Psychology has always been my passion. My earliest memories involve attempts to understand how people behaved. I soon became invested in applying the knowledge of human behavior for social good, with the firm conviction that scientific understanding of human behavior and suffering can provide us with incredible tools to improve people's lives.
My first exposure to psychology was at Villanova (BA, 1971). The faculty stressed a strong experimental scientific orientation, and I became enthralled with psychological science and convinced that applied psychology needed a foundation on science. I pursued a PhD in School-Community Psychology at Hofstra University (1975) because of my belief that working with children could prevent problems from worsening in adulthood. Afterward, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Albert Ellis Institute (1977), where Ellis instilled in me the compassion necessary to be an effective psychotherapist and an appreciation that a firm philosophical foundation could benefit mental health. My early career included working in a clinic in a New York City housing project. I was fortunate enough to receive the Jack Krasner Early Career Contribution award from APA's Div. 29 (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy).
My career in psychology has included many facets. I have always been engaged in the practice of psychotherapy and, through the Ellis Institute, have trained psychotherapists all over the world. This provided me with an international perspective on the field. In 1987, I came to St. John's University and served the psychology department in many capacities: I directed the school psychology program and founded the doctoral program in school psychology; I chaired the department for 13 years and oversaw three campuses with an undergraduate course of study, two master's programs, two doctoral programs and a postdoctoral program. I have a unique perspective on many areas of academia. I was active in the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies and served as a board member, program chair, continuing-education coordinator, leadership committee chair, and most recently, as president from 2006–07. These experiences have taught me much about running a professional organization. My primary division connections within APA have been with Div. 29 and Div. 16 (School). I was fortunate enough to serve Div. 29 as a member of the Publications Board, chair of the Publications Board and president in 2014. Through this experience, I learned the inner workings of APA divisions and became exposed to a multitude of views that were new to me.
My academic writing has focused on rational-emotive and cognitive-behavior therapies, and on anger as a clinical problem. I have developed a taxonomy of anger disorders, created assessment strategies and developed targeted therapies. I also serve as co-editor of the Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.
I am the proud father of four children, ages 19 to 34, and have two grandchildren. My wife Roseanne (also a psychologist) is my wisest consultant. The field of psychology has given me a full and meaningful career, and I want to ensure that APA prospers for the next generation. Lastly, I cook great risotto.
DiGiuseppe's candidate statement
As the oldest and largest national association of psychology in the world, APA has grown into an incredibly diverse organization, with divisions representing a broad array of interests and abilities. The breadth of our organization is one of its greatest strengths. But without strong leadership, it can become a weakness. I believe my background is particularly well-suited to handle the diverse demands of our organization.
During my professional career, I've played many roles—psychotherapist, researcher, teacher and administrator, the latter including the presidency of an APA division, presidency of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and department chair for 13 years. I've published 10 books, scores of articles, and given hundreds of conference presentations, invited lectures and workshops all over the world. I've seen psychology from many perspectives.
I do not minimize the challenges that APA is facing. For the first time in its history, the organization has begun to lose membership, perhaps in part as fallout from the Hoffman Report, but also to a lack of organizational interest from early career psychologists. Although psychology remains one of the most popular undergraduate majors, tenured faculty positions are becoming scarce. Research funding is not as plentiful as it once was, threatening our scientific underpinning. Even the practice of psychology is changing as we move away from a strictly mental health profession to a more broadly conceived health profession. Globalization, technical advances and world unrest add to our concerns.
We need to view these challenges as opportunities for growth. As a leader, I would help us identify common goals, develop specific plans to achieve each goal, and keep us focused on the priorities we set. APA is filled with smart, resourceful people. I would like to work with them to help lead us into the future.