Why did you join Division 51, and how long have you been a member?
I am one of the founding members of Division 51. I actually joined the division before it became a division. During the 1990 APA convention in Boston, I noticed a flyer advertising an opportunity to talk with other individuals who had an interest in men's issues. I checked out this meeting, and I was really pleased with the welcoming attitude of the people in the group. That group under the leadership of Ron Levant and Gary Brooks, eventually became a division in 1995, and I am glad that the same welcoming vibe has always remained in that group. I have been a member of the division for the entire 30 years that it has been a division.
How did you become a division volunteer/leader? What do you get from being involved?
Even before we became a division the group was brainstorming about things we could do. Since we viewed ourselves as a group of men who tended to be more emotionally aware and expressive, I suggested that we put together a cookbook. The idea was well received, and I agreed to coordinate that project which I named The Forever Cookbook since it seemed to take quite a few years to finish the book (It actually took five years to complete and I still have a few extra copies if anyone is interested). That project was a springboard to my further involvement in the division which has included two terms as secretary, president-elect, president, past president, and my current role as the division's council representative.
I enjoy my current status as a senior division member who was an ECP psychologist when I first became involved. It has been a joy to watch new members come into the division, add their unique talents to the talents already there, and watch some of them become division leaders. Through my involvement I have developed a deeper understanding of gender issues and formed some valued friendships with other division members.
What are you most proud of?
Within APA I have a lot of pride in the relatively small, but impactful that division 51 has become. From the beginning the division has been about the empowerment of all people beyond traditional restrictive role definitions. The division is in the forefront of the study of issues relating to boys and men as evidenced by our widely respected journal, Psychology of Men and Masculinities. Recently the Division 51 board voted to approve the formation of a task force, which I am proud to be a part of, with the overall mission is to develop ways to foster more involvement of male-identified people in psychology in the following ways:
- As students
- As professionals
- As mental health help-seekers
Basically, while there is a higher proportion of men in leadership positions in the APA, virtually everywhere else–including undergraduate and grad school–men are the vast minority in our field. We’re basically advocating for more equitable, gender-sensitive approaches to including men and boys in the above groups.
Through one of our members, Daniel Ellenberg’s, relationship with Richard Reeves (author of the highly acclaimed book, Of Boys and Men) at the American Institute for Boys and Men, Richard has awarded the task force a generous grant of $100k from the AIBM’s Melinda Gates Foundation funds. The TF committee has now met several times to get some foundational work done, and the two initial projects that the task force is pursuing include:
- Awarding five $10k scholarships and developing mentors for men who have been admitted to–or are already in–graduate school.
- Refurbishing and leveling up the Campus Representatives program – we have funds (up to $500/campus rep) to reimburse undergrad and grad students to hold events (with snacks!) like a movie night, brown bag lunch, panel talk, etc. to get the word out on campus about the psychology of men and masculinities and, of course, Division 51.
I am also proud to have helped launch the newly formed caucus for boys and men's issues within the APA council of representatives with the goal of bringing awareness to, and advocating for, issues relating to boys and men.
Professionally outside of APA, I am very proud of the volunteer disaster mental health work that I have done for the American Red Cross over the years. This work has included deployments following Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Wilma, Superstorm Sandy, The World Trade Center, and Hurricane Helene. I have found those deployments to be rewarding adventures.
What is your favorite place to travel to? What is next on our travel list?
I have a passion for travel and have been very blessed to have had some interesting, fun and rewarding travel experiences including a fascinating trip to Shanghai this past September. I have also taken road biking trips to Spain, Italy, Vietnam, and France over the years, and the next overseas biking trip is currently being planned. My favorite trip though happened this past February when my wife and I celebrated our 40th year anniversary by going on a safari to Tanzania and Kenya. To be that close to those wild animals in their natural environment was truly breath taking! We have booked a trip to Alaska for next June, which is another place I have always wanted to visit. At the heart of things though is my family. I have been married to Cindy, and I have three amazing adult kids, two toddler granddaughters and another granddaughter coming in a couple of weeks.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
A fun fact that most do not know about me is that I am a self-proclaimed bagel connoisseur by virtue of being former bagel maker.
Contact: Larry Beer
