Janiece Pompa, PhD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for her career-long contributions to professional psychology and those it serves in Utah and for her sustained commitment to focus attention on diversity and multiculturalism in both professional development and underserved treatment communities.
Pompa has achieved this through her position as an educator in the department of educational psychology at the University of Utah, her service in governance in the Utah Psychological Association (UPA) and the Utah Association of School Psychologists (UASP), and her contributions as a member of the State of Utah Psychologist Licensing Board.
Pompa has served as a board member of the Utah Psychological Association in various capacities from 1986 to 2019. Most notably, Pompa has twice served as president of UPA (2006-07; 2017-18). She has served as president of Utah Psychologists in Public Practice, president of Utah Psychologists in Private Practice, chair of UPA’s Underserved Populations Committee, UPA member-at-large, chair of UPA’s Diversity Committee, and chair of UPA’s Communications Committee. Her service to the Utah Association of School Psychologists includes serving on the board of trustees, member-at-large, and treasurer. Pompa is the recipient of the first annual UASP Barbara Bennett Award for Excellence in Diversity (2003).
Pompa is well-known in the psychological community for her wide range of expertise in many areas of professional practice, knowledge of testing and assessment practices, and service to children and adolescents of ethnic and gender minority in Salt Lake City. During her tenure as a member of the Utah Psychologist Licensing Board, Pompa oversaw the development of licensure for applied behavior analysts under the Utah Psychologist Licensing Act. She also provided leadership and set direction for the Board’s consideration and eventual support of PsyPact, which was passed in 2017.
Pompa has served on the State of Utah Governor’s Hispanic Council as the mental health representative, was a member of the Ethnic Minority Concerns Committee of APA Div. 40, and served as the multicultural representative to the National Association of School Psychologists. Pompa was selected as the diversity representative from Utah to the APA State Leadership Conference (2004-05). She is the 2012 recipient of the University of Utah College of Education Service Award.
Pompa continued her leadership during her final year as UPA president, articulating UPA’s public position of support for legislation banning conversion therapy for minors which was passed in 2019.
Pompa’s voice and actions have made an indelible mark on psychology in Utah. Pompa, thank you for your service to profession.