Psi Chi, the international psychology honor society, has elected Regan A.R. Gurung, PhD, as its new president. Gurung is a professor of human development and psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. He served as Psi Chi's vice president for the Midwest region from 2012–16 and is a member of APA's Council of Representatives.
APA has presented a Citizen Psychologist presidential citation to Christopher T.H. Liang, PhD, for his efforts to promote inclusion in the Central Bucks School District in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Liang co-founded and co-leads the Central Bucks Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council, which works with the school board and administrators to promote social-emotional learning and diversity in the school district. Liang, an associate professor in the College of Education at Lehigh University, also provides trainings to school administrators, teachers and school counselors on preventing racism and academic disparities, as well as adverse childhood experiences, to build inclusive and trauma-informed schools. Read more about the Citizen Psychologist initiative and the other psychologists who have been recognized at https://bit.ly/CitizenPsych.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has presented its annual Research Award to Cheryl A. King, PhD, for her work on youth suicide prevention. King is a professor in the departments of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Michigan and director of the university's Youth Depression and Suicide Prevention Program. She is the principal investigator for three National Institute of Mental Health–funded projects looking at ways to improve screening and intervention for suicide risk among adolescents and young adults.
The National Association for Poetry Therapy has elected Nicholas Mazza, PhD, as its president. Mazza, professor and dean emeritus at the College of Social Work at Florida State University, is editor of the Journal of Poetry Therapy.
The National Academy of Sciences has elected 84 new members, including three psychologists: Mahzarin Banaji, PhD, of Harvard University; Carol A. Barnes, PhD, of the University of Arizona; and Barbara Landau, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University. Election to the academy—one of the highest honors for a scientist—is based on distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
David G. Myers, PhD, and his wife, Carol Myers, have pledged $1 million to the American Psychological Foundation to establish a fund that will support APA efforts to strengthen the teaching of psychological science in secondary schools. Myers is a professor of psychology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and is the author of several psychology textbooks, including the best-selling "Psychology," now in its 12th edition.
Mariann Burnetti-Atwell, PsyD, has been named chief executive officer of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. Burnetti-Atwell had been the senior vice president of behavioral health operations for Corizon Health in Jefferson City, Missouri, and, prior to that, a psychologist for the Missouri Department of Corrections for 13 years.
Well done, APA winners
APA and the American Psychological Foundation presented awards and research grants to around 40 psychologists and psychology graduate students last month during APA's Annual Convention in San Francisco. See who won at https://bit.ly/APAHonorees.