Member profile: Meet Michael Ranney

Michael O. Ranney, MPA, has served as executive director of the Ohio Psychological Association since 1997. In December 2007, he completed three terms as a member of the APA Committee for the Advancement for Professional Practice , serving as the elected representative of the Council of Executives of State and Provincial Psychological Associations (CESPPA). During that time he served CESPPA as a member of the executive committee. He is a graduate of Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania (BA) and the University of Pittsburgh (MPA). His career includes work in nonprofit management, marketing, public relations, and fund -raising. He has worked for an opera company, a drug and alcohol program, a halfway house for ex-offenders, a humane society, a center for emotionally disturbed children, and several political campaigns. He resides in Columbus, Ohio.

Q: Tell us the story of your name: how did you get it, or what special meaning or story is connected to it?

A: When I was a kid I had a rocking horse named Magic Michael. I always thought I was named for the horse. When I became an adult, my mother had the horse made into a cocktail table for my apartment; that's when I learned that the horse was named after me.

Q: In the past few years, what is the most interesting or exciting development in your professional life?

A: My career had been cruising down the track of “fund-raising professional,” but I was beginning to feel burned out. After working through several financial crises and major campaigns during an eight-year tenure as director of development for Opera Columbus, I learned of an opportunity at the Ohio Psychological Association (OPA). It was time to move on, and I was excited about the scope of the OPA position. Eighteen years later, I am still at the OPA and enjoying every day. The organization has improved significantly over those years, achieving financial stability and membership growth. We've been recognized for our graduate student programs, our diversity efforts, our LGBT advocacy, and our overall work on behalf of psychology. Switching from professional fund-raiser to association manager working to advance psychology has been a significant and rewarding professional shift.

Q: What does being a member of Div. 44 mean to you?

A: I got involved in Div. 44 because of my personal and professional interest in the mission of the division. I have enjoyed being a part of the Public Policy Committee as a means of keeping abreast of legislative initiatives that impact the LGBT community around the country. The committee has informed our advocacy efforts in Ohio, and I think I've contributed by sharing my state association perspective. The division has become an important professional network from which has developed many valued friendships.