Editor’s Note: Do you know of any doctoral level psychologists – whether an advisor, practitioner, mentor, or leader – who contributes to improving the lives of all through continued engagement in public service, volunteerism, board membership, or other strategic roles not necessarily associated with the day-to-day work of their career? Consider submitting a nomination for the APA Citizen Psychologist!
Dear Colleagues:
The APA Citizen PsychologistTM initiative grew out of my mantra: Psychology Is Every Day In Every Way.
Almost every aspect of human existence is impacted by psychological science, education, and practice. And almost every social policy can be informed by it. For these reasons, I firmly believe that psychologists and psychology students need to be in more rooms, at more tables, and at the heads of those tables when decisions affecting the public are formulated and implemented.
I would like APA members to be energized and motivated as they discover how to serve as an APA Citizen PsychologistTM! So I am launching it as my core initiative as 2018 President of APA.
My dream is that the APA Citizen PsychologistTM concept will be infused into the discipline through education at all levels—from high school to lifelong learning. It is important to me that this concept of service to the public good endures as an integral part of APA’s future.
I will honor the work of APA Citizen PsychologistsTM with APA Presidential Citations, and ask Divisions and State, Provincial and Territorial organizations to not only help me identify worthy recipients, but also sustain recognition well beyond 2018. Please consider nominating a colleague or yourself.
It is rewarding to be in such a dynamic and expansive discipline. I am excited to see where our members will take psychology next.
Sincerely,
Jessica Henderson Daniel, PhD, ABPP
2017 APA President-Elect
