APA Congressional Fellowship

Fellows spend one year working on the staff of a member of Congress or congressional committee. Activities may involve drafting legislation, conducting oversight work, assisting with congressional hearings and events, and preparing briefs and speeches. Fellows also attend a two-week orientation program on congressional and executive branch operations, which provides guidance for the congressional placement process, and participate in a yearlong seminar series on science and public policy issues. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) administers these professional development activities for the APA fellows and for fellows sponsored by over two dozen other professional societies.

APA will sponsor a congressional fellow for a one-year appointment beginning approximately August 30, 2026. The APA fellowship is open to all full APA members. Stipend for this fellowship is $93,750. In addition, the fellowship provides reimbursement for health insurance coverage and a $3,500 stipend for professional development.

To learn more about the fellowship experience please watch the 2021 presentation video:

APA Convention Fellowship Presentation 2021

For questions, contact Ben Vonachen, APA Advocacy Office.

A prospective fellow must:

• Demonstrate excellence in scientific and/or professional psychology.
• Demonstrate knowledge of policy issues.
• Have a strong interest in applying psychological knowledge to the solution of societal challenges.
• Be able to work quickly and communicate effectively on a wide variety of topics and be able to work cooperatively with individuals with diverse viewpoints.

An applicant must:

• Have a doctorate in psychology (from an APA accredited doctoral program and internship, if in the area of professional psychology) or related field by the application deadline.
• Be a psychologist, a member of APA (or applicant for membership), and a U.S. citizen.

A special exception is made for current psychology interns who may apply with certification from the director of training in their doctoral program that they have met all but the internship requirement for their doctoral degree by the application deadline.

Applicants may also simultaneously apply for APA’s Goldman Congressional Fellowship, Springfield LGBTQIA+ Congressional Fellowship, and Executive Branch Science Fellowship.

Applications must be submitted by January 2, 2025. A complete application must include the following:

• a completed online application: Submitting the application will require uploading and submitting the following materials electronically:
  1. detailed curriculum vita providing information about educational background, professional employment and activities, professional publications and presentations, public policy and legislative experience, and committee and advisory group appointments;
  2. statement of approximately 1,000 words addressing the applicant's interests in the fellowship, career goals, and what the applicant can contribute to and learn from the fellowship experience; 
  3. three letters of recommendation to be separately uploaded and submitted by recommenders: Letters should specifically address the applicant’s ability to serve successfully on Capitol Hill as a congressional fellow. Applicants are responsible for forwarding the recommendation submission form to each of their recommenders.

For more information about the fellowship, please contact: Ben Vonachen, Congressional Fellowship Advocacy Office.

Current Fellows

2023–24

Erica Eisenman, PsyD, is the 2024-25 Jacquelin Goldman Congressional Fellow, a position funded by the American Psychological Foundation for psychologists with expertise in the psychological development of children. She is working in the office of Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan of Virginia’s 4th District, focusing on health and mental health care policy, as well as work on the overlap of health and the environment. Prior to the fellowship, Erica worked in integrated primary care at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, serving children, adolescents, and young adults. Over the course of her career, she has provided therapy, consultation, and psychological assessment for youth and families in a variety of settings, including academic medical centers, specialty hospitals, schools, and community mental health centers. 

During her time at Children’s, Erica became more passionate about advocacy and sought further opportunities to support advocacy work in the DC Metro area. She is dedicated to addressing the youth mental health crisis through promotion of equitable access to healthcare, suicide prevention, normalization and promotion of mental health, as well as access and equity of support in the academic environment.

Mary A. Fernandes, PhD, is a 2024-25 APA/AAAS Congressional Fellow. She is working in the office of Senator Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) on the health policy team. Mary is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist. She completed a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the Washington, DC, Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). She received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Georgia State University after completing her clinical internship at the Washington, DC, VAMC, and she obtained her bachelor’s degrees in animal science and psychology from the University of Maryland in College Park. 

