Message from the APA Division 5 President

It is truly an honor to serve as the APA Division 5 president for the 2026–27 term. Together, we can foster collaboration, innovation, and a strong sense of community within our division. I look forward to working alongside the Division 5 Executive Committee, sections, committees, membership, and our broader community. I am dedicated to bringing together our methodological perspectives in EMS, SQIP, and assessment in building a strong community in our division.

Building on the work of many pioneers in Division 5, I will bring 20+ years of demonstrated leadership, scientific research, education, and policy expertise to support the division’s growth and impact in psychological science and research methods. My division interests include (1) fostering collaborative interdisciplinary research in a social justice context, (2) enhancing membership growth and visibility within the U.S. and globally and building relationships with APA divisions, (3) strengthening programmatic research efforts (e.g., symposiums), (4) integrating the voices of the younger generation into the division’s leadership structure through mentoring collaborations, and (5) strengthening communication of research methodologies to the general public.

I have exciting news to share in that we have the forthcoming Handbook of Methodology for Psychology in the 21st Century: Progress, Critique, and Future to be published by Guilford Press. This groundbreaking project is being led by Fred Wertz, Lisa Harlow, and Rachel Fouladi alongside a talented team of section editors. The comprehensive volume will span a wide range of methodological domains, including Qualitative Inquiry, Quantitative Analysis, Measurement and Assessment, Evaluation, and Mixed Methods. We have some programmatic efforts related to the handbook underway. Stay tuned for updates.

We have had a strong Division 5 presence in APA initiatives, including the APA Town Hall on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that featured presentations by Arthur Evans, PhD; Tony Habash, DSc; Vaile Wright, PhD; and Corbin Evans, JD, on APA's approach to AI in three areas, including internal operations, psychological field applications, and public policy. APA's strategic priorities focus on using AI as a tool to augment rather than replace psychological work, addressing potential harm while maximizing benefits, and establishing a virtual center for behavioral science and AI to fill the missing "human layer" in AI development. The discussion covered various AI applications in healthcare, workplace impacts, regulatory efforts, and environmental considerations, with participants raising questions about data center environmental impacts and the balance between profit motives and psychological science implementation in AI companies.

Leo Wilton, PhD
Division 5 President
Binghamton University