Hi Division 20 Members and Students,
Get ready for APA 2026 in Washington, DC. The convention will be held August 6-8, in person and virtually, with a strong lineup of programming in adult development and aging and connection across the field. This year is especially exciting because Division 20 is celebrating its 80th anniversary, so keep an eye out for our 80th anniversary stickers and wear one proudly throughout the convention.
As you plan your schedule, take a look at aging-related sessions from Division 20, Division 12 Section 2, CONA, and other APA groups working in aging, health, caregiving, and lifespan development. Division 20 continues to focus on psychological development and change across the adult years. It is a great year to attend sessions that fit your interests and to try a few that stretch your thinking or help you meet new collaborators.
Save time on Friday, August 7 for two key Division 20 events
- 4–5 p.m., join the Division 20 Business Meeting in Room 144A at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (Street Level), where you can hear what Division 20 has been working on, learn about future plans, and celebrate our award winners.
- 5:30–7:30 p.m., join Social for the Ages and CONA Conversation Hour in Liberty Salon L at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC (Level Four) for appetizers, desserts, and informal networking.
Celebrating our 2026 Division 20 award recipients
Division 20 is proud to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our 2026 award recipients:
- Baltes Distinguished Research Achievement Award: Sara Czaja, PhD
- John Santos Distinguished Program Development in Clinical Gerontology Award: Christopher Nguyen, PhD
- M. Powell Lawton Distinguished Contribution Award for Applied Gerontology: Walter Boot, PhD
- Division 20 Victor Molinari Mentorship Award in Adult Development and Aging: Karen L. Fingerma, PhD
- Springer Early Career Achievement Award in Research on Adult Development and Aging: Theresa Pauly, PhD
- Walter G. McMillen Memorial Award for Parkinson's Disease Research: Sibo Gao, PhD
- Doctoral Dissertation Award in the Psychology of Aging: Caroline Collins-Pisano, PhD
- Division 20 Undergraduate Award: Selene Tan
We congratulate each of this year's recipients and look forward to recognizing their outstanding contributions during the Division 20 Business Meeting.
CONA’s recent work is a good reminder that aging scholarship is closely tied to advocacy and public impact. APA’s Committee on Aging, chaired in 2026 by Cecilia Poon, PhD, ABPP, continues to support efforts related to older adults, age inclusivity, and psychology’s public interest mission. The convention is a natural place to think about how our work can support older adults, caregivers, and aging policy, not just in theory but in practice.
APA 2026 is also a chance to build community. The convention includes social and networking events that make it easier to meet people outside of formal sessions. Consider using some of your time in DC for informal networking as well, such as taking people to a museum or art show after sessions. Many Smithsonian museums in the DC area are free, which makes them an easy, low-cost way to keep conversations going beyond the convention center. A quick visit can turn into a meaningful mentoring moment, a way to welcome newer students, or simply a relaxed setting to strengthen professional relationships.
This year, Division 20 is focused on three interconnected themes:
- Implementation science and community engagement
- Intergenerational engagement
- The science of career development and advocacy
As you build your APA 2026 schedule, look for sessions, posters, and conversations that speak to these themes and think about how your own work connects to them.
We look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC, this August as we celebrate Division 20’s 80th anniversary, support the work of CONA, and make the most of APA 2026 through learning, mentoring, networking, and advocacy.