Viviana Urdaneta Melo, LCSW
Deputy Executive Director
EMDR International Association
Austin, Texas

Viviana Urdaneta Melo is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the EMDR International Association. She oversees and guides content development, curation, and selection of educational offerings provided directly by the Association. She oversees staff and programming of the Racial Equity Support Initiative (RESI), a program of the EMDRIA Foundation. She works closely with the Executive Director, the board of directors, and EMDRIA staff to implement key initiatives to ensure the association remains a leader in providing the highest standards of excellence and support for mental health therapists who specialize in trauma treatment and EMDR therapy.

Viviana is dedicated to fostering Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) by developing and supporting initiatives that empower diverse communities. She is committed to creating innovative programs, materials, and resources to enhance professional development.

Previously, she served as Chair of the task force for Racial Equity Initiative, Co-chair of the Public Practice and Diversity Special Interest group, and Member of the EMDRIA Conference Committee as well as President of Latinos Against Domestic Violence in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. She has worked in diverse leadership positions as a therapist, advocate, and supervisor in university settings, domestic violence agencies, mental health centers, and private practice.

Viviana received her Bachelor’s in Electronic Engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Cali, Colombia, and her Master’s in Social Work and Master’s of Divinities from Baylor University.