Sally R. Cameron was awarded a Presidential Citation for being an exemplar of innovation, collaborative leadership, coalition building and genuine caring for her fellow human beings.
Since 1981, in her role as executive director of the North Carolina Psychological Association (NCPA), Cameron has served with distinction at NCPA, APA, with psychological practitioners and consumers of psychological health care services. She has been a mentor to many and a collaborator to all.
Cameron has been a true innovator in her collaboration with volunteer leadership at NCPA. Among her many accomplishments is the creation of an insurance SWAT team of psychologists and other professionals who respond rapidly to problems with reimbursement encountered by members. The joint professional insurance task force is made of psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, and mental health nurses and clearly demonstrates Cameron's skill in coalition building. The North Carolina Psychological Foundation, of which she is also executive director and founder, has implemented a number of initiatives including leading the efforts of the North Carolina Disaster Response Network, and a first-of-its-kind undergraduate psychology conference. Cameron is respected throughout the state for her expertise in public policy surrounding professional practice and behavioral health services. Her reputation among state officials and legislators is impeccable, and she is trusted to give them the straight story. Cameron supports the work of volunteers, but really, she has been a mentor to many who have been leaders at the state and national levels in advocacy for the profession.
Over the decades, Cameron has consistently striven to promote the synergistic partnership between NCPA and APA. As one of her colleagues put it, “Sally has the admiration and respect of her colleagues at the Council of Executives of State and Provincial Psychological Associations (CESPPA) for her leadership and commitment to CESPPA; success and longevity at NCPA; and her unwavering support and advocacy for state associations. Sally has taught us all many lessons while navigating difficult issues at NCPA. Her willingness to share has made us all better executives. Time and again, when CESPPA was in need of leadership, she has not hesitated to roll up her sleeves and help out. Her advocacy within all areas of APA and the APA Practice Organization for SPTAs has helped raise the level of awareness of the importance of what the state, provincial and territorial associations do for psychology and psychologists. People listen when Sally speaks because she is a wise, well-informed and highly successful professional.” Cameron's quiet effectiveness in demonstrating new directions for the work of state associations and APA has advanced our field. She is the type of transformational leader that psychologists write about.
This partial list of Cameron's many accomplishments fail to paint the true picture of her contributions. Cameron models caring for all people and demonstrates an inclusiveness and openness to every person with whom she comes in contact. This quality is the real source of her effectiveness. We are all fortunate to have Cameron in our lives and in the lives of those we seek to understand and to serve.