Psi Alpha, the High School National Honor Society in Psychology, was launched in the spring of 2018. After a positive start, we encountered a slow-down, as did the rest of the world, as the COVID-19 pandemic gained strength. Over time, as our growth continued, it was difficult for us to remain too discouraged. While growth may have been at a slower pace than projected, we now boast nearly 60 chapters, and we recently inducted our 2,000th student member. Psi Alpha also chartered their first international high school, Colegio Roosevelt-The American School of Lima, in Peru in July, 2019.
One advantage to experiencing positive, but moderate, growth was that it allowed us the opportunity to make improvements, enhance the student and advisor experience, and assure strength and continuity moving forward. We have several important projects in the works:
- An improved website.
- Enhanced opportunities for chapters and individual students to gain recognition.
- Opportunities for students to connect with university/college mentors.
- Enhanced research opportunities for chapters and students.
- A quarterly newsletter with chapter and student highlights.
- Alliances with other organizations interested in high school psychology.
- Development of a student led and driven “Advisory Council."
Psi Alpha is committed to providing services, resources, connections, and making psychology come alive for high school psychology teachers and their students. The new projects are being developed and implemented in line with these goals. Our National Council has worked hard and have been very creative in guiding Psi Alpha the past year and a half. We have been fortunate to have a full and stable Council over the past year or so. However, we have a few changes occurring in which members are moving to new positions that will necessitate filling their previous roles. The Psi Alpha National Council is comprised of:
- President: Emily Checketts, Roy High School (Utah)
- President-elect: Suzanne Nordonne, Timber Creek High School (New Jersey)
- Southeast region vice president: Mary Krieger, Stanton College Prep (Florida)
- Midwest region vice president: Tina Kurtz, Kettering Fairmont High School (Ohio)
- Southeast region vice president: Rachael Peterson, James Martin High School (Texas)
- West region vice president: currently recruiting (Checketts vacated)
- East region vice president: currently recruiting (Nordonne vacated)
- Past president: Traci McKinney, Lake Nona High School (Florida)
With a focus on our high school psychology students, we are happy to report that the recipient of the Psi Alpha Outstanding Psychology Student Award for 2020-21, was Sahit Mamidipaka who attends Northview High School in John’s Creek, Georgia. Sahit is extremely enthusiastic and is very motivated to share his student perspective in growing and enhancing Psi Alpha.
As Psi Alpha executive director, I not only lean on the National Council in advancing Psi Alpha but am fortunate to have Kristen Mitzel who serves as director of operations. Kristen is a busy graduate student, who works with high school marching bands, is employed, and still finds time to do much of the administrative work for Psi Alpha. There are others, present and past, who contributed to putting Psi Alpha in the favorable position it is today. They are not forgotten. Psi Alpha continues to enjoy a close affiliation with Psi Beta as a program of the National Honor Society in Psychology for Community Colleges. Jerry Rudmann, Psi Beta executive director, was instrumental in the birth of Psi Alpha. Psi Alpha has greatly reduced its dependence on Psi Beta and is working to become an independent organization. The support and working relationship with Psi Beta will be maintained regardless of agency status. We are particularly grateful for the support we received from Jerry Rudmann and Psi Beta. We are excited for the future and would welcome any questions. Kristen can be reached via email. I can also be reached via email. Please visit our websiteopens in new window. Keep in mind, the new website should be rolling out soon.
Bryan Gerber, PsyD, PhD, 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 15 years as an associate professor of psychology at Stark State College in North Canton, Ohio. He has been an invited speaker at numerous national and regional conferences including APA, MPA, NISOD, APS, and others. Gerber has also served/serves on community, regional, and national boards for a number of organizations. Bryan 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 Gerber’s have two grown children (Tara and Branyn) and a granddaughter (Alaina).
