Committees

The mission of the Committee on Children, Youth and Families is to organize our members to increase the health and well-being of sexual and gender diverse children, youth, emerging adults and families. The committee works in areas such as school safety, family acceptance, victimization, gender affirming care, gaps in systems of care and health disparities.

Chairs: Richard Sprott and Jillian Scheer

The Clinical Issues Committee (CIS) is tasked with integrating science and practice for members of Div. 44. It works closely with the journal editor to provide clinical commentary on articles publishing in the journal, securing members to review and comment on pre-selected articles. CIS makes ongoing contributions to the Div. 44 newsletter via the Clinician’s Corner. 

Chairs: LG Rollins and Jeffrey Paulez

The Committee for Transgender People and Gender Diversity explores how the psychological profession and Div. 44 might best meet the needs of transgender people and gender diversity through advocacy, scientific research and professional training and education. The committee sponsors the annual Transgender Research Award to further the advancement of research on issues of relevance to transgender people and gender diversity.

Chairs: Ellen Magalhaes and Jayden Thai

The Committee on Aging raises awareness of psychological issues in the adult development and aging of LGBT individuals. It promotes scientific research and education on LGBT aging as well as the dissemination of such relevant information to psychologists, students, and the general public. The committee seeks to accomplish this mission through efforts to support and facilitate LGBT aging research, the sponsorship of LGBT aging related programs at the APA annual convention, encouraging the inclusion of LGBT aging research in scholarly publications, promoting representation of LGBT aging issues in related areas of psychological study through liaison with other APA divisions and facilitating Div. 44 liaison to the APA Committee on Aging.

Chairs: Kate Hinrichs and Weston Donaldson

The Committee on Bisexual Issues leads the division's efforts to highlight and support the study of bisexual issues in psychology. The committee provides opportunities for psychologists to network and to participate in convention programs and other professional development opportunities focused on bisexual concerns. The committee also produces a newsletter compiling recent scholarship and popular media coverage of bisexuality and psychology called News Beyond the Binary.

Chairs: Amanda Pollitt and James McElligott

The purpose of the committee is to: advance the division’s contributions to international LGBT human rights and health policy.  advise the division’s leadership on international developments in psychology, human rights and health policy occurring globally and within the APA.  assist the division’s development of an action agenda regarding international sexual orientation and gender diversity concerns.  maintain a close and productive relationship with the International Psychology Network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Issues (IPsyNet).  provide a representative to the APA Oversight Committee monitoring the work of the APA’s representatives to IPsyNet; and monitor the actions and agenda of the APA Committee on International Psychology and the APA Office on International Affairs.

Chairs: Armand R. Cerbone and Matthew Skinta

The Committee on Mentoring develops strategies for increasing student and ECP involvement in the division, to change the perception of the division as a closed group which is hard to enter, to open up the division to fresh ideas and new faces, and to keep newly active members involved so that we continually groom leadership for the division in future years. The committee coordinates the annual Graduate Student Mentoring Workshop and Reception (co-sponsored with APAGS CLGBTC) as well as an ECP Networking Program during the APA convention. We also serve as a liaison between Div. 44 and APAGS CLGBTC. The committee sponsors the Committee on Mentoring Student Travel Award to the APA Convention to encourage greater participation in the Div. 44 annual convention activities by LGBTQ graduate students.

Chairs: Jill Lee-Barber and Josh Goodman

CoRED's mission is to increase the diversity of the division by representing the concerns of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities of color and providing information on these issues to the members at large. Of particular concern to the committee is the intersection of Ethnic Diversity and LGBT concerns and supporting professionals and students personally and professionally. The Committee meets annually at APA in the division suite and the Chair attends Executive Committee meetings. The committee sponsors the Dr. Richard A. Rodriguez Div. 44 Student Travel Award to the APA Convention to encourage greater participation in Div. 44 annual convention activities by LGBT students of color.

Chairs: Cliff Yung-Chi Chen and Tangela Roberts

The role of the Communications Committee is to increase the effectiveness of the Division's communication with its members, and its public face to the field of psychology. The committee maintains Facebook and Twitter accounts, and manages Div. 44 Listservs.

Chairs: Sebastian Barr and Liz Ollen

This committee works with the division president and EB to plan and execute fundraising campaigns to benefit the division financially. Activities of this committee can include, for example, speaking with potential or past donors, advocating with or applying to potential foundations for funding and overseeing general division fundraising campaigns consistent with the rules outlined by APA’s Division Services Office. The fundraising dinner coordinator is a member of this committee, as well as other volunteers from among the Executive Committee. 

Chair: David Pantalone

The committee advocates for LGBT-affirmative policies in psychology education and training. Although official statements of the American Psychological and many other professional associations now make it clear that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and also encourage, even require, members to affirm lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender identities, some professionals and members of the public do not agree with these positions. The Education and Training Committee seeks to employ an educational approach in combating regressive and repressive opinions both within the profession and the general public. Please see the Suggested Readings page in the Resources section for a list of readings about LGBT issues in education and training. Individuals wishing to apply for listing as trainers may also contact the committee chair.

Chairs: Joshua Wolff and Theresa Kay (accreditation subcommittee co-chairs)

CE Coordinator: Jae Puckett and Justin Martino-Harms

The Fellows Committee assists division members who have made unusual and outstanding contributions to LGBT issues in psychology to achieve the status of fellow in APA. For a description of how to apply for fellow status, information about our most recently elected fellows, and a list of all Div. 44 fellows with links to their websites, please see the Div. 44 fellows page.

Chair: Glenda Russell

The overall aim of the Finance Committee is to provide oversight to the Div. 44's finances and recommendations to the EC on potential corrective or new avenues for the budget or finances. The committee examines and periodically reviews the budget, financial forecasts, and anticipated funding streams, and makes recommendations to the full EC for changes to the management or operation of the division's finances.

Chair: Erin Deneke

This committee is charged with developing the membership base and representing membership interests before the Executive Committee. Maintaining current members, adding new members, and addressing the needs and interests of members are continual issues for the Membership Committee. Information about joining is available on the Participate in Div. 44 page.

Chairs: Kelsey Helsing and Stephen Forssell

The Program Committee is responsible for the Division's programming at the annual APA Convention. The committee develops a program representing current research and scholarship on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender psychology, and is also responsible for the Division's hospitality suite at Convention. The hospitality suite provides a place for LGBT conference attendees and those interested in LGBT issues to gather, socialize, exchange ideas, and network. Please see our APA Convention website for information about Div. 44 programming.

Chair: Roberto Abreu
Suite coordinator: Em Matsuno

The Public Policy Committee responds to LGBT issues in the larger political sphere as they arise and responds where we have the resources to do so. This includes providing materials and consultations to government officials and psychologists in states that are facing anti-LGBT ballot issues, engaging in letter-writing on a variety of matters. We aim to determine collectively what issues we might address as they evolve and to craft responses that are in the best traditions both of a commitment to positive social change and adherence to the best scholarly practices of the discipline.

Chair: Michele Schlehofer and Christina Patterson

The Science Committee strives to encourage high quality research on sexual orientation and transgender issues. The committee aims to advance production and visibility of outstanding research by providing resources for students and both new and experienced researchers, playing a role in research-related programming and awards at the APA Convention, facilitating connections among individuals who conduct sexual orientation and transgender research, and stimulating dialogue about issues germane to sexual orientation and transgender research, including substantive, methodological, and political issues. To learn more about the science of LGBT psychology, please visit the LGBT psychology resources page.

Chairs: Stephanie Budge and Brandon Velez