As my time as president is coming to a close, I reflect on the initiatives that I hoped to accomplish for Division 20. Interestingly, many of the efforts this year align well with the
APA Guiding Principlesopens in new window
and core values from their strategic plan.
Championing diversity and inclusion and respecting and promoting human rights
One of my presidential initiatives is to integrate Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in our division, such as through having an EDI statement. With wonderful colleagues, Flora Ma at Stanford and Allyson Graf at Northern Kentucky University, we drafted a statement for our division that was later sent to the APA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Executive Office for review. The DEI Office reviewed it with minor edits and also sent us a land acknowledgement statement for consideration. We then presented it to the Executive Committee members for review and comment and later for a vote. The approved resulting statement is below:
“As an APA Division that values and advocates for aging, older adults, and age inclusivity in our age-diverse world, we are committed to EDI guiding principles through upholding and supporting our diverse members as well as through intentional, ongoing, and demonstrative actions. In our teaching, practice, research, and community engagement, we relate the principles of equity and inclusion of persons from all diverse backgrounds to our work in adult development and aging. We recognize the intersecting identities that include and are not limited to age, ethnicity and race, gender and gender expression, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, national origin, immigration status, religion, language, and educational background. This also includes recognizing persons from historically excluded backgrounds and histories and the possibility of generational trauma among those who have been marginalized. Through action, connection, and collaboration, we aspire to listen, engage, and respond to the needs of the ever-evolving diverse communities for whom we advocate and serve.”
We are working to include this EDI statement along with the land acknowledgement statement on the website, in the bylaws, and in the Executive Committee Manual. Integrating these statements into Division 20 aligns well with APA’s Guiding Principles of championing diversity and inclusion as well as respecting and promoting human rights. It involves “Further the understanding and appreciation of differences and be inclusive in everything we do.” It focuses on “human rights, fairness, and dignity for all segments of society”, including the older adult segment. Division 20 has a rich history of this through the Age Friendly University Initiatives; Reframing Aging workshops and promotion; combatting ageism; and increasing inclusion of older adults.
Engage with and deliver value to members
This principle aligns well with Division 20 because we “provide resources, opportunities, and networks” that help all members, especially those who are in graduate training or are early in their career. In the last newsletter, I talked about mentorship and the Division 20 American Psychological Foundation (APF) endowment fund. The purpose of the Division 20 Fund is to support graduate students and early-career psychologists interested in adult development and aging via travel stipends, awards, and similar initiatives to better engage the future of Division 20. Recently, there was the passing of K. Warner Schaie, PhD. With permission from his wife, Sherry Willis, we are able to rename the fund after Schaie in his honor. Just as Schaie was a prominent mentor to many who went into the field of aging, we hope that Division 20 will engage and be valued by graduate students and early career psychologists to inspire them in the field of adult development and aging and to make Division 20 their professional home. Contribute to the Division 20 APF fundopens in new window (new name to be revealed at the APA convention). Please select “Division 20 Grants Fund” as the fund you would like to support.
Lead by example
The meaning of this APA guiding principle is for psychologists to “Serve others, model integrity, and demonstrate the highest ethical standards in all our actions.” I think of everyone on the Division 20 Executive Committee now and in the past as leaders who are great role models for graduate students and those at the beginning and middle of their career. Through their leadership service and the work that they do in their institutions, the D20 Executive Committee members demonstrate what can be accomplished to improve clinical work, research, and other endeavors to improve the lives of older adults and to improve and strengthen our profession and division. And so, I am very grateful to them for their work, and I am inspired by them.
I also believe that part of leading by example is to pay forward what mentors have done to help us get to where we are in our careers. In an effort to support the needs of our members and address the pipeline problem, the mentorship committees of Divisions 20 and 12-2 have collaborated on a social/informational event at APA 2023. We invite members and especially interested graduate students, postdocs, and early career psychologists to attend our “Munching with the Mentors.” This event will have a panel discussion and meet-and-greet that is intended to provide insight into the mentor/mentee relationship and foster connections among Psychology working with older adults in clinical, academic, and research settings. Food will be provided and are graciously sponsored by Divisions 20 and 12-2. Our event is scheduled for Friday August 4, 2023 from 11 am to 12:30 pm. It will be at The Capital Burger, 1005 7th NW, Washington, DC 20001. If you are a Division 20 student member or an early career psychologist, please sign upopens in new window.
As Division 20 president and in my leadership roles at my university (Palo Alto University), I hope I have been and will continue to be a good role model for students, academics, and clinicians, especially for students and psychologists of color. I very much appreciate everyone’s support and engagement with the wonderful Division 20 work that has been done this year!