2023 Executive Committee Candidate Statements

Presented below are nomination statements for candidates for Division 45 Executive Committee elected positions.

The following slate of Executive Committee officers are on the 2023 Division Election Ballot:

  • President-Elect (Latinx/Latine term)
  • Secretary-Elect
  • Treasurer-Elect
  • Member-at-Large: Early Career Psychologist
  • Member-at-Large: Asian American
  • Member-at-Large: Community Engagement
  • Member-at-Large: American Indian/Alaskan Native
  • Student Representative

Members eligible to vote in this election cycle have received an email ballot. Please refer to the email for ballot directions. The Division 45 2023 Election ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, Nov 3, 2023.

Voting eligibility is based on a Member, Fellow, or Student Member who paid dues in full prior to January 1, 2023. Individuals who joined after this date will be eligible to vote in 2024.

If you have yet to receive a ballot, please contact us.

President-Elect Candidate Statement

Fred Millán, PhD

I am interested in running for President-Elect (Latinx/Latine slate) of Division 45: the Society for the Psychological Study of Race, Ethnicity and Culture to continue its work of bringing together folx who are committed to the well-being of communities of color in all their intersectional identities. I value working collaboratively to find common ground for advocacy, shared resources, and mutual support. Having served as Division 45 Treasurer in the past, I am very excited at the possibility of working again with my passionate and dedicated colleagues on the EC. I have experience as a clinician, academic, regulator and administrator. In the past, I have served as president of the National Latinx Psychological Association and the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards and as chair of the New York State Board for Psychology and the APA Ethics Committee. Currently, I am the NLPA delegate to the newly formed Coalition of National Racial and Ethnic Psychological Associations and chair of the Board of Trustees of the American Insurance Trust, amongst other professional psychology responsibilities. Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy.

Secretary-Elect Candidate Statement

Danielle R. Busby, PhD

I am honored and grateful for the nomination to serve as a Division 45 Secretary-elect. As the major representative body for psychologists who conduct research on ethnic minority concerns or who apply psychological knowledge and techniques to ethnic minority issues. Division 45 has served as a home within APA that has represented my professional values and guiding principles as a clinical psychologist, devoted to work specific to cultural diversity and ethnic minority psychology, and I seek to give back to Division 45  through my leadership as Secretary-elect.

Currently, I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) where I serve diverse youth and families through the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program. Additionally, I am a co-founder and vice president of professional relations and liaison for Black Mental Wellness, Corp. An organization that holds the mission of: 1) providing access to evidence-based information and resources about mental health and behavioral health topics from a Black perspective; 2) highlighting and increasing the diversity of mental health professionals; and 3) decreasing the mental health stigma in the Black community. My academic research is centered on youth suicide prevention and intervention, decreasing barriers to care for underserved patients, and the effects of child trauma, including racial stress and trauma for Black youth.

As Division 45 secretary, I will work to ensure I lead in maintaining organization and flow for my fellow leaders by recording accurate and timely meeting minutes, engaging in clear and effective communication, and working collaboratively with the necessary leaders to ensure efficiency and accuracy within leadership meetings. Further, I look forward to engaging my Division 45 colleagues regarding a range of professional and multicultural concerns, while contributing my own cultural perspective as a Black American woman from Detroit, Michigan.

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself and express the great honor it would be to formally serve as secretary-elect for Division 45.

Treasurer Statement *

Tomas Granados, PsyD

I am able, willing and interested in continuing to serve in the Division 45 Treasurer role to ensure continuity of projects that Division 45 is pursuing. Division 45 finances are complex and a critical foundation for the many projects Division 45 has committed to. It was a great pleasure to play a small part in the success of the 2023 Division 45 Research Conference, and a successful APA Convention and related activities, and I look forward to continuing to play a small part in facilitating future APA Conventions, Research Conferences, and other important Division 45 initiatives.

 

* Dr. Granados is currently serving a first term as Treasurer for Division 45 (2022-2024).

