The Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) is comprised of American Psychological Association members who have general concern for education and training affairs within the organization. Persons serving on the Commission on Accreditation (CoA) are appointed by the BEA and the CoA reports to the BEA. In accord with established policies and procedures, the BEA maintains consultation with and general oversight of the CoA on matters of accreditation policy and procedure. In addition, the BEA appoints appeal panels and on an annual basis, a BEA member is appointed to serve as a “liaison” with the CoA. The liaison is a nonvoting attendee at CoA meetings whose role is policy consultation between the BEA and CoA.
In this CoA update, we highlight the BEA liaison who has been serving on the commission this year: Celeste Malone, PhD, MS.
Interview with Celeste Malone
Malone’s initial involvement in a leadership role was serving as an American Psychological Association of Graduate Students liaison to the BEA while in graduate school. Her motivation to pursue this opportunity stemmed from the alignment of the BEA’s work and her graduate studies in school psychology as well as her interest in academia. “After having had the opportunity to be involved as a graduate student, I ran to be a full member of the BEA.”
Malone expressed that she has learned a lot from serving as a liaison within the commission, particularly as a coordinator of a doctoral and a specialist-level school psychology program. “Sitting in program review really helps you understand the Standards of Accreditation in detail”. Malone has also been impressed with the hard-working group of commissioners and their attention to detail among all aspects of accreditation including program review, communications and policy.
When asked what advice she would give to early career psychologists who want to pursue leadership opportunities in professional organizations such as APA, Malone emphasized the importance putting yourself out there and connecting with a colleague and/or finding a mentor in a leadership position. She also noted not to be intimidated or discouraged as an early career psychologist. “Most people do not get elected or appointed to a leadership role the first time they apply, so it’s important to be persistent.”
Biography
Celeste Malone is an associate professor and coordinator of the school psychology program at Howard University. She received her PhD in school psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in child clinical and pediatric psychology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Prior to obtaining her doctorate, Malone received her MS in school counseling from Johns Hopkins University. Her primary research interest relates to multicultural and diversity issues embedded in the training and practice of school psychology. The overarching themes of her research are as follows:
- Development of multicultural competence through education and training.
- Diversification of the profession.
- The relationship between culturally competent practice and PK-12 student outcomes.
Malone is an elected member of APA's Board of Educational Affairs. She also serves on the National Association of School Psychologists Board of Directors as the strategic liaison for the social justice strategic goal.
