Christopher Liang, PhD, is recognized with this APA Citizen Psychologist Presidential Citation for his leadership and sustained community advocacy in increasing the focus on equity and inclusion in the Central Bucks School District in Pennsylvania.
Liang is a co-founder of a grassroots, parent-driven group called Central Bucks Community Council for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The school district in which Liang lives is the third largest school district in Pennsylvania. Despite the prosperity of the surrounding community, the district grapples with huge income disparities and severely marginalized low income, racially diverse and religious minority populations. Liang applies his professional expertise on diversity in education to deliver compelling and fact-based data that strengthens the passionate pleas of community members, students and parents. He facilitates meetings of parents and concerned community members; attends school board meetings and speaks directly to the board and administrators addressing issues that impact those students who are most often invisible in his community. He provides training to teachers, school counselors and district leaders on masculinity, adverse childhood experiences, racism and academic disparities to bring about inclusive and trauma informed schools.
Liang has also worked within his community to create space for people from multiple faiths to come together to support Muslims who face the threat of ban and violence. Liang uses his expertise, his connections, his training and his strong convictions to build bridges, hold elected and administrators accountable, and to help create an equitable and affirming experience for all students and people served in his school district. Liang has not been afraid to use his voice and expertise to increase the quality of life in his community, and thus serves as a role model for others seeking to be a Citizen Psychologist.