Cynthia D. Belar, PhD

As executive director of the American Psychological Association's Education Directorate, Cynthia D. Belar, PhD, leads the association's efforts to advance the teaching of psychology at all levels, prepare psychologists for diverse careers and apply psychology to education. She was appointed to this post in 2000.

Belar is also professor emerita at the University of Florida Health Science Center, where from 1974 to 1983 and 1990 to 2000, she directed the clinical psychology doctoral and internship programs. She also developed clinical service and education and training tracks in clinical health psychology at the doctoral, internship and postdoctoral levels. Belar’s research focused on pain, applied psychophysiology and reproductive endocrinology.

From 1983 to 1990, she served as chief psychologist and clinical director of behavioral medicine at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Los Angeles, where she also maintained an independent practice.

Membership/National Service

Belar is a fellow of APA. She has chaired the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers, the Council of Chairs of Training Councils and the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology. Belar served as president of the American Board of Clinical Health Psychology and APA's Division of Health Psychology. She chaired three national conferences that developed education and training policy for internships, postdoctoral residencies and scientist-practitioner programs in professional psychology.

Honors and Awards

Among her awards, Belar received the APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology (1996) and the Educator Award from the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers (1997). She was the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Health Psychology (2000). She also received the Award for Career Service Contributions to Health Psychology (2007) and the Paul Nelson Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training Award (2008).

Education

Belar received her doctorate from Ohio University in l974, after an internship at Duke University Medical Center. She is board certified in both clinical psychology and clinical health psychology.