Tag Archives: APAGS

Meet Your APAGS Leaders!

Getting involved in APAGS governance is a great way to hone your leadership skills, network with other leaders in the field, and learn about and advocate for important issues affecting the field of psychology. Staff here at gradPSYCH Blog want all members to meet their appointed and elected leaders in our new series—Meet Your APAGS Leaders!

Our first introduction is Emily Voelkel, the current Chair of APAGS.

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in a small town near Cincinnati, Ohio. I’m the oldest of three girls, and family has always been very important to me. Growing up, I always felt a strong desire to see the world. So, when I graduated high school I went to Chicago to attend Loyola University. Chicago is a wonderful, vibrant place, and I just loved my time there. I was especially appreciative of the opportunity to study abroad in Rome and travel some of Europe! I can’t wait to go back again. After college I actually joined Teach For America and spent two years teaching 6th grade in Houston before deciding to go to graduate school. It was a life-changing experience that changed my view of our education system and my role in social justice in our country. Currently, I am near the end (finally!) of my training and completing a clinical PTSD fellowship at the Boston VA. I’m married to the Texan I met in Houston, Kolby, and we have an adorable 3 year old pup named Hadley. In my free time (yes, you do get some free time later in training) I love to walk with Hadley, cook, garden, and binge watch TV shows. I love food and traveling and am greatly looking forward to the days Kolby and I can experience more of the world together.

How did you get involved with APAGS?

I first got involved with APAGS very early in my doctoral career. I was at the 2011 National Multicultural Conference and Summit in Seattle when I saw the APAGS booth. I stopped by and talked to the person working there. I realized my program did not have a Campus Representative (CR) for advocacy, and I really wanted to bring that role to the University of Houston (UH). So, I sent in the materials and became the first UH Counseling Psychology department CR! I really loved being a part of the APAGS Advocacy Coordinating Team (ACT) and was thrilled to be discussing key psychology advocacy issues with my peers. During my year as CR, I was promoted to Texas State Advocacy Coordinator (SAC). I was honored to be asked to attend the APA State Leadership Conference in D.C. during that time and attend the APAGS-ACT business meeting. From that point on I was definitely hooked on APAGS! I wanted to be involved with this inspiring group of leaders and work toward solving important student issues as much as possible. Eventually, I ran for Chair-Elect, won, and here I am today!

What has been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?

Awesome question! I’m sure many people will have poignant or funny responses to this. I can’t wait to read them. But, honestly, I am not that into pop culture, fame, or celebrities. The things that stand out to me the most over even the last few years are how many talented people have lost their lives…Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Robin Williams, Heath Ledger, only to name a few. Mental health concerns have, in my opinion, influenced the loss of many of these lives that were iconic in pop culture and the arts.

What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?

My most recent Facebook post was in response to the heartbreaking events in Baltimore recently. I recommended a good piece on White Fragility by goodmenproject.com:

“One of the experiences I am most grateful for from my doctoral education was having courses that allowed me to explore my Whiteness. Discuss what it means to be White in our society and the ways in which I have benefitted from a societal system that continues to perpetuate and thrive on racism in many ways. What is happening in Baltimore is only one of many examples of the consequences of continuing to be unwilling to discuss and take responsibility for this system and make efforts toward change. My heart goes out to everyone involved. For those interested in a great article that explains why it is so difficult for many White people to talk about racism, I recommend this piece.”

If your life was a book, what would the title be?

Finding Peace Amidst the Chaos

What advice do you have for future leaders in the field of psychology?

I think the best advice I can give to psychology’s future leaders is to be innovative and forward-thinking. Psychology as our advisors knew it and as we know it is changing. If we are going to be true leaders in psychology, we need to start to look forward to what psychology could be and how it will fit into the changing healthcare, research, university, and other systems. If we continue to define psychology by current parameters, I worry we will spend much more time defending “our turf” and less time defining what a new psychology can and should be.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) is May 17th!

On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder, and since 2005 the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) has commemorated that day. It is a global occasion for individuals, groups, and organizations to take action on topics related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and to advocate for more accepting public policies. Each year a global focus for IDAHOT is chosen and this year’s is LGBT youth.

How can you get involved to raise awareness and support for LGBT youth? Here are five quick ways:

1. Inform yourself. Check out the official website for IDAHOT, where you can learn about what different groups worldwide are doing to raise support and awareness for LGBT youth and you can also follow IDAHOT on Twitter (@May17IDAHOT) and Facebook.

2. Take social media by storm. Join the IDAHOT Thunderclap campaign. Thunderclap is a service that you give permission to post a preset message on your social media pages on May 17 in honor of IDAHOT. When multiple people post on Facebook and Twitter at the same time, it creates a bigger buzz.

3. Be an advocate for LGBT youth. You can do this on your campus and in your community. Work with LGBT groups on your campus and in your community to help generate interest in IDAHOT and raise awareness of the unique challenges and experiences faced by LGBT students. Although there are plenty of resources out there, here are a few to get you started…

4. Support fellow LGBT graduate students. Tell your peers what is out there and specifically for them. The APAGS Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity has long been advocating on behalf of this community. It currently offers a set of free training webisodes on special topics (e.g., coming out to your clients), a climate guide (PDF) and a survival/resource guide, an academic-year mentoring program, two grants (one for training and the other for dissertation research), the APAGSLGBT listserv, and much more.

5. Support other youth around the world. Consider donating to the IDAHOT movement and help fund one of several activities worldwide planned, including public marches and demonstrations, publications in national newspapers, festivals, education and public awareness raising, flash mobs, and the support of LGBT rights organizations internationally.

