Thank you for your continued support and engagement. I’m honored to serve as president of our growing association. This month, with the support of our insightful members, incredible staff, and outstanding Board of Directors, I have been able to advance the work of APA’s strategic plan by completing the following:
Facilitated the APA 2023 Council of Representatives meeting where, among other things, we:
- voted to receive the Report on an Offer of Apology, on Behalf of the American Psychological Association, to First Peoples in the United States,
- voted to approve the Resolution on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Quality Continuing Education and Professional Development,
- voted to approve Educational Guidelines for Equitable and Respectful Treatment of Students in Graduate Psychology Training Programs,
- voted to approve Resolution on Confidentiality and Reproductive Health,
- voted to approve Principles for Quality Undergraduate Education in Psychology,
- voted to approve an association rules change that created a new committee for the Advancement of General Applied Psychology, and
- voted to recommend a process for announcing a council member’s intent to add a new business item not previously included in the council agenda to that meeting’s agenda, as well as a recommendation that the council member be provided time at the council plenary meeting to discuss the item.
APA members can access the entire agenda and supporting materials for the February 2023 council meeting (PDF, 9.6MB)opens in new windowlogin requiredlogin required on the APA website, with your member login.
- Met weekly with the CEO, chair of the Council Leadership Team, and members of the Executive Leadership Team to coordinate efforts in alignment with APA’s strategic plan
- Chaired a monthly meeting with members who are serving in my Advisory Cabinet
- Created and shared Celebrating Black History Month: The History, Legacy, and Resilience of Black Psychologistsopens in new window with guests Robyn Gobin, PhD and Kevin Cokley, PhD
- Presented Presidential Citations to Gordon Hall, PhD and Wendi Williams, PhD for their important contributions to the field of psychology (loved this great tweetopens in new window about it!)
- Engaged in strategic planning with the Council of Representatives
- Facilitated Board discussions on new policy proposals to determine the Board’s support of various agenda items that came before the Council of Representatives
- Released a video statementopens in new window in support of those affected by the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey
- Released a statement to oppose antisemitism
- Released a statement supporting the rights of educators to do their jobs without political interference
- Presented at the International Collective Liberation Conference on Decolonial Care and Thriving
- Participated in an APA webinar on advocacy for psychologists
- Planned for the APA Annual Convention, including opening plenary and presidential programming
- Worked with the phenomenal chairs and members of my five presidential initiatives: representation matters documentary, decolonizing and liberation psychology dissemination, multicultural trauma recovery summit, multicultural trauma and grief recovery kits, and enhancing APA membership’s belonging and engagement
- Began forming a presidential work group on the influence of social media on children and youth
- Wrote my second APA Monitor presidential column: Walking each other home: Psychologists should be committed to moving from awareness to active anti-oppression, professionally and personally
- Met with council members of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Board
- Hosted Helen Neville, PhD, Anneliese Singh, PhD, and Jennifer Mullan, PsyD to present to the Council of Representatives on Decolonial and Liberation Psychologies and Leadership as well as Intergenerational Trauma and Healing to frame our work
- Met with Board members individually about their liaison roles to various APA boards and committees
- Represented APA on a number of media outlets including NPR: Pastor and professor Thema Bryant reflects on leading the nation's psychologistsopens in new window (shared nationally on NPR affiliates) and Shondaland: How Dr. Thema Bryant Is Seeking to Shake Up Psychology: Meet the psychologist and American Psychological Association president who is taking social media by stormopens in new window
- Provided commentary about the psychology of Black men’s joy for CNN
- Spoke to CNBC about psychology: Harvard-trained psychologist: 3 tips for rejecting someone with kindness—avoidance ‘might hurt them worse’opens in new window and How to sustain happiness, from the President of the American Psychological Association: Joy can be an inside jobopens in new window
- Appeared on The Psychiatry Show on Sirius with psychologist host Thea Gallagher, PsyD, answering questions from the public on work-life balance
- Met with the Board Executive Committee to finalize goals for the year
- Participated in parliamentary review to prepare for the Council of Representatives bi-annual meeting
- Attended orientation for first-year council members
- Spoke at council’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Board luncheon
- Provided greetings at the Council Leadership Team’s mentor and mentee dinner
- Participated in a virtual panel on Black women in leadership, which included two prior APA presidents, Rosie Bingham Davis, PhD, and Jennifer Kelly, PhD
- Participated in a day of APA Council Caucus meetings to discuss APA policy implications for various stakeholders
- Provided an invited presentation on my presidential initiatives to the Advocacy Coordinating Committee
- Continued my invited service on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Maternal Health Disparities Think Tank, along with two APA staff members
- Co-facilitated preparatory meetings with Council Caucus Chairs and Board and Committee Chairs
- Attended Board training with the APA Board Executive Committee, which includes the CEO, presidential trio, secretary, and treasurer
- Facilitated two Council Town Halls to provide time for fuller discussion of agenda items regarding council effectiveness, guidelines for the equitable treatment of graduate students, and confidentiality as it relates to clients’ reproductive rights
Thank you for your support and efforts in service of society and the field of psychology. To reach me, please feel free to email me.