Diversity Focus: Diversity Leadership Development

The seventh biannual Diversity Leadership Development Program was held May 1 and 22, 2021, in conjunction with Div. 31 and the Practice Directorate. This year’s program was held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. A virtual reception which was held at the end of the program. During the reception APA presidential citations were presented to Cathy McDaniels Wilson and Dinelia Rosa, in recognition of their contributions to APA, the psychology community and commitment to the diversity initiative.

The primary focus of the Diversity Leadership Development Program is to assist Diversity Delegates in advancing into leadership positions within their respective State, Provincial, and Territorial Association (SPTA). The workshops have been organized and facilitated by psychologists with extensive leadership and governance experience: Jennifer F. Kelly, Dinelia Rosa, Sandra Shullman, Ruddy Taylor, Melba Vasquez, and Cathy McDaniels Wilson. These psychologists have great appreciation and understanding of the challenges that psychologists of color face in becoming leaders within SPTAs and APA.

The goals of the leadership training program are to:

• Explore leadership styles and impact of behavioral style on others;

• Provide knowledge/information needed to facilitate movement into leadership positions within the SPTA;

• Address readiness/confidence in moving into leadership positions; and

• Address the manner in which being a minority fits into this context.

Sixteen individuals participated in the program this year:

We look forward to the participants moving forward into leadership positions within their respective SPTA.