The APA Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (LIWP) was awarded a Presidential Citation for commitment to preparing, supporting and empowering women psychologists to promote positive social change in a wide range of academic, professional and scientific settings.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of LIWP and APA’s 125 anniversary, we recognize the APA LIWP founders, executive committee and teaching faculty for their commitment to preparing, supporting and empowering women psychologists to promote positive social change in a wide range of academic, professional and scientific settings. In 2007, the Committee on Women in Psychology (CWP) responded to a long-held recognition that APA did not have a program to address the lack of leadership roles held by women psychologists. After assessing women members’ leadership development needs, CWP launched the APA CWP LIWP in August 2008 during the APA annual convention held in Boston, Massachusetts.
Since the first program was offered, the APA LIWP has contributed to APA’s mission, strengthened the field of psychology, showcased the benefits of single gender contexts for women new to leadership roles, provided leadership training to more than 300 women psychologist leaders and laid the groundwork for the contributions of future generations of women psychologist leaders. The APA LIWP is a magnificent example of what is possible when a group of committed psychologists come together to apply psychological knowledge to benefit APA, society and improve people’s lives. By building a successful program that is now transitioning from an idea to a volunteer effort to a permanent program their vision can be sustained for the long term.
In recognition of the vision, innovation, dedication and resilience of the APA LIWP Executive Committee and teaching faculty to significantly increasing the diversity, number and effectiveness of women psychologists as leaders in academia, practice and other professional settings, 2017 APA President Antonio E. Puente honored the APA LIWP with this award.