Dr. José Pons Madera

Current Title & Duties

Dr. Pons is a Full Professor of Clinical Psychology in the PsyD Clinical Psychology Program of the Mayaguez University Center of Albizu University. He is also an in-house consultant on accreditation and curricular development for the University. As a faculty member, Dr. Pons is the Co-Advisor of the Neuropsychology and Neurodiversity Students Association. He also serves as a professor for AU's Neuropsychology MS online program. Dr. Pons was Dr. Carlos Albizu's TA from 1978 to 1981. The Board of Trustees of Albizu University appointed Dr. Pons as the fifth president of Albizu University in January 2017. He completed his tenure as president on December 31, 2021.

Biography

Dr. Pons completed his BA in Psychology at Salem State University, Massachusetts, and earned his master's and doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from the Caribbean Center for Graduate Studies, now Albizu University. He trained in Clinical Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, fMRI research, and mental health and higher education administration at the postdoctoral level. Dr. Pons has developed mental health centers, training clinics, and internship programs in Massachusetts and PR. He practiced Psychology for thirty years in Clinical Neuropsychology, Psychotherapy and provided consultation to school systems and in Forensic Psychology. Dr. Pons was Assistant Professor and Interim Director of the Department of Social Sciences at UPR-Cayey and was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and for Central Connecticut State University. Dr. Pons was the founding dean of the School of Behavioral and Neural Sciences at Ponce Health Sciences University. Currently, he is a Professor at the Mayagüez University Center of Albizu University. Dr. Pons was the Association of Psychologists of Puerto Rico (APPR) 2004 Psychologist of the Year and received the 2009 Outstanding Health Professional recognition from the PR Senate. In addition, he received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award from the APPR. Dr. Pons was chair of the PR Psychologist Examination Board from 2010 to 2014. He was president of the Board of Directors of the Ponce Autism Center from 2010-2016 and is an APA accreditation site visitor. Dr. Pons served as president of Albizu University from 2017 to 2021. In 2019, he participated in Harvard University leadership training for university presidents. During his presidency, the UA completed an extensive transformation process and increased the number of students enrolled on its campuses.

Research / Research Interests

His work as a director and co-principal investigator of the translation project, cultural adaptation, and standardization of the EIWA-III-PR intelligence test stands out from his research career. His publications cover psychometrics and neuropsychology, forensic family psychology, autism, psychotherapy, graduate education, and current affairs published in local newspapers. Dr. Pons has edited articles for local, national, and international journals. Prestigious institutions and organizations have invited Dr. Pons to give keynote lectures on his research and academic interests. In 2014, he presented his cultural diversity training model to the Department of Psychology at Yale University. He also presented his model at the 2014 Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP) convention. In addition, Dr. Pons has presented at various APA conventions on intelligence, neuropsychology, and cultural diversity.

Academics, Education, Certifications

Salem State University, Salem, Massachusetts. Completion Date: December 1976. Degree: BA in Psychology Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana Credits towards MA in General Psychology: 1977 Caribbean Center for Advanced Studies (now Albizu University). Santurce, P.R. Completion Date: June 1979. Degree: M.S. in Clinical Psychology, with Utmost Distinction Caribbean Center for Advanced Studies (now Albizu University). Santurce, P.R. Completion Date: May 1982. Degree: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with Utmost Distinction

Recent Publications

Publications in Non-Peer-Reviewed Journals

Pons, J. (2022) Adelantos extraordinarios de las Ciencias Neuronales: Implicaciones para el adiestramiento en Neuropsicología. Albizu Magazine, octubre, 2022. https://magazine.albizu.edu/?lang=es

Díaz,L., Monteiro, J., Vázquez, F., Olivera, R., Pons. J., (2016) Epigenetic Study of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Puerto Rico. Bulletin of the Puerto Rico Psychological Association, 39. 3, 15-19

Pons, J.  (2007). Uso en Puerto Rico de la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Niños – IV Español. (Use in Puerto Rico of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV–Spanish). Boletín de la Asociación de Psicología de Puerto Rico.

Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals

Ortiz-Nolasco, N.,  Pons-Madera, J. (2022).  La Ciencia de las Relaciones Interpersonales. (The Interpersonal Relations Science). In, Psicología en PR: Desafíos contextuales y Retos para la Acción. (Psychology in PR: Contextual challenges and call to action). San Juan: PR Association of Psychologist. Article written by invitation on the proceeds of the 2020 APPR annual convention. In Press.

Pons-Madera, J. (2020). Retos Psicológicos y Conductuales de la Pandemia del Covid-19 para Profesionales de la Salud. Revista Puertorriqueña de Medicina y Salud Pública. Abril – Mayo.

