2017 Div. 44 Election Results

Margaret Rosario, PhD

I am honored to have been elected tothe position of president-elect of Div. 44 and pleased for the opportunity to thank the division for the honors it has already bestowed on me: fellowship status and the awards for Distinguished Contribution to Ethnic Minority Issues and for Distinguished Scientific Contributions. I am a researcher who focuses on the concepts of identity and stress, as well as the health and adaptational implications of these concepts. The research has primarily centered on lesbian, gay and bisexual young people undergoing sexual identity development. The relations between stress and sexual identity development on the one hand to both health and adaptation on the other hand are of critical interest, as are the mediators and moderators of those relations. In addition, I am interested in the determinants of sexual orientation and the intersection of multiple identities. I will bring to the Division the skills of a researcher, knowledge of biopsychosocial and epidemiological issues pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity, and the sensitivities of someone who lives at the intersection of multiple identities. The totality of this background will be critical as I seek to identify, understand and respond to the needs of the division with the assistance and collaboration of the membership. In closing, I am a professor of psychology at The City University of New York — The City College and Graduate Center, and a faculty member in the doctoral programs of clinical psychology, health psychology and clinical science, and basic and applied social psychology. I am a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. I am an associate editor of the Journal of Sex Research and on the editorial boards of Archives of Sexual Behavior and the American Journal of Community Psychology. My postdoctoral training was conducted at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, the doctoral and master’s degrees were awarded by New York University and the bachelor’s degree was conferred by Princeton University

Erin Deneke, PhD

I have served as the division treasurer for three years now and have a dedication to our members and Div. 44. As so many of us feel, it is my professional home. In my job as treasurer I have navigated the significant change that the APA accounting department has underwent since I first began my term and have developed a solid working relationship with that department. I have guided the development of our division's budget and have managed our resources in a fiscally responsible manner. It is my job to ensure that our finances are managed responsibly for all our members, and I take that charge seriously. I believe in conservative spending with flexibility, allowing the division to increase its offerings to members as can be observed through the division’s recent online seminar for CEs. In my job as the director of research where I work, I develop and manage the large budget of my department and negotiate with outside universities for subcontract awards for federal grants. I bring with me the breadth of knowledge and skills I have of managing the Div. 44 financial resources as well as the budget of a department of a national organization. It will be my honor to serve you and Div. 44 as treasurer for another term. Thank you for your support as your current treasurer, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve you again.

Melissa J. Grey, PhD

Div. 44’s mission is integrated into my work as a community college faculty member, including as an associate professor and a GSA advisor; as a therapist and supervisor in our openly LGBTQ and poly affirming, sex positive, multicultural and feminist group practice; and as a project coordinator and activist, collaborating with Michigan communities and organizations by using social science to advance social justice, especially LGBTQ equality.

Div. 44 has been my professional home. Since 2008, I served on the Public Policy Committee (PPC), including four years as a chair. With my leadership, we annually surveyed Div. 44 members to learn what policy issues were most concerning and to facilitate engagement in those issues. As presidential administrations and associated advocacy strategy shift over time — balancing and rebalancing grassroots efforts and directly educating legislators — we engaged in multiple activities, including offering opportunities to strengthen advocacy skills at convention and collaborating with psychologists in more than 12 states about active/potential legislation, including religious-exemptions, marriage equality, SOCE/GICE (conversion efforts) and nondiscrimination. I am grateful to continue as a PPC member while I facilitate efforts to strengthen APA’s statements on SOCE/GICE with the Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (SOGD) Committee.

Although 2017 politics look quite different for us, we have been engaged in these movements a long time. As a community, we are well-equipped to advance LGBTQ health, justice and equality, and I am honored to represent you in Div. 44’s efforts as a member-at-large.