Jared L. Skillings, PhD, ABPP

Jared Skillings, PhD, ABPP is a psychologist, licensed in Virginia and Michigan. He serves as chief of professional practice for the American Psychological Association. In that role he oversees psychology’s 120,000-person workforce and leads national efforts to promote the work of psychologists, modernize mental health care, and improve public health. 

As an advisor to the White House, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Agency for International Development, Skillings has contributed psychological expertise to solving some of society’s most pressing needs. He has amassed over 2 billion media impressions through interviews with The New York Times, CNN, FOX, USA Today, NPR, and others, and has provided over 100 testimonies and advocacy letters to federal and state legislative, regulatory, and judicial authorities.

Before joining the APA, Skillings served as a senior leader in one of the largest health systems in the U.S., leading and growing behavioral health. He has served on three nonprofit boards of directors and two national advisory boards. He is one of only 30 psychologists in the U.S. to be triple board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He holds a black belt in Six Sigma Process Improvement.  

On a personal note, Skillings has been married to his wonderful wife for 24 years. Their five adopted children bring joy to their life. The whole family practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu together, and Skillings earned a blue belt in 2024.

The author or coauthor of over 30 publications, Skillings has delivered over 150 professional presentations at state, national, and international meetings; 18 Grand Rounds presentations; and 25 invited keynote addresses across the U.S.

Skillings completed his PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Toledo, with an internship in health psychology at the University of Miami Medical School/Jackson Memorial Health System. He completed a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in primary care psychology at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine/McLaren Regional Medical Center. His education and training were all APA accredited.