Rosario-Hernandez, E., Rovira-Millan, L., Santiago-Pacheco, E., Arzola-Berrios, X., Padovani, C.M., Francesquini-Oquendo, S., Soto-Franceschini, J., Pons-Madera, J., Peña, L., Velez, E.  (2020).  ADHD and its effects on Job Performance: A Moderated Mediation Model.  Revista Caribeña de Psicología. 4, 1-25.

Pons Madera, J. (2015). El estado de la ciencia de la psicoterapia en Puerto Rico. [The status of the Psychotherapy Science in Puerto Rico]  Reaction to the Bernal, G., Adames, C., Almonte, M., article [The status of the Psychotherapy Science in Puerto Rico: A half-full or half-empty cup]. Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología, 30, 68–115.

Quiñones, M., Larrieux, V., Durán, G., Pons Madera, J., (2015).  Adaptación cultural del modelo “Acceptance Commitment Therapy” para tratamiento de dolor crónico. (Cultural adaptation of the “Acceptance Commitment Therapy” for the treatment of chronic pain), Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología, 26, 1, 108-120.

Pons-Madera, J. at al. (2014).  Evaluación de la Integración de Técnicas Psicosociales al Cuidado Hospitalario de Pacientes Oncológicos: Proyecto Experiencia Paciente del Hospital Auxilio Mutuo. (Evaluation of the integration of psychosocial technics to the care of hospitalized cáncer patients: The Patient Experience Project of Auxilio Mutuo Hospital). Puerto Rico Journal of Medicine and Public Health. Revista de Medicina y Salud Pública de Puerto Rico. Nov. 2014.

Ayala-Feliciano, M., Pons-Valerio, J.J., Pons-Madera, J.,  Acevedo, S.F. (2011).  The Relationship between Visuospatial Memory and Coping Strategies in Breast Cancer Survivors.  Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research 5 117–130.

Rosario-Hernández, E., Rovira-Millán, Lillian V., Pons-Madera, J.,  Rodríguez, M.,  Cordero, A., (2010). Acoso psicológico en el ambiente laboral y el trastorno de estrés postraumático. (Bullying in the work-place and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Revista Interamericana de Psicología Ocupacional. Vol. 28, #2, 138-148. 

Oliveras, R., Deliz, L., Pons, J.I. (2010).  Desórdenes del espectro autista: prevalencia, historia y entendimiento contemporáneo del síndrome. (Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Prevalence, history and contemporary understanding of the syndrome). Medicina y Salud Pública. 22 (4),  59-65.

Pons, J.I., Rodríguez, M., Rodríguez, J.M., Herrans, L.L., Matías-Carrelo, L., Medina, G.,  Jiménez, M.E., Negrón, A., Flores-Pabón, L., Mañón, S.,  Jiménez, K.,  Rosario, E., Ortiz, N. (2008).  (Validity studies of the Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos Versión III, Puerto Rico - EIWA-III). Estudios de Validez de la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos Versión III, Puerto Rico (EIWA-III). Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología, 19, 75-111.

Pons, J.I., Flores-Pabón, L.,  Matías-Carrelo, L., Rodríguez, M., Rosario-Hernández, E., Rodríguez, J.M.,  Herrans, L.L., Yang, J. (2008). Confiabilidad de la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos Versión III, Puerto Rico (EIWA-III). (Reliability studies of the Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos III, PR - EIWA-III).  Revista Puertorriqueña Psicología, 19, 112-132.

Rodríguez, J.M., Herrans, L., Matías, L., Pons, J.I., (2008). Proceso de traducción y adaptación cultural de la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos – III PR. (Translation and cultural adaptation process of the Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos-III PR). Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología, 19, p. 58-74.

Laguer, A, Matías-Carrelo, L., Pons, J. I., Rodríguez, M., Rodríguez, J.M., Herrans, L. (2008).  Ejecución de una muestra de personas con diagnóstico de epilepsia en la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos Versión III (EIWA-III), normalizada para Puerto Rico. (Performance on the Spanish WAIS-III (EIWA-III), of a sample of persons with epilepsy). Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología, 19, p. 133-147.

Rivera, E., Pons, J.I., Rosario-Hernández, E., Ortiz, N. (2008). Traducción y adaptación para la población puertorriqueña del Inventario Bar-On de Cociente Emocional (Bar-On EQ-i): Análisis de propiedades psicométricas. (Translation and adaptation for use with Puerto Rican population of the Bar-On Emotional Quotient (Bar-On EQ-i: Analysis of psychometric properties) Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología, 19,148-182.