RETROSPECTIVE DISTINGUISHED RESEARCHER, PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR AND CAMPUS LEADER
V. MARK DURAND RETIRES Matthew Cimitile In the field of autism and developmental disabilities, there are few names more internationally recognized than V. Mark Durand. A professor of psychology at USF St. Petersburg for the past 20 years, Durand’s research focuses on developing models for understanding and treating challenging behaviors in people with autism spectrum disorders. Working with his colleague Edward G. Carr, Durand developed functional communication training (FCT), which aimed to address challenging behaviors via new ways of communicating. First detailed in a 1985 paper, FCT has become a world-renowned protocol for treating severe behavioral challenges, often resulting from autism and developmental disabilities. Since developing FCT, Durand and his colleagues have combined the technique with other popular therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to help families, teachers and patients collectively improve results. He also regularly trains psychologists and social workers on ways to employ FCT in their practice. The protocol has been recognized as one of 27 evidence-based practices by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder and been cited more than 3,300 times in various publications. In addition, Durand has published 14 books, including abnormal psychology textbooks, that have been used at more than 1,000 universities worldwide and translated into 10 languages. His work has been singled out for professional recognition from leading journals and the American Psychological Association. In 2020, he was named a University of South Florida Distinguished University Professor, the first in the history of USF St. Petersburg to earn this distinction. Durand joined USF St. Petersburg in 2003 as the founding dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He was the university’s regional vice chancellor for academic affairs from 2005–2007, and again from 2015–2016. Durand retired at the end of the fall 2023 semester. We sat down with him to hear more about his distinguished research and teaching career and to look back at his time at USF St. Petersburg.
34 | INNOVATIONS MAGAZINE
“
In addition, I’m proud of the many students I taught and the research and writing I continued to do while here, writing several editions of textbooks and books. Today I look back and think, “how did I do all of it?” -V. Mark Durand