Last year's IDAHOT celebrations at CQ University in Sydney Australia brings the message, "Being straight is no excuse for homophobia." (Source: Acon Online for Flickr. Some rights reserved.)

Last year’s IDAHOT at CQ University in Sydney, Australia brings the message, “Being straight is no excuse for homophobia.” (Source: Acon Online for Flickr. Some rights reserved.)

APA wants every day to be an IDAHOT day. For more information about how we support LGBT communities and a list of resources for becoming engaged in action, check this page out.

Remember, every action counts in the fight for LGBT youth around the world!

Editor’s Note: Mary T. Guerrant, MS, is a doctoral student at North Carolina State University and a member of APAGS-CSOGD.

Looking for funding? APAGS can help!

APAGS has the following funding opportunities available for members. Apply today! The deadline for these grants is May 6th, 2015 at 11:59PM (ET). Don’t miss out!

The Nancy B. Forest and L. Michael Honaker Master’s Grant for
Research in Psychology – This grant, named in honor of Nancy B. Forest and L. Michael Honaker, funds thesis research in psychology at the Masters level.
The Scott Mesh Honorary Grant for Research in Psychology – This award honors Scott Mesh, one of the founding co-chairs of APAGS. The recipient of this award will receive $1,000 to support dissertation research in psychology.
The David Pilon Scholarship for Training in Professional Psychology – This award honors David Pilon, a founding co-chair of APAGS in 1988. The recipient will receive $1,000 to promote supplemental training and education experiences in professional practice. The scholarship can be used for a specific training program or opportunity not otherwise available to the student.
Ellin Bloch and Pierre Ritchie Diversity Dissertation Grant – This award provides funding to support research on issues of diversity such as varied ethnic backgrounds, women’s issues, ageism, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
APAGS Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (CSOGD) Grant Program – This award provides $1,000 to support a project that promotes training and educational experiences in LGBT practice. Examples include, but are not limited to: workshops, conferences, speaker series, mentorship programs, and the development of student organizations with a focus on LGBT concerns.
APAGS-LGBT Dissertation Grant – This award provides funding for a proposed research in the area of unique concerns facing LGBT individuals. Funds will not be awarded for a completed, or nearly completed dissertation.
APAGS Outstanding APA Division Award – This award recognizes an APA Division for superior performance in promoting graduate student development, involvement, and joint APAGS/APA Division membership.
APAGS Carol Williams-Nickelson Award for Women’s Leadership and Scholarship in Women’s Issues – This award is designed to acknowledge women APAGS members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in psychology by serving in one or more leadership roles locally, regionally and/or nationally while also advancing women’s issues through their writing/publications, research, advocacy or other scholarly activities.

Visit the APAGS Scholarships and Grants page for more information on eligibility and how to apply. Good luck!

Affording Convention in Canada

Attending APA Convention in Toronto, Canada can be affordable for even the strictest of graduate school budgets. Here are some resources and suggestions for financing your trip to Convention this year!

For general funding (i.e., you can use the money for whatever you need!), several options exist for most graduate students.

Many APA divisions provide student funding or honorariums in exchange for volunteering. Check out division-specific information at each division’s website.
Always check with your university and department about graduate student funding for conference travel. Universities often have budgets for supporting travel to conferences.

Opportunities also exist to get your (pesky) registration fee waived or reduced.

For APAGS members who present as first authors, their registration fee is waived!
Volunteering through the APA Continuing Education (CE) Office and the APA Convention Office may provide additional opportunities to waive the registration fee.
If you are not presenting as a first author or volunteering, take advantage of early/advanced registration rates.

Getting to Toronto does not have to be a financial crisis.

If you plan to fly, BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS EARLY! Also, use sites like Expedia and Travelocity to compare across airlines and get the best deal.
Check out the Greyhound schedule for another frugal option.
See if you live in a city that has a Megabus line to Toronto and rejoice in the frugal cost of a ticket!

Now that you have arrived in Toronto, where do you stay?

Check with other students in your program or send out inquiries on social media sites, as well as Division or APAGS listserves, to coordinate travel and accommodation plans with other graduate attendees.
There is a “hotel” that is actually a residence hall for the University of Toronto, Chestnut Residence. Reservations can be made through the regular registration process. Rate is $132 CDN single or double occupancy and includes a full buffet breakfast. Rooms are minimally furnished.
Hostels are another great housing resource for budget-minded graduate students. Check out for a variety of hostels in Toronto.

Finally, food. Where can you find free food at Convention?

APAGS hosts Food for Thought Breakfasts each morning of Convention. You can enjoy a free breakfast while listening to some of psychology’s most distinguished scholars speak in an informal setting.
Formal Social Hours also have great spreads! APAGS and various other divisions host social hours during the evenings, which are laid-back environments to talk to peers and colleagues while chowing down!

Celebrating Excellent Training

Is your training program doing an excellent job of preparing you as a future psychologist? If so, APAGS wants to know.

As Member at Large – Education Focus, one of my goals was to highlight programs that do what works well for student success. We often focus on our disappointments and areas where we need advocacy in training, but there are a number of students who feel pretty good about their training. The voices of these students are also important, because one way to improve training is to know who is doing it well.

To do this, email me at ccrowell2005@yahoo.com with the subject: Celebrating Excellent Training. Write a brief one-paragraph message about how your program is doing an excellent job. We’d like to highlight this on our blog over the next few months.

Candice Crowell

gradPSYCH Blog

APA's Food for Thought for Psychology Students