Member-at-Large Candidate Statements

Nomination for Member-at-Large Early Career Psychologist Slate

Samuel T. Beasley, PhD

I am excited to submit my nomination for the Early Career Professional (ECP) position within Division 45. My name is Samuel T. Beasley. I completed my doctoral training at the University of Texas at Austin under the mentorship of Dr. Kevin Cokley. I hold a master’s degree in counseling from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kentucky.

Currently, I am an Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University. Additionally, I have served as our program’s Training Director since 2020. My research program has focused on the academic outcomes and experiences of Black college students and other historically marginalized students (e.g., first generation college students). More recently, my work has examined the training experiences of Black men in psychology doctoral training programs to better understand their preparation to work with diverse communities.

Throughout my experiences as faculty member, Counseling Psychology Training Director, and as a member on Division 17’s (Society of Counseling Psychology) ECP Committee, I have advocated to meet the needs of students of color during their training and as they enter the psychology workforce as ECPs. I envision that my work as ECP representative within Division 45 will continue my previous advocacy efforts for ECPs. I am particularly interested in building more intentional and lasting connections between Division 45 and doctoral students as they transition out of their doctoral programs into the field. One strategy to achieve this goal may be to offer ECPs travel funding to attend and present their research at either the APA conference or the Division 45 Research Conference. Identifying ways to keep ECPs involved in Division 45 is critical to ensuring their perspectives are represented within the division and remain committed to the future of the division.

Nomination for Member-at-Large Asian American Slate

Richelle Concepcion, PsyD, MPH

I am writing to express my interest in serving on the Division 45 Executive Committee as the Member at Large – Asian American Slate. I have an extensive history of leadership experience. I currently serve as a Clinical Division Representative and Disaster Response Coordinator for the Hawaii Psychological Association and recently have been assisting with mental health support efforts for the Maui wildfire survivors. I’m also a past president of the Asian American Psychological Association, an organization for which I’ve served in many other leadership roles (e.g., Board member, convention co-chair, Leadership Fellows program co-chair). I’ve attached my CV for your reference. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. Mahalo for your time and consideration.

Nomination for Member-at-Large Community Engagement Slate

Erica Fung, PhD

I would like to nominate myself for the Member-at-Large (MAL; Community Engagement Slate) (2024-2027) position. I have been actively engaging with the community by working as a supervising psychologist at Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF). My responsibilities are to provide assessment and treatment to inmates/patients experiencing mental health issues while incarcerated. I did not take any time off and continued to provide face to face assessments and treatments to patients during COVID-19 began in March 2020. On the other hand, I have been serving Division 45 as the Asian Member-At-Large since 2021, and radio broadcaster at the only Cantonese Radio Station in Los Angeles since 2010. Providing services to the public as a psychologist is my passion because I always want to give back to the community. I was an international student, and I am grateful that I was able to achieve a high level of education in the United States. Additionally, I am active and familiar with social media that I can create interesting content to increase social media engagement between Division 45 and the public.   

I am very enthusiastic about the the Member-at-Large (MAL; Community Engagement Slate) (2024-2027) position by APA Division 45 and believe my experiences and commitment to service make me a solid candidate for this position.

Nomination for Member-at-Large American Indian/Alaskan Native Slate

Julii Green, PhD

I am Julii Green, PhD (Eastern Band Cherokee & African American) (she/her/hers) and I am humbled to accept the nomination of the member-at-large position (Native slate). I am interested in remaining on the EC to assist the committee with specific tasks that are aligned with my values and goals. I would like to help cultivate the interests of high school and young folks who might not typically see themselves within our field. I am willing to engage in cross collaborations (Div. 35, 2, LDI etc) to facilitate that effort. I am also willing to continue in my role as Liaison to CEMA to address anti-DEI efforts across the US.  

