Conference

Opening Address: Loreto R. Prieto

---

Abstract

Loreto R. Prieto, professor of psychology and director of the U.S. Latino/a Studies Program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, came to Iowa State in August 2007. A member of the National Latino/a Psychological Association and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in teaching of psychology and counseling psychology, Prieto has been a leader in the multicultural competencies movement. His efforts resulted in the adoption of a stringent set of training standards and professional competencies to ensure that psychologists are trained and able to provide high-quality services to underrepresented populations. A second generation Mexican American from the Quad Cities area, Prieto has published and presented over 100 professional works, many focusing on issues of cultural diversity in psychology. He is author of a chapter on cultural competency in The Handbook of Chicana and Chicano Psychology and a contributor on Chicano/a psychology in the journal The Counseling Psychologist. He is also co-editor of the upcoming text Best Practices for Incorporating Culture into the Curriculum. Prieto has been on the faculties of the University of Akron, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, the University of New Hampshire, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Iowa.