As I begin my term as President of Division 20, I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to serve in this role. Our division is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of older adults through research, practice, and advocacy, and I’m honored to help lead these efforts. In the coming year, I look forward to working closely with many of you and hearing your ideas about how our division can better support its members. Together, we can explore new ways to enhance our presence both within the APA and beyond.
One of my primary goals as President is to reinforce Division 20’s role as a central part of the APA. We are a hub division—with the potential to connect with and contribute meaningfully to nearly all other APA divisions. Development and aging are intersectional issues that impact everyone, from veterans (Division 19) to queer and trans individuals (Division 44) to people of color (Division 45). During my presidency, I aim to further solidify our role as a hub. Every APA division and every organizational decision should take aging into account, and we have the expertise and experience to guide divisions and the organization in achieving our shared goals.
Regarding aging and intersectionality, I am proud that our division and the APA have consistently been strong advocates for the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, outside the APA—across universities, industry, and government—we are facing unprecedented challenges to these values. During my presidency, I will work to ensure that Division 20 continues its strong advocacy for these core principles, while also highlighting age as a key, but often neglected, aspect of diversity. Despite progress in many areas, ageism remains a significant challenge, often overlooked or accepted in ways other forms of discrimination are not. Reducing ageism is a priority, and I hope our division can continue making meaningful strides in changing perceptions and improving the lives of older people.
Another key focus for the coming year is the impact of technology on older adults. Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, particularly in large language models and natural language processing, have greatly expanded the potential for technology to adapt to the needs, preferences, and abilities of older adults, both with and without cognitive impairments. While these advancements hold significant promise, they also pose challenges and raise important questions—especially in terms of policy, regulation, and ethics. There is great potential for these tools to enhance the lives of older adults, but we must ensure they are developed and applied thoughtfully. I want our division to take a leading role in ensuring these technologies are designed to meet the needs and abilities of older adults, while keeping ethical considerations at the forefront. This presents another opportunity to strengthen our role as a hub division and foster collaboration, particularly with Division 21 (Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology) and Division 46 (Society for Media Psychology and Technology).
Division programming is a key mechanism for highlighting these issues and advancing these goals. Therefore, I encourage submissions on the following themes: The Potential and Pitfalls of Emerging Technologies to Support Older Adults; Novel Perspectives and Approaches to Combating Ageism; and Aging, Intersectionality, and Age as a Diversity Factor. I especially welcome submissions related to emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, advances in artificial intelligence, and submissions exploring the unique needs and challenges of older queer and trans individuals. I look forward to seeing many of you in Denver in 2025!
As I look ahead to the year before us, I am energized by the possibilities. I am excited to work alongside a passionate and dedicated group of colleagues, each of whom brings valuable insights and experiences to the table. Please feel free to email me and share your ideas. Together, we can advance the mission of Division 20, making a lasting difference in the lives of older adults and in the field of adult development and aging.
Thank you for your trust, your support, and your shared commitment to our division’s goals. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.