In this edition of Commission on Accreditation (CoA) Update, we interview H. Garland Hershey Jr., DDS, MS, ABO. Hershey is one of two commissioners who represent the public interest — he is not a psychologist by training, but rather an accomplished orthodontist and former vice chancellor at the University of North Carolina.
When did you join CoA and how has your experience been?
I joined the commission in January of 2011 and it has been a delightful six years. I have absolutely enjoyed my time on CoA and the opportunity to work with an impressive array of talented professionals — all are highly competent, and some are more colorful than others.
How did you originally learn about CoA?
I have been active in accreditation work for the professions of dentistry and public health, and was a site visitor for the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). Colleagues in those areas were familiar with psychology accreditation and they introduced me to CoA and its work.
What sparked your interest in participating in the accreditation process for psychology programs?
As I considered the opportunity to become part of CoA, I had several conversations with Susan Zlotlow (previous director of the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation) and her staff and was enormously impressed with their knowledge, commitment and broad perspective regarding accreditation in higher education. After six years, I’m still impressed.
My father was on the faculty at the University of Iowa and in those days the faculty was quite social. Among the frequent attendees at parties in my parents’ home were Kenneth Spence, Arthur Benton, Albert Bandura and Jud Brown. As a young kid, I enjoyed their “grown-up” conversations and thought they were pretty cool. I’ve come to same conclusion about the members of CoA.
On the commission you represent the public interest. How do you conceptualize and fulfill that role?
Clearly I have no significant subject matter expertise to bring to CoA dialog and debate. What I have tried to do is continually ask “why” the commission is taking certain actions or decisions. In almost all instances, the answers to my “why” questions have been very well-reasoned and rational.
After six years on the commission, what advice would you give to future CoA members?
Get involved — you’ll learn a lot. Once on board, when looking at your schedule in anticipation of a commission meeting, reserve more time than you think you will need to complete your reviews. When boxes (or discs) arrive for your review, do not delay — dive in. Finally, when you arrive for commission meetings, be guided by and always listen to the staff.
Your two terms on CoA will be up at the end of this year. What’s next for you as you embark on 2017?
I am looking forward to maintaining contact with the profession in that I will join the APPIC (Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers) board this fall. I anticipate another steep learning curve, but I hope some of my experience with CoA will benefit APPIC and its important work.