As an associate professor (CSPP-Clinical Psychology PsyD Dept) and clinician in San Diego I’ve taught for ten years focusing on Foundations in Multicultural Psychology, Family Therapy with Ethnic Families, Qualitative Research Methods, Practicum in Clinical Psychology, LGBTQ-couples/family therapy, and Dissertation. I obtained my PhD from the University of North Dakota and completed postdoctoral studies at UC Berkeley (School of Public Health) and UCSF (Child Trauma Research Program). I’ve held leadership positions within APA Div. 45 (co-program chair 2020), MAL (Native slate), and Div. 45 liaison to CEMA as well as within Div. 35 (NMCS co-chair, co-chair Feminist Psych Inst., co-chair AWP/SPW student paper award, and co-chair of Pathways to Feminist Psychology). I am particularly passionate about BIPOC students’ recruitment through matriculation in their graduate programs, and I am conducting research focused on race-based trauma among BIPOC women in clinical psychology graduate programs. Another line of research I am engaged in addresses IPV (among Native women) and the social determinates of health; Native American child maltreatment prevention; and Indigenous Feminist focused mentorship (reservation to graduation-R2G).

Nomination for Member-at-Large American Indian/Alaskan Native Slate

Tina Lincourt, PsyD

I am writing to express my interest in the Div 45 Member at Large Native American position. I am a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and an early career psychologist. I have a passion to do my part in narrowing the health disparities gap that many peoples of color and marginalized groups experience. I have worked in Indian Country since graduating (even during pre-doctoral practicum) and have loved the opportunity to serve in these sacred spaces. Further, I have deeply enjoyed the opportunity to be of service in the Society of Indian Psychologists as their current secretary, past chair of Div 18 Psychologists in Indian Country, and program co-chair of Division 45. It has been an incredible journey of working alongside dedicated individuals, in beautiful multicultural spaces, who continue to forge the path of reducing disparities amongst marginalized population. It is with great humility and gratitude that I submit my interest in this position. I would be honored to be considered for the Div 45 Native American Member at Large position.

Nomination for Member-at-Large Early Career Psychologist Slate

Yara Mekawi, PhD

Dr. Yara Mekawi is an assistant professor at the University of Louisville in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Her scholarship, teaching and mentoring efforts center on racism and anti-racism. Currently, her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms through which racism persist as well as how racism affects the mental health of BIPOC. She is the co-chair of her department’s DEI committee where she focuses on collaborative approaches to making systemic changes that result in sustained increases in equity and DEI engagement. She has developed two courses called “Race, Racism, and Anti-Racism” and “Power, Privilege, and Psychopathology.” As an early career psychologist, she is interested in supporting other members in effective and meaningful engagement with Division 45, while also managing the unique tensions of being in the early stages of one’s career (e.g., tenure requirements, establishing research and mentorship identities, etc.).

Nomination for Member-at-Large Community Engagement Slate

Char (Whitehead) Newton, PhD, LP

It is with great excitement that I submit this letter for consideration for the Member at Large Community Engagement Slate. I am extremely interested in this opportunity because I would like to use my leaderships, my desire to serve others, and organizational skills to contribute to the division. I have experience with advocacy, reviewing public policy and evaluating/recommending best practices within the discipline of psychology. In 2020 I was appointed by the governor of the state of Michigan to serve on the Michigan Board of Psychology. The Michigan Board of Psychology was created to work with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to promulgate rules and grant licenses to professionals in the field of psychology. As a board member, I along with my other committee members have the duty to promote and protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. The board implements this responsibility by ascertaining minimal entry-level competency of health practitioners and reviews disciplinary action against licensees who have adversely affected the public’s health, safety, and welfare. In addition, we review, revise, and advocate for changes as it relates to the rules and practice of psychology.  The board oversees the practice of all professional psychologists in Michigan. Through my work on the board, I have helped to create change as it relates to the policy and requirements that impact psychologists within the state. Furthermore, my passion for working with issues connected to race, anti-racism, and culturally-responsive approaches in the profession will come in handy as I work to help and serve others.

