2024 Board of Directors Call for Nominations

Board of Directors - Member-at-Large

Nominations will be accepted April 1, 2024 - April 29, 2024. The term of service is January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2027.


The Needs Assessment, Slating and Campaigns Committee (NASCC) aims to maintain a balanced Board of Directors that reflects the demographic and disciplinary diversity of the APA membership. NASCC conducted a comprehensive needs assessment that included a review of the composition of the 2024 Board of Directors, requests for input from boards and committees of APA, as well as an assessment of the organizational priorities of APA. Below, we provide lists of both general qualities and specific areas of expertise we are seeking in nominees. The ideal candidate for the Board meets the general qualities and at least one of the specific areas of expertise. NASCC commits to a holistic assessment of the pool of Board candidates and the present composition of the Board to ensure a future Board composition that maximizes experience, representativeness, and commitment to the vision and mission of the Association.

Desired Specific Qualities for Member-at Large Nominees:

In addition to the general qualities listed above, nominees for this round will enhance the range of experience of the Board if they have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Basic Psychological Science
• Applied Psychological Science
• Technology including but not limited to AI
• Population Health
• Application of psychological science to political decision making

Desired General Qualities for Nominees:

Experience. APA Board Members should have the relevant professional experience to serve on the Board of Directors of a major national non-profit association and its companion 501(c)(6) organization. This will include a doctorate in psychology (or a related field as may be appropriate for a public member) along with significant contributions to the field of psychology or the public interest through high-level scientific research and scholarship; the application of psychology in healthcare, education, government, industry, or the non-profit sector; entrepreneurship or business leadership in fields that involve public health or the psychological sciences; and/or demonstrated and active commitment to advocacy for positive social change, consistent with their career stage (i.e., early, mid, senior, late senior). APA Board Members must have knowledge, skills, and experience that advance the work of the APA Board. Additionally, their presence on the Board will demonstrate to the public that a high level of expertise, knowledge, and success is required to lead in psychology at the national level. NASCC will prioritize the identification of Board candidates who exemplify these characteristics.

Representativeness. As a whole, the composition of the APA Board of Directors should represent the diversity of the APA membership, the diversity of the nation, and the present needs of the Association. Areas of diverse representation may include but not be limited to race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, socioeconomic status and background, disability, age and career stage, culture and religion, educational background, domains of professional or scientific practice, and specific areas of expertise. Taken together, the composition of the APA Board will highlight the APA's commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging. Importantly, no single member of the Board will be responsible for representing any one community of interest, nor will every iteration of the Board be able to include representatives from all communities of interest inside and outside of the Association in light of the size of the Board relative to the diverse breadth of the membership and the nation. Additionally, needs of representation may change in light of shifting membership demographics, a changing nation, and emergent needs of the Association. NASCC will prioritize the identification of Board candidates who fill historical and emergent gaps in representation of the membership and the nation.

Understanding of the Board and the Association. The APA Board of Directors is the administrative agent of the Council of Representatives, overseeing the work of the chief executive officer of the Association and exercising general supervision over the affairs of the Association. As such, members of the Board must demonstrate a robust understanding of the mission, vision, and strategic plan of the Association, and evidence commitment to furthering the mission, vision, and strategic plan through their service on the Board. Additionally, members of the Board must understand the structure, function, and operation of the Board. Board Members should also understand their responsibilities as leaders within a 501(c)(6) organization. NASCC will prioritize the identification of Board candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission, vision, and strategic plan of both Associations, and an appropriate understanding of the roles and responsibilities inherent to service on the Board.

Each member-at-large candidate must be a Member of the Association. Nominees’ materials will be reviewed by NASCC. Semi-finalists will be interviewed virtually by NASCC members in early-mid May. NASCC will develop slates of at least two candidates for each position by the last week of June. Final candidates will be announced in early-mid July. The two Members-at-Large will be elected by the APA Membership. Deadline to submit a nomination is April 29, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact Abby Green at agreen@apa.org.

Board and Committee Call for Nominations

Nominations are sought for the following boards and committees whose members are elected by the Council of Representatives:
Unless noted otherwise board and committee terms commence January 1, 2026. Click on board/committee name to see the full description.

1. Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest
The Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public interest (BAPPI) has four seats open, each elected for three-year terms. BAPPI encourages nominations from experts in geropsychology, trauma, criminal justice, health psychology, neurodiversity, digital health, integrated care, and population health.

2. Board of Educational Affairs
The Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) has five seats open, each elected for three-year terms. BEA encourages nominations from psychologists with expertise in the Application of Psychology to Schools and Education; Precollege and Undergraduate Education in Psychology; Graduate and Postdoctoral Education in Psychology; Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest (BAPPI) Representative; and a Graduate Student Member.

3. Board of Professional Affairs
The Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) has five seats open, each elected for three-year terms. BPA encourages nominations from experts in integrated primary care; population and public health; practice innovation and technology; health care financing/billing, reimbursement, and financing; and a graduate student member.

4. Board of Scientific Affairs
The Board of Scientific Affairs (BSA) has four seats open, each elected for three-year terms. BSA encourages nominations in the areas of psychopathology, personality psychology, clinical science; developmental, educational psychology; social, cultural psychology; and technology and psychology (e.g., educational technology/testing, generative AI, and human factors psychology).

5. Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Subspecialties in Professional Psychology
The Commission seeks nominations to fill three seats, elected for three-year terms: one seat representing education (BEA), one seat representing practice (BPA), and one seat representing science (BSA). Commissioners shall also be nominated in such a fashion that ensures representation among them of (a) the broad scope of the practice of professional psychology, its scientific bases, and the Association's commitment to diversity and the public interest, and (b) an array of expertise in such matters as professional education and training, practitioner credentialing, program accreditation, continuing professional development, the identification of emerging patterns of practice, marketplace issues, legal/regulatory affairs, comprehensive and long-range knowledge of the development of specialties and the education and training system, student perspectives, consumer perspectives, evidence-based practice and/or science background.

6. Committee for Global Psychology
The Committee for Global Psychology (CGP) seeks APA affiliate and full members who are concerned with, knowledgeable about, and committed to advancing APA's impact from a global perspective. Experience in international teaching/training, research, service, leadership, or policy is desired. The committee has three seats open, one seat is for a graduate student member. Each seat will be elected to serve a three-year term.

7. Committee for the Advancement of General Applied Psychology
The Committee for the Advancement of General Applied Psychology (CAGAP) has two seats open, each elected for three-year terms. CAGAP builds on the work initiated by the Exploratory Committee on Applied Psychology, a time-limited group designed to explore a more specific representation of applied psychology within APA’s elected and appointed leadership structure.

8. Committee on Rural Health
The Committee on Rural Health (CRH) seeks to fill three slates with any nominees who are interested in the full breadth of issues affecting the health of persons living in rural and remote regions. CRH seeks nominations from individuals who are cultural, ethnic, or linguistic minority, persons with a disability, and/or an individual who represents a sexual orientation or gender diversity; individuals in private practice who are committed to service delivery for rural populations; and individuals with expertise in public health and advocacy.

9. Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee has three seats open, each elected for three-year terms. Nominations are sought for an applied psychologist (e.g., expertise in organizational change and systems, I/O); licensed psychologist in professional practice (e.g., expertise in emerging areas, integrated care, licensing and regulation, active-duty military, Veterans Administration); and a forensic psychologist (e.g., expertise in custody evaluations, parental coordination, and/or court involved child, adolescent, and family therapy).

10. Finance Committee
The Finance Committee has two seats open, each elected for terms of three years. One slate shall be drawn from current Council members or Finance Committee members who have served within the previous seven years (including outgoing members of the Finance Committee); the second slate shall be drawn from APA members who have demonstrated interest and expertise in organizational financial policies and operations.

11. Membership Board
The Membership Board has three seats open, each elected for three-year terms. Nominations are sought for the following areas: public interest; graduate student member; early career; and diversity.

12. Policy and Planning Board
The Policy and Planning Board (P&P) has four seats open, each elected for three-year terms. P&P encourages nominations from members in any career stages and graduate students.

13. Publications and Communications Board
The Publications and Communications (P&C) Board has two open seats to be elected for a six-year term. P&C seeks nominees from psychologists whose primary expertise is in trauma; health psychology; social psychology; clinical; political; generative artificial intelligence; and mixed methods (qualitative and/or quantitative Research). The newly elected candidate will be formally seated on July 1, 2025.

