Candidates for APA President
What social and public interest issues will you emphasize during your term and what specific plans do you have for achieving your objectives?
The changing demographics of the United States and the preponderance of youth violence are two important issues. With only 6 percent of our members representing minority groups, we clearly need to recruit more representatives of those groups first into our profession and then into APA. I strongly support the effort.
APA has partnered with MTV in the "Warning Signs" campaign and with the Ad Council in the ACT program. We must increase our efforts to bring our knowledge to the public and follow the Surgeon General's admonition to be involved in the pressing mental health needs of the children of America.
What do you consider to be the central issue confronting undergraduate education (high school, two-year and four-year college levels) in psychology in the next 10 years?
The central issue in undergraduate education and high school education is to establish psychology as an independent science--not just lumped in with social sciences. I have concerns about who teaches and what they teach. Our goal is to have psychology teachers certified nationwide following the lead of Kansas. Many years ago, we authorized the formation of Teachers of Psychology in the Secondary Schools. We need to work with that group of high school teachers and with their undergraduate counterparts to ensure that psychology teachers are well-trained and the curriculum for young people is meaningful. This work requires advocacy. That's what I'm good at.
