Dr. Héctor Luis Díaz was appointed Director of the New Mexico State University, School of Social Work on June 1, 2020. Prior to coming to NMSU, he served as Director and Professor of the Western Michigan University, School of Social Work, and as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare. Other academic leadership positions held by Dr. Díaz include Social Work Department Chair at The University of Texas – Pan American, now The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. He also coordinated a binational Ph.D. program offered jointly by The University of Texas at Arlington and the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. Earlier during his academic career, Dr. Díaz was a member of the graduate faculties of Andrews University in Michigan and Loma Linda University in California.
He was a social work practitioner, supervisor and administrator for 15 years before entering academia in 1992.
He has published and presented widely in the areas of socio-economic development, social welfare policy, cultural issues, and international social work education.
His publications include two books: Strengthening Democracy through Community Capacity Building: A Study of Four Latin American Countries, and Alcohol Abuse and Acculturation among Puerto Ricans in the United States: A Sociological Study.
Dr. Díaz’s leadership roles within the social work profession include:
