The five candidates for APA’s 2017 president answer two questions of concern to psychology in the June, July/August and September issues of the Monitor. This month’s questions are:
Q5: What actions would you take to enhance the future of psychology in an era of increasing interdisciplinary education, research and practice?
Collaboration has become the mantra for individuals and organizations seeking leadership roles in society. Research has shown that people who work together are more productive than those who work alone. APA must create a culture of collaboration that begins in graduate school and continues across the spectrum of careers. This means inviting and being invited to the table, classrooms, clinics, and the labs of related and relevant disciplines in order to tackle critical issues cutting across education, research and practice. Having the skills to work across disciplines will prove essential in generating new solutions to societal problems.
Q6: How would your presidency work to expand international perspectives within APA and facilitate the internationalization of psychology in education, research, practice and policy?
"Psychology is every day, in every way" also applies to psychologists globally. Using technology, we can easily communicate across national borders. Psychologists at every stage of development can initiate collaborations by inviting their international counterparts to join them at international meetings. By contacting the ICAP organizing committee, I was able to gather the names of women of color leader psychologists for a symposium on women of color at the 2012 ICAP meeting in Cape Town. I will actively work to increase participation of APA members in international psychological conferences and promote the internationalization of psychology across education, research, practice and policy.