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?
No other organization offers such a rich array of interdisciplinary connections as APA. As president, I would establish working relationships between divisions and outside associations. For example, Div. 19 (Society for Military Psychology) would interface with the Wounded Warrior Project, while Div. 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) would collaborate with the International Association of Chiefs of Police. As a former U.S. Army psychologist and police psychologist, I am sensitive to these issues. The future of psychology;requires that APA work in multidisciplinary teams. I would ensure collaboration with these disciplines, establishing working relationships among APA and associations outside of APA.
Q6: How would your presidency work to expand international perspectives within APA and facilitate the internationalization of psychology in education, research, practice and policy?
We live in a truly global community. As APA president, I would encourage an exchange of ideas among scholars in collaboration with regional psychological associations. I would direct APA's Office of International Affairs to redouble its efforts to work with such organizations as the International Council of Psychologists, the International Association for Applied Psychology and the International Union of Psychological Science to promote the internationalization of psychological research, education and practice. The bulk of the world's psychological research is generated by American psychologists. Accordingly, APA must emphasize the value of psychological knowledge to the world community.