Rate My Professor Cecilia Montiel-Nava

Cecilia Montiel-Nava is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), where she serves as Director of the Behavior and Child Development Lab. A bilingual clinical psychologist from Venezuela, she holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Universidad Central de Venezuela (2000-2005), an M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland (1995-1997), and a B.A. in Psychology from Universidad Rafael Urdaneta. Prior to her current role, Montiel-Nava was Full Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zulia, Venezuela (2001-2017), and Associate Professor in Clinical Sciences at Rafael Urdaneta University, Venezuela (1997-2015). She completed postdoctoral training in neurodevelopmental disorders at the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York.

Montiel-Nava's academic interests center on neurodevelopmental disorders, including ethnic disparities among children with autism spectrum disorders in Latino populations, ADHD and its comorbid disorders, evidence-based interventions that parents can implement for developmental delays in underserved communities, and the validity and cultural adaptation of diagnostic instruments. Her research aims to reduce gaps in access to identification and treatment services for neurodevelopmental disorders, enhancing quality of life for Rio Grande Valley residents. She contributes to UTRGV's Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. Key publications include "Scoping review: Facilitators, barriers, and cultural adaptations in the caregiver skills training program for children with developmental concerns" (2025), "Mental health outcomes of Latino emerging adults with autism spectrum disorder in a community-based, transition to adulthood program" (2025), "Time to Listen: Engaging Latino Autistic Adults and Parents as Partners in Advancing Autism Research" (2025), "Age of autism diagnosis in Latin American and Caribbean countries" (2024), "Pilgrimage for an autism diagnosis: A study of Venezuelan parents' experiences" (2024), and "Service encounters across the lifespan in individuals with autism" (2020). Her body of work has amassed over 4,000 citations, influencing the field on cultural and linguistic factors in autism diagnosis and intervention.