Nominees for Appointed Committees
Nominations are sought for the following committees whose members are appointed by the Board of Directors:

1. Committee for Postdoctoral Education and Training Programs in Psychopharmacology for Prescriptive Authority
The Designation Committee for Postdoctoral Education and Training Programs in Psychopharmacology for Prescriptive Authority (RxP Designation Committee) seeks nominations to fill two seats. The appointees will serve a three-year term beginning January 1, 2025.

Graduate student seats for select boards and committees will reopen in 2026.
Inquiries are being accepted for future notice about the following group whose members are elected by graduate student members.

1. American Psychological Association of Graduate Students.
The APA Graduate Student Committee consists of nine elected positions (six members-at-large, a chair-elect, chair, and past chair) and five appointed positions (chairs of five specialized subcommittees).

APA is engaged in a process of transformation, placing a much greater emphasis on making an impact that clearly benefits society and improves lives. In February 2024 the Council of Representatives revised and adopted its 2019 strategic plan that sets APA’s organizational priorities for the next three to five years.  APA groups actively collaborate across APA to align the work of elected and appointed leaders, staff, and the broader membership in service of advancing the strategic plan. Given the importance of this approach to the Association’s strategic priorities, APA encourages nominees to review the strategic plan to become familiar with the larger context in which their expertise and interests will contribute to APA's success.

Boards and committees typically have one hybrid and one virtual meeting each year as well as monthly calls, but this varies depending on the group. Additional details can be found in the description for each board and committee. A video platform, such as Zoom, is used for all virtual calls and meetings.

The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2025. All nominations must be submitted using the online form.

Nominations are reviewed by individual boards and committees throughout the spring. The Board of Directors subsequently reviews and confirms committee members appointed by the Board of Directors in August. Notifications about the committee appointments will be sent to nominees by early September. The balloting period for positions elected by the Council of Representatives is September 2-October 1, notifications will be sent following the election.

If you have any questions, please contact the Election Office at elections@apa.org.

Seeking Experts to Serve on APA Panels and Ad Hoc Groups

Nominations will open June 1. Check back soon.

The American Psychological Association (APA) is seeking up to three volunteer doctoral-level psychologists to join its team of representatives at the United Nations (UN) in New York beginning January 2025.

APA is an accredited nongovernmental organization (NGO) at the UN where it holds special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is associated with the Department of Global Communications (DGC). These credentials allow psychologist Representatives to serve as advocates at the UN. APA’s UN team consists of 8 psychologists: one Main Representative, who is an APA staff member, a Lead Representative, and six volunteer Representatives. The APA team fosters dialogue and information exchange between APA, UN and member state staff, and other NGOs to encourage the development of psychologically-informed policies and programs to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The APA UN Representatives advance the APA strategic plan by making a positive impact on critical societal issues, embracing a global perspective, and promoting human rights. Based on APA advocacy goals and UN initiatives, APA volunteer Representatives collaborate with APA offices and volunteer leaders, the global psychology community, UN Representatives in Geneva, and other NGOs to develop substantive input to the UN, impacting social issues and human rights around the world. They do this through, for example, developing and disseminating to the UN position papers or fact sheets; organizing and participating in workshops, seminars, and side events; and disseminating to the APA membership information about UN priorities and events.

Volunteer Requirements
Appointments are for a 3-year term (the first year is probationary), with the potential for one 3-year term renewal. The time commitment averages 5 hours per week.

Representatives are preferably based in or near New York City (NYC), or they may be based elsewhere in the country or the world. NYC-based Representatives will participate in both in-person and virtual activities, while Representatives more than 50 miles outside of the New York metro area will participate virtually via videoconference and other forms of electronic communication and contribute to written documents and other materials. They may choose to attend in-person events at their own expense. Monthly team meetings are scheduled at a convenient time for the majority of the Representatives, most of whom are based in NYC.

These are unpaid, volunteer positions. APA reimburses Representatives for local travel within a 50-mile radius of NYC (including travel from suburban areas) on public transportation or for parking costs; membership on up to two UN-NGO committees; and pre-approved direct costs (i.e., registration fees). APA does not reimburse travel and registration costs for the APA Annual Convention.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references with contact information. The deadline to apply is December 6, 2024.