The Early Career Task Force (ECTF): Special Interest Group initiative officially welcomed two new members to its team, Lewina Lee, PhD, and Jamie Peven, PhD. Of note, both Lee and Peven have served as leaders for Division 20’s SIGs. We believe their firsthand experience with SIG leadership will greatly benefit the ECTF and the SIG initiative.
In February, the ECTF circulated a timeline to help SIG leaders plan ahead for important events and dates. The ECTF is also drafting universal bylaws that SIG leaders will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on in the near future. Additionally, the SIG initiative recently launched its first recruitment effort of 2022. At the time of publication, 32 Division 20 members completed our recruitment survey and indicated interest in becoming SIG members or leaders. The ECTF is in the process of connecting all survey takers to the SIG(s) of their choice.
In addition to this recruitment effort, many SIGs have been busy launching their own initiatives and achieving milestones. Here are some highlights:
Addressing Ageism and Attitudes Toward Aging (A4) SIG: Has been regularly hosting open forums for members to network, connect, and discuss ageism in research, practice, and the field. This SIG’s journal club offers opportunities to examine ageism in the literature.
Coping, Resilience, and Successful Aging: Created a Twitter account – follow this SIG @APADiv20CrsSIGopens in new window. Will be hosting its first-ever SIG journal club meeting in March. Recently hosted a talk by Emily Mroz and Shubam Sharma titled “The Power of the Life Story: Use of Personal Memories for Coping, Resilience, and Psychological Development in Older Adults.” Will also host another talk scheduled for April 13 by David Almeida titled “Health as a Daily Experience: Lessons from 42,243 Days of US Adults.”
End of Life SIG: Had an end-of-life related symposium accepted for presentation at APA that includes three SIG leaders (Rebecca Morse, Rachael Spalding, and Alissa Dark-Freudeman) and two SIG members (Emily Mroz and Caitlin Reynolds), “Avoidance to Awareness: A Conversation on Dying and Loss in Research, Practice, and Our Own Lives.”
Research Methods SIG: Hosted a “successful conversation hour” featuring eminent speakers in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) SIG, and organized a well-received symposium at the annual Gerontological Society of America (GSA) meeting.
All SIGs are now featured on the website.
If you would like to learn more about the SIG initiative or join or lead a SIG, please contact Shelley Condon.