Feature
A new task force is looking at how the current system of APA governance could be improved to better serve APA Members, make governance service more gratifying and be more cost-effective for the association.
The Task Force on APA Governance, chaired by APA President Robert J. Sternberg, PhD, first met in January to closely examine the structure and operation of APA's Council of Representatives, boards, committees, task forces, working groups and ad hoc groups--and to look at how these groups work together.
The new task force may or may not propose a structure that is the same as the current one, notes Sternberg. He says he hopes that it will "propose a sound, workable and responsible design for APA governance and that it will work together to get the proposals through council."
Why is such a task force needed? According to Sternberg, because "every organization should reflect upon its own governance from time to time, and that time has come." He adds that APA's recent budget challenges and the appointment of a new chief executive officer make it an ideal time to examine the governance structure.
All the major governance groups nominated members for the task force. "It comprises people with a distinguished history of working hard, harmoniously and constructively within APA," Sternberg notes.
He hopes the task force will be ready to make recommendations to APA's Council of Representatives this year, and encourages all APA Members--those who serve in governance as well as those who don't--to contact him at robert.sternberg@yale.edu with suggestions on ways to improve APA's governance. All suggestions are welcome and will be considered seriously, says Sternberg.
Members of Task Force on APA Governance
Robert Sternberg, PhD, chair, APA president
George W. Albee, PhD, APA past-president; former Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest member
Laura H. Barbanel, EdD, former Board of Directors member
Bruce E. Bonecutter, PhD, Committee on Structure and Function of Council (CSFC) chair
Mathilda B. Canter, PhD, Policy and Planning (P & P) Board member
Connie S.W. Chan, PhD, P & P Board member
Susan D'Esposito, Committee for the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students member
Thomas J. DeMaio, PhD, former Council of Representatives member
William C. Howell, PhD, Publications and Communications Board member; former APA executive director for science
Lisa M. Porche-Burke, PhD, Council of Representatives member; Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology member
William R. Safarjan, PhD, Membership Committee chair; Council of Representatives member
Sandra L. Shullman, PhD, former Board of Professional Affairs chair; former Council of Representatives member
Nina K. Thomas, PhD, Finance Committee member; Council of Representatives member
Susan K. Whitbourne, PhD, Council of Representatives member; CSFC member
APA President-elect Diane F. Halpern, PhD, and Chief Executive Officer Norman B. Anderson, PhD, are ex-officio members of the task force.
--J. CHAMBERLIN
