Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
South Texas College Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Liza Veliz has been appointed to serve on the Committee on Associate and Baccalaureate Education (CABE), a national-level committee under the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Board of Educational Affairs.
Veliz will officially begin her term in January 2026, representing Psychology faculty at two-year colleges nationwide after being nominated by colleagues from across the country who recognized her leadership, advocacy and commitment to student success.
The eight-member committee includes representatives from both associate and baccalaureate degree-granting institutions and is charged with promoting excellence in psychology education, advancing leadership and fostering equity in academic opportunities.
“I was very excited to be chosen because it’s with APA, and it’s a great opportunity to represent two-year college educators and the specific needs we face,” Veliz said. “Through this CABE appointment, I’ll be able to bring the challenges of our students to the table and help APA develop initiatives that better support them.” Veliz has taught at STC for 15 years and served three years as department chair, where she led efforts to enhance curriculum, expand research opportunities and support student success.
Her appointment to CABE, which advises APA on educational policy and training affairs, is a testament to her longstanding dedication to advancing opportunities for students at two-year institutions.
Paul Gonzalez, program chair for the STC department of Psychological Science praised Veliz’s national recognition, highlighting her unwavering dedication to student success and her influential role in advancing the field.
“She is highly deserving of this appointment. She has worked for years at the regional and national level to promote scholarship in the field of Psychological Science and research,” he said. “She is a wonderful mentor and advocate for our students as well, giving her time generously to our students interested in conducting research and pursuing degrees beyond their time at STC. This appointment will give her the platform to further represent our students and the college while crafting guidelines for undergraduate programs in Psychology.”
Veliz is a strong advocate for improving access and equity in undergraduate psychology education. She has actively worked to address the limited opportunities two-year college students face—particularly the inability to offer research methods courses, which can hinder students’ transferability and competitiveness when applying to four-year Psychology programs.
“Having experience in an undergraduate research lab is becoming essential for students pursuing graduate degrees,” Veliz said. “Beginning fall 2025, our students will finally be able to engage in research through our Academic Cooperative: Direct Research class, which will make them stronger applicants and open doors to new possibilities.”
In addition to her CABE appointment, Veliz currently serves as National President of Psi Beta, the national honor society for psychology students at two-year colleges, on the Institutional Leadership Council and was recently nominated as the Social Behavioral Science Representative for the college’s Faculty Senate.
“For me, it’s all about paying it forward,” Veliz said. “I was fortunate to have mentors who believed in me and opened doors I didn’t know existed. Now, I want to do the same for my students. They have just as much potential, if not more to take on big challenges. Sometimes, all they need is someone to believe in them and help them realize that they are capable.”
Veliz’s appointment marks a proud milestone for STC and highlights the essential role that two-year colleges play in shaping the future of psychological science across the country.
