As a child growing up in Northern California, I never cared about school and almost flunked out. Everything changed when I took introductory psychology at De Anza Community College. The first lecture by Dr. Wendell Goesling inspired me in a way no other subject had before. He taught me practical ways I could use psychology to become a better student, improve my relationships, and set a new course for my life.
This led me to the University of California, Los Angeles, where I majored in psychology and minored in Asian American Studies. Much of my time was spent learning how to integrate these fields. Things came together when I became a research assistant at Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, a nonprofit organization that provides leadership training to ethnic minorities. Here, I helped develop interdisciplinary methods to study workplace barriers impacting people of color. This experience taught me an important lesson — psychologists can have a large impact if we leave our offices and engage our local communities.
I went on to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology at the Catholic University of America. I was drawn to this small APA-accredited program in Washington, D.C., because of its focus on children, families and cultures. I completed a thesis on culture and marital conflict and a dissertation on the development of Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder). My clinical training included experiences in the D.C. public health system, university counseling centers and independent practice settings. I completed my training as an intern at New York City's Bellevue Hospital Center and as a postdoctoral fellow at the NYU Langone Medical Center.
Now, I'm a member of the faculty at the Columbia University Medical Center where I specialize in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Additionally, I am a coordinator of our Launching Emerging Adults Program, an innovative family-based treatment designed to help young adults function independently.
I have also spent the last decade serving APA. I chaired the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students, served on the Board of Directors and the Policy and Planning Board, assisted the Good Governance Project team and was appointed to its implementation group, completed multiple terms on the Council of Representatives, and am a member of the Council Leadership Team. These experiences have taught me how to find consensus within a group, even when there are diverse opposing views.
Outside of APA leadership, I have served on the editorial board of Translational Issues in Psychological Science, advocated for psychology on Capitol Hill with the New York State Psychological Association, was appointed to two Society for the Teaching of Psychology presidential task forces, and was an officer of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
My dream is to bring psychology to everyone, everywhere. That is why I host "The Psych Show" on YouTube, created the award-winning "Brain Knows Better" blog, and contribute to traditional media like CBS News and new media like Mashable. For this body of work, The Mighty named me one of their mental health heroes of 2015.
Mattu's candidate statement
The field of psychology would not function without APA and the APA Practice Organization.
APA advocates for our science and interventions, upholds quality training and uses psychology to improve people's lives. The APAPO makes sure we have the opportunity to continue practicing psychology. But psychologists are leaving both organizations and early career psychologists aren't joining.
What happened?
We stopped prioritizing members.
The primary benefits of joining APA are discounts on journals, books and videos. Psychologists do not join organizations for publication discounts anymore. We join organizations because we believe in their vision, want to advance our field and meet colleagues who share our passion for psychology. I believe psychologists are reluctant to join the APAPO because the organization did not communicate honestly in the past, leading to a class action lawsuit and settlement. APA and APAPO are seen as out of touch. Many criticize APA as straying away from its mission, and the Hoffman Report exacerbated these concerns.
We need a new way forward.
I envision a new APA that will prioritize members by dramatically reducing membership dues. An APA that will reflect the diversity of our field by increasing opportunities for psychologists to make their voices heard in the association. An APA that connects psychologists through partnerships with divisions and SPTAs. An APA that develops leaders by creating a Leadership Institute. An APA that will rebuild trust by implementing clear checks and balances.
I haven't served APA as long as past APA presidents, but I've served it long enough to know that this association isn't meeting the needs of psychologists. If you give me a chance, I promise the new APA will be an association every psychologist is proud to join.
Learn more about my vision for APA at AliMattu.comopens in new window and share your hopes for #TheNewAPA across social media.