to volunteer man hours each month to help the BACB accomplish its mission. Even though I do not agree with every decision passed by the BACB, I am a firm believer that the BACB is going in the right direction. I believe the BACB is in the position to do more for our profession than any other organization.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Jose A. Martinez-Diaz, Ph.D., BCBA
Associate Professor and Chair
Florida Tech Behavior Analysis Program
BACB Board of Directors Member and Treasurer