Tonya Wood, PhD, is presented with this APA Presidential Citation for her outstanding efforts in applying her work as a psychologist, advocate, and educator to advance health equity for underserved communities, improve the lives of at-risk children and youth and for addressing the impact of infertility on women and their families.
Wood is a licensed clinical psychologist who has nearly 20 years of experience working with children and families and currently serves as the director of clinical training in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University in addition to working in private practice. Her clinical and research interests include the reduction of health disparities, cross-cultural issues in treatment, and supervision and professional development of trainees and staff, and she advances our profession in her many leadership roles. In 2020, she served as president of the California Psychological Association and is currently a Federal Advocacy Coordinator for the association.
She also works as an expert in family planning, pregnancy loss, and infertility and advocates for women and families in various stages of the family planning process and coping with the stress of infertility as a member of the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
She has provided extensive lectures, training teaching, and supervision on various subjects including trauma-informed care, cultural diversity, clinical supervision, psychological assessment, and professional development.
Throughout her career Wood has worked in a variety of academic, community, and public sector settings, including public schools, correctional facilities, and community mental health centers, with a particular focus on working with youth exposed to trauma and violence. Prior to her appointment at Pepperdine, she was program manager in the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, where she provided clinical assessment and psychotherapy services for youth in foster care.
For her years of service to children, families, and the profession, it’s my honor to present her with this Presidential Citation.