Although it took just two years for Cynthia de las Fuentes (Ph.D. ’94, Educational Psychology) to complete her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin, she found herself overwhelmed as a doctoral student in the College of Education.
“I never really learned how to study,” de las Fuentes said. “I wasn’t prepared for that level of analysis that I was required to produce.” Fortunately, her experience at COE equipped her with the skills and knowledge that helped her become the respected psychologist, educator and scholar she is today.
De las Fuentes, the keynote speaker for the Spring 2025 College of Education Commencement, earned her doctorate in counseling psychology, becoming the first member of her Mexican American family to attend graduate school. She went on to serve as a tenured associate professor of psychology at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio for 14 years before engaging in full-time independent practice.
Born in Chula Vista, California, de las Fuentes didn’t move to Austin until she enrolled at UT. Her parents, born and raised in Laredo only a block and a half apart, often brought the family back to visit with relatives.
It was her maternal grandfather – a self-taught man with only a formal third-grade education – who first encouraged her to pursue counseling and psychology. He developed an interest in the field after enlisting in the Army during World War II, where he became intrigued by the routine psychiatric evaluations.
“In my family, it was expected that we were going to go to college, and my parents were going to pay for college,” de las Fuentes said. “And after that, it was on us.” One of her sisters is an environmental chemist, and the other is a cardiologist.
De las Fuentes chose to specialize in bilingual counseling – a pivotal decision that shaped her future as a psychologist. Beyond her clinical practice, she has been a passionate advocate for Latinx and immigrant communities, dedicating herself to advancing social justice in underserved populations.
The foundation of her career was built on strong mentorship and sponsorship, something she believes is essential for students navigating their future paths.
“I lucked out with my mentor, Professor Melba Vasquez, who had graduated from the same department,” she said. “My advice is to find what you think you want to do then find a mentor who’s doing what you want to do. And hope that you click. Look for somebody else if you don’t click with the first one.”
De las Fuentes has held numerous leadership roles, underscoring her dedication to advancing the field of psychology and policy. She served as president of the American Psychological Association, where she was also a Public Interest Directorate Fellow, and was a founding member of the National Latinx Psychological Association. Additionally, she is a Congressional Fellow with the Women’s Research and Education Institute.
As president of the American Psychological Association, de las Fuentes gave speeches and presentations all over the world – no small feat for someone who has struggled with public speaking throughout her life.
“When I was younger, my bilingual brain would knock things around,” she said. “I would sometimes say things with an accent or mispronounce words. It would make me uncomfortable and anxious.” She has found that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques such as exposure therapy and progressive desensitization can help.
De las Fuentes focuses on racial identity, gender and sexual orientation which align with her research interests and her ongoing advocacy for culturally competent therapy. Her psychology practice is rooted in exploring feminist theory and multiculturalism and how they impact relationships.
“The intersection between multiculturalism and feminist psychology is an analysis of power,” she said. “And it situates the individual in their context.”
“There are concentric circles of context and environments that, when you are socially located in different places, there are different power dynamics,” she said.
As she returns to the Forty Acres, this time as commencement speaker, de las Fuentes reflects on the experiences and connections she formed at UT.
“I had great mentoring relationships through that time,” she said. “I developed close lifelong friends who I still stay in touch with today.”
