The American Academy of Arts and Sciences section on Public Affairs and Public Policy has named social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, PhD, to its newest class of fellows. Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business and is internationally known for his research on the psychology of morality. Fellows are chosen for their exceptional scholarship, innovation and leadership. Once elected, they work on interdisciplinary projects to promote the public good.
The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education has named Patricia Arredondo, EdD, as its chair for the 2019–20 academic year. Arredondo is known for her scholarly contributions in multicultural counseling, diversity leadership, and Latinx and immigrant mental health. She served as the president of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and was the founding president of the National Latinx Psychological Association. She is also president of the Arredondo Advisory Group.
Brenau University has named Anne Skleder, PhD, as its first female president. Skleder was previously senior vice president, provost and professor of psychology at Wilkes University, where she added 20 new academic programs and launched the university’s first doctorate program. She has also taught at Cabrini University, Chatham University and Alvernia University.
The National Career Development Association has presented its Outstanding Career Practitioner Award to Abiola Dipeolu, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of psychology and sociology at Texas A&M University–Kingsville. The award recognizes Dipeolu’s commitment to research, advocacy and mentorship in career development/vocational psychology.
APA has named Brian D. Smedley, PhD, as its chief of psychology in the public interest, where he will lead the association’s efforts to bring the science and practice of psychology to pressing societal issues, with an emphasis on underserved populations. Most recently, Smedley served for five years as the executive director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity and as co-director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leadership National Program Center. Earlier in his career, he worked for APA as director of public interest policy focusing on issues related to LGBTQ populations, people living with HIV/AIDS, ethnic minorities and low-income communities.
Psychology’s international honor society, Psi Chi, is raising money for a scholarship for women of color who are interested in pursuing graduate study in psychology. The scholarship will be named for Inez Beverly Prosser, PhD, the first African American woman to earn a PhD in psychology. Psi Chi was inspired by APA’s “I am Psyched!” touring exhibit on the contributions of women of color in psychology, which highlights Prosser’s accomplishments as well as her research on the social adjustment of African American students in racially integrated versus segregated schools.
University of Georgia graduate student Sally Kirklewski and Vladimir Marcik, of the International Congress of Psychology, were the top female and male runners in the 41st Annual Running Psychologists “Ray’s Race” 5K Run and Walk held during APA 2019 in August. Vanderbilt University psychology professor Joe Rodgers, PhD, and Jane Hellwig, PhD, a clinician at Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, won the men’s and women’s walking categories.