I believe if selected to serve as Member at Large I will bring with my spirit of advocacy, my passion for race-related issues, my knowledge, an eagerness to learn, and my creativity.

Student Representative Statements

Eboni Martin

I am excited to submit a statement for consideration to become the Division 45 Graduate Student Representative.

In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s address to the American Psychological Association in 1967, he stated that the United States “is poisoned to its soul by racism and the understanding needs to be carefully documented and consequently more difficult to reject.” The essence of Dr. King’s speech, this call to action that is still relevant today, is the driving force behind my interest in wanting to join the Executive Committee as a student voice. I aspire to play a more significant role in contributing to the ongoing efforts of Division 45 to promote diversity, racial equity, and social justice.

As a third year Clinical Psychology PhD student at Loma Linda University, I have diligently sought out ways to promote diversity and equity within our Department of Psychology through engaging in research and leadership opportunities. My research interests revolve around the topics of racism and substance abuse, and I even had the opportunity to co-author a commentary with one of my mentors, Dr. Bridgette Peteet, examining the dual impact of racism and COVID 19 on substance abuse. Currently, I serve as the APA Division 45 Campus Representative, while actively participating as a Student Member of the Psychology Department Diversity Committee.

In these leadership capacities, I have played an essential role in fostering diversity within our department by actively contributing to the coordination of various events. One contribution has been the development of programming aimed at providing safe spaces for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students to express themselves, share their stories, and have their experiences validated. As an example, I collaborated in organizing a thought-provoking movie night and dialogue session led by our Diversity Committee Faculty.

This event featured the documentary, “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America.” This event not only facilitated discussions about the pervasive issue of racism but also highlighted the significant role psychology trainees can play in contributing to the dismantling of systemic racism. By bringing together students for an open and respectful dialogue, we aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding these topics, while promoting a more empathetic academic environment.

In continuing these efforts to advance racial equity at a national level, I am committed to elevating student voices, organizing safe spaces, and building a strong community of support to ensure that students feels heard, valued, and acknowledged in our greater academic community.

Sushmita Oruganti

Born Indian, raised Indonesian, an Australian citizen, and now in the United States of America, I have had the privilege of learning psychology across four countries. I also learned that the psychology taught in classrooms differed vastly from the psychology we practiced from culture to culture. Therefore, having constantly adapted and adjusted what I studied, I questioned whether the psychology taught to us applies to the people we work with. If yes, was it effective and did it result in the same endorsed evidence-based outcomes when adapted to different populations and backgrounds?

As professionals attempt to decolonize the approaches and existing narratives that shape the field of psychology, we have only begun to explore the tip of the iceberg. Words like “pariah,” “pundit,” “native,” and “tribes” used in our journals and therapy sessions point towards classism and casteism. Today, clients of color still prefer BIPOC therapists. Centuries of Western influence have established a structure for the practice of psychology. However, it has also instilled a deep mistrust in people who wish to be seen and understood.

I hope to be elected as a student representative to support illuminating the deep desire in the current generation of psychologists wishing to unlearn existing approaches and learn ways in which services dispensed can make room for cultural and diversity-related differences. As an international student who has had the opportunity to engage with various global psychology communities, I have witnessed the Australian Psychological Society and the Rehabilitative Council in India implement changes advocated by the American Psychological Association (APA). If elected as the student representative, I aspire to engage in dialogue and planning events that dismantle and reconstruct current practices and theories. Division 45’s dedication and critical reflection on sociopolitical events, cultural humility, and blind spots that influence psychological issues ignite my passion for social justice and advocacy. One day, when I return to the communities I belong to, I hope to carry what I learn through APA Division 45’s efforts to think, confront, disassemble, and reconstruct structures to suit the needs of these communities. My dream to be a student representative of the APA Division 45’s initiative comes from the belief that the division effort helps us inch closer to coming up with ways in which the psychology taught to us can be applied to the people we work with so it can be well-matched to each person, their values and needs.