Psi Alpha continues to gain momentum and we are excited to announce a number of important changes, improvements, and developments. With nearly 2,500 members inducted, Psi Alpha is excited to reach another milestone. Our chapters are doing a marvelous job staying active including engaging in numerous community service activities. It is yet another thing we would like to track so we can report total hours of community service by our members. Psi Alpha offers a scholarship award for community service as well as awards for outstanding student members and outstanding advisors. We are happy to announce that the dollar amount of all awards has been doubled this year. Winners will be announced soon as the application deadline is June 1.
The second installment of a quarterly newsletter was published recently, and these can be accessed through the website (psialpha.org). It is exciting to see student members and chapter advisors sharing the wonderful things they are doing. We are pleased to announce new website modifications to improve its usability and a new registration system that will be a great relief to our advisors (and staff).
In the spirit of collaboration and a desire to deliver what is needed, we are continuing to build our National Council. We will soon be developing a student member council for each region. This will provide students with additional leadership opportunities, and they will work directly with Regional Vice Presidents under the guidance of Kristen. We are also excited to be well along in the development of a National Advisory Council. This group is comprised of psychology professionals throughout the country as well as representatives from important collaborative organizations. The National Advisory Council will work with Bryan to assist in outreach, collaborative efforts, marketing, and other activities to help assure the appropriate growth and structure of Psi Alpha. Several individuals have already committed, and the full Board will be announced soon.
We extremely thankful to APA, Psi Beta, and a number of others who have assisted in our growth and status to this point. Kristen can be reached by email and so can I. Please visit our websiteopens in new window. Keep in mind, the new website should be rolling out soon.
Bryan Gerber is the current executive director of Psi Alpha. He spent the first 25 years of his career in applied psychology fields primarily designing, developing, and implementing creative alternative programs for adjudicated youth. These programs included Therapeutic Wilderness Programs, Experiential Education Programs, and Creative Alternative Programs. Gerber has now served for 17 years as an Associate Professor of Psychology at Stark State College in North Canton, Ohio. Gerber serves on several community, regional, and National Boards for a number of organizations. Gerber served on the Psi Beta National Council for six years as Midwest Region VP. His research interests include adult learning principles (andragogy), interpersonal interaction, and stress management. He resides in Marlboro Township, Ohio with his wife (Kathryn) where they enjoy landscaping, photography, drag racing, and other outdoor activities. The Gerbers have two grown children (Tara and Branyn) and a granddaughter (Alaina).
Kristen Mitzel is the current director of Operations for Psi Alpha and is studying school counseling and clinical mental health counseling at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, where she currently resides. She is a graduate assistant for the Elementary Education Department and her research interests include trauma informed care for youth and animal assisted therapy. She has a therapy dog named Eli, who she is currently integrating in programming with her students. She is a marching band and color guard instructor for local high schools, and enjoys gardening, traveling and training her two dogs.