Mary has a strong interest in neuropsychology practice and health policy, with a specific emphasis on policies aimed at increasing equitable access to high-quality healthcare. She is a past chair (2021) of the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS), past member of the APA Council of Representatives and Council Leadership Team, and past member of the APA Board of Directors. Mary also previously served as a member-at-large on the board of directors of the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology (APA Division 40). She is a fellow of the Research-to-Policy Collaboration, a non-partisan organization that bridges research and policy.

Aaron D. Hunt, PhD, is the 2024-25 Springfield LGBTQIA+ Congressional Fellow, a position funded by the American Psychological Foundation for psychologists with an interest in LGBTQIA+ health and civil rights policy. He is currently working as a Health and Disability Policy Fellow in the Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois). Aaron is a licensed psychologist whose work focuses on the intersection of clinical psychology with health and social equity, with specific interests in health disparities, HIV, stigma, bias, and sexual and health behaviors. As a researcher, clinician, and consultant, Aaron has worked on grants related to basic research, health equity, implementation and dissemination, managing research labs, establishing and optimizing new clinic workflows, and training medical and mental health providers. In his prior roles at the VA Maryland Health Care System, Aaron completed two years of training related to health and rehab psychology, infectious diseases, and administration and leadership. As a strong advocate for health and education equity, Aaron has been involved in grassroots organizing, administrative efforts to expand diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice programs and grievance processes, and mentoring programs geared towards students underrepresented in science and professional psychology. In addition to his full-time work, Aaron engages in private practice, consultation, and teaching activities. 

Aaron received his MA and PhD in clinical psychology from George Mason University, and an MS in psychology from Mercy University.

Former Fellows

2023-24

• Tiffany Chenneville, PhD, Springfield LGBTQIA+ Congressional Fellow
  Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon
• Janice Lepore, PsyD, Jacquelin Goldman Congressional Fellow
  Senate Committee on Finance
• Agnes M. Varghese, PhD, APA Congressional Fellow Representative
  Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Delaware

2022–23

• Malcolm Woodland, PhD, Jaquelin Goldman Congressional Fellow
  Representative Federica Wilson, D-Florida
• Erika Fountain, PhD, Congressional Fellow
  Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon

2021–22

• Erika Felix, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senate Special Committee on Aging
• Shahana Koslofsky, PhD, Congressional Fellow
  Representative Robin Kelly, D-Illinois

2020–21

• Jonathan S. Beier, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon
• Brian R. Davis, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota

2019–20

• Luis M. Rivera, PhD, Congressional Fellow
  Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon
• Abigail Seibert, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senator Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania

2018–19

• Melissa Laitner, PhD, MPH, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senator Michael Bennet, D-Colorado
  
• Alexander Maki, PhD, Congressional Fellow
  Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota
  

2017–18

• Meghann Galloway, JD, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York

• Laura F. Knudtson, PhD, Congressional Acuff Fellow
  Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon

2016–17

• Nicholas Grant, PhD, Congressional Fellow
  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York

• Amber Hewitt, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senator Cory Booker, D-New Jersey

2015–16

• Lindsay Gerolimatos, PhD, Congressional Fellow
  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York

• Manisha Gupta, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senator Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii

2014–15

• Amanda Clinton, PhD, Congressional Fellow
  Senator Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut

• Chisina Kapungu, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senator Ed Markey, D-Massachusets

2013–14

• Irina Feygina, PhD, Congressional Fellow
  Senator Michael Bennett, D-Colorado

• Joshua Wolff, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

2012–13

• Edwin Tan, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Representative Mike Honda, D-California

• Jackie White, PhD, Congressional Acuff Fellow
  Representative Diana DeGette, D-Colorado

2011–12

• Tiffany Griffin, PhD, Congressional Fellow
  Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico

• Valarie Molaison, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Senator Jon Tester, D-Montana

2010–11

• Cheri Hoffman, PhD, Congressional Goldman Fellow
  Representative Pete Stark, D-California

• Sandra Wilkniss, PhD, Congressional Acuff Fellow
  Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico

2009–10

• Judith Glassgold, PsyD, Congressional Acuff Fellow
  Representative Xavier Becerra, D-California