APA's 2006 Annual Convention in New Orleans, Aug. 10–13, will feature unique performance art, awards, jazz and other programming handpicked by APA President Gerald P. Koocher, PhD, for their local or professional interest.

Opening session

The 114th APA convention will kick off with the opening session on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 5 p.m. in the La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Highlights include:

• The keynote address will be given by playwright, actress and New York University professor Anna Deavere Smith who Newsweek recently described as "the most exciting individual in American theater." Smith is known for her unique one-woman shows that blend journalism, performance art and social commentary. Her presentation will combine an oration that addresses Koocher's presidential themes of diversity and building stronger families with the true-to-life characterizations that make up her critically acclaimed shows. Smith will bring the meeting's locale into her performance by including insights from her recent interviews with city residents affected by Hurricane Katrina. For more information on Smith, see the March Monitor.

• University of Virginia professor emeritus E. Mavis Hetherington, PhD, will accept the 2006 APA Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology. Hetherington's research has focused on families and on understanding the family context of children's and adolescent's development and adaptation.

APA/APF awards ceremony

American Psychological Foundation (APF) President Dorothy Cantor, PsyD, and APA President Koocher will honor psychology researchers, practitioners, educators and students at the APA/APF ceremony on Friday, Aug. 11, at 4 p.m. The awards fall into five categories: science, practice, public interest, education and international affairs (see pages "Awardees at the 2006 convention for information on the winners). Many award recipients will present talks at other convention sessions. For the times, dates and locations, see the 2006 convention program, available in June at www.apa.org/convention.

—Compiled by APA staff