Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion—Moving APA Forward
July 2021
Many conversations are taking place across the nation around how individuals, organizations, and communities can help to build equity, enhance diversity, and facilitate inclusion. How do we—as an organization and a field—ensure that our approach to these efforts is thoughtful and coordinated, both urgent and sustainable, and most critically, that our work has a positive impact on people’s lives?
2021 President Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, and CEO Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, discuss APA’s approach to strengthening equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the association, the field of psychology, and broader society. Featuring special guest, APA’s Chief Diversity Officer Maysa Akbar, PhD, this town hall describes organizational efforts to integrate EDI meaningfully into all we do. Akbar shares highlights from APA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework, a guide for substantive, transformative, and sustainable change. This framework is uniquely and actively positioning APA to engage in EDI efforts that can lead to structural and cultural shifts.
This program does not offer CE credit.
Presenter
Maysa Akbar, PhD, ABPP
APA Chief Diversity Officer, APA.
Hosts
Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP
Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and is board certified in clinical health psychology. She is the director of the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Medicine, with expertise in disorders that involve the relationship between physical and emotional conditions. She currently serves on the APA Board of Directors as recording secretary. She is past president of the Georgia Psychological Association and Div. 31, and past-chair of the Board of Professional Affairs and the Association for the Advancement of Psychology. Kelly has received numerous awards, including the 2012 Timothy B. Jeffrey Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Health Psychology; 2011 APA State Leadership Award and 2011 APA Diversity Award; 2000 APA Karl F. Heiser Advocacy Award; 2000 Legislative Award by the Georgia Psychological Association; 2004 APA Practice Organization Federal Advocacy Award and 2006 Outstanding Psychologist Award from Div. 31. She has numerous publications, including articles in Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, Behavioral Sciences and the Law, Pain Digest, "Comprehensive Review Book for Pain Medicine" and "Practical Management of Pain."
Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD
APA's chief executive officer and executive vice president.
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