Q3: What are your plans for expanding the APA membership in light of our aging membership? Most particularly, what are your ideas for recruiting, retaining and engaging early career psychologists (ECPs)?
The current aging APA membership presents a challenge (i.e., how best to recruit ECPs) as older members reach retirement. In a heterogeneous discipline such as psychology, we need a variety of strategies to effectively recruit, retain and engage early career psychologists. Collecting data in categories that acknowledge the primary career focus (e.g., practice, science, science practitioner, education and training, etc.) to generate ideas about how to approach the ECPs would provide a start. Recruiting both mid-career and senior psychologists who can contribute their wisdom and networks to enhance the career development of the ECPs would make this an organization-wide program.
Q4: How do you see the role of technology in communicating with general APA membership, committees and boards, as well as consumers of psychology?
APA already uses technology in communicating with the APA membership and APA governance. Clearly, it is an effective tool. Psychological science can inform "technology practice" with research on users, purposes, tools (e.g., LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and webinars) and effectiveness in communicating with particular constituents. Recognizing that citizens are potential consumers of psychology as well as collaborators with the discipline, I would also suggest engaging them through technology. Finally, APA needs to be constantly more discriminating in the use of technology to avoid overloading both members and the public.