Volume 23: No. 1, January 2009

APA Science Committees: Seeking to Meet Your Needs

by Suzanne Wandersman

The 2009 APA science board and committee members are on the lookout for new opportunities for psychological science.  At the beginning of each year, newly elected members join the science board and committees that oversee Directorate and science activities within APA.  Below is a list of the members and short statements about the mission of each group.

Board of Scientific Affairs (BSA)

Toni C. Antonucci, Chair
    University of Michigan (2007-09)
Leona S. Aiken
    Arizona State University (2008-10)
Robert L. Balster
    Virginia Commonwealth University (2009-11)
Patricia M. Greenfield
    University of California, Los Angeles (2007-09)
Frederick T. L. Leong
    Michigan State University (2007-09)
Jennifer Manly
    Columbia University (2008-10)
Vickie M. Mays
    University of California, Los Angeles (2008-10)
Kevin R. Murphy
    Pennsylvania State University (2009-11)
Nora S. Newcombe
    Temple University (2009-11)

The Board of Scientific Affairs has general concern for all aspects of psychology as a science, including the continued encouragement, development, and promotion of psychology as a science; scientific aspects of the program at the Annual Convention; and psychology's relations with other scientific bodies. It has particular responsibility for liaison with agencies giving financial support to scientific projects, for awards and honors in recognition of scientific achievement, and for seeking new ways in which the Association can assist scientific activities.

Committee on Scientific Awards (COSA)

Steven Hollon, Chair
    Vanderbilt University (2007-09)
Monica R. Biernat
    University of Kansas (2008-10)
Marvin Chun
    Yale University (2009-11)
Michael Davis
    Emory University (2008-10)
Louise F. Fitzgerald
    University of Illinois (2009-11)
Susan Gelman
    University of Michigan (2007-09)

The Committee on Scientific Awards selects individuals to receive the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award, the Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology, and the Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology.

Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (CARE)

Jennifer Higa, Chair
    University of Hawaii - Honolulu Community College (2007-09)
Barbara Kaminski
    Johns Hopkins University (2009-11)
Theresa Jones
    University of Texas (2008-10)
Scott Robinson
    University of Iowa (2009-11)
Pamela Scott-Johnson
    Morgan State University (2007-09)
Eric P. Wiertelak
    Macalester College (2008-2010)

The Committee on Animal Research and Ethics is responsible for safeguarding responsible research with animals, other than humans, disseminating accurate information about such research, reviewing the ethics of such research and recommending and disseminating guidelines for ethical conduct when involving animals other than humans in research, teaching, and practical applications.

Committee on Psychological Tests and Assessment (CPTA)
Marcia M. Andberg, Chair
    Marcia Andberg Associates, LLC (2007-09)
Ron K. Hambleton
    University of Massachusetts (2008-10)
Robert Heaton
    University of California at San Diego (2009-11)
Jerry Kehoe
    Selection & Assessment Consulting, LLC (2009-11)
Michael J. Kolen
    University of Iowa (2007-09)
Robert J. McCaffrey
    Albany Neuropsychological Assoc. (2008-10)
Samuel O. Ortiz
    St. Johns University (2009-10)
Beverly Vandiver
    Pennsylvania State University, (2009-11)
Frank C. Worell
    University of California, Berkeley (2007-09)

The Committee on Psychological Tests and Assessment (CPTA) is responsible for addressing problems regarding sound psychological testing and assessment practices.  Members of CPTA serve as technical advisors to other APA boards and committees on all issues affecting testing and assessment as it involves policy, practice, and science; monitoring actions of government and other organizations concerning regulation and control of assessment and testing practices; maintaining knowledge of and concern regarding current policy issues on the use of tests and assessment in clinical, counseling, educational, and employment settings; and promoting the appropriate use of tests and sound assessment practices. 

Ad Hoc Committee to Advance Responsible Research (CARR)
Arthur Daniel Fisk, Chair
    Georgia Tech
Karen Calhoun
    Georgia State University
Neil Charness
    Florida State University
Thomas Eissenberg
    Virginia Commonwealth University
Martha Mann
    University of Texas at Arlington
Diane Scott-Jones
    Boston College

The mission of  the Ad Hoc Committee to Advance Research will be to: (a) monitor the status of legislation, regulations, and professional policies on topics germane to the responsible conduct of research including the protection of human participants in behavioral research, data acquisition, management, sharing, and ownership, mentor/trainee relationships, publication practices and responsible authorship, peer review, collaborative science, research misconduct and conflicts of interest and to ascertain their impact on research in the behavioral sciences; (b) engage in activities to promote the responsible conduct of research including workshops, curriculum development, and dissemination; develop resources, including guidelines for responsible conduct of research in the behavioral sciences; and, (c) establish and maintain cooperative relations with organizations sharing similar interests.  (See article on page x for more information about this new committee.)

Ad Hoc APA Science Student Council (APASSC)

Gloria Luong, Chair
    University of California, Irvine (2008-2009)
Abby Adler
    Ohio State University (2008-2009)
Azurii Collier
    Northwestern University (2009-2010)
Nisha Gottfredson
    University of North Carolina (2009-2010)
Lisa Jaremka
    University of California, Santa Barbara (2008-2009)
Stanley King
    University of Virginia (2008-2009)
Gabriel Lazaro-Munoz
    New York University (2009-2010)
Tara Queen
    North Carolina State University (2009-2010)
Winny Shen
    University of Minnesota (2009-2010)

The APA Science Student Council represents the interests and concerns of graduate students in psychological science.  The Council is broadly representative of the discipline.  It provides advice to BSA and the Directorate on programs and activities that would be of benefit to graduate students.  It arranges APA Convention programming of interest to science-oriented students, and works closely with APAGS on a variety of projects.  It selects recipients for the APASSC Early Researcher Awards. 

BSA, CPTA, and CARE will meet on March 20-22, 2009. 

These individuals, and those serving on the APA Board of Directors and Council of Representatives, are the critical players in our deliberations about and actions for science.  It is their generous contribution of time and effort that make APA science policy and program development possible.