Our APA convention is one of my favorite weeks of the year-for me, it is like a holiday. The overflowing opportunities to reunite with dear friends, learn from exceptional scholars, participate in exciting events, and be so amazingly inspired by our student poster sessions, all wondrously amalgamate to create a synergy of enthusiasm for me that is beyond welcomed, profound, and annually necessary.  

Although I absolutely loved our first post-Covid convention last year and the ability to all be back together in Minneapolis, it was also my presidential year. Thus, I cannot lie and claim that I wasn’t a bit… well… anxious! It was a tremendous conference to be sure, rich with scholarship, terrific activities, and of course the usual collegial shenanigans, but as your division steward, my energies were focused upon ensuring the best experience possible for all D46 Divisionaries able to attend. So, I was really looking forward to APA D.C. 2023 where as your “past president,” I could still be of grateful service, but also once more return to merely being an “attendee among attendees.” It did not disappoint! 

Our conference chairs worked tirelessly for months to create an exceedingly brilliant program showcasing the outstanding work of our D46 membership. The perpetual commitment to exceeding excellence by our stalwartly dedicated division leader and President Susan Eddington, Ph.D. and her rockstar co-chairs/convention event planning team including Frank Farley, Ph.D., Jennifer Gentle, Ph.D., Stephanie Joseph, Ph.D., Stephanie Miodus, Ph.D., Karla Monsour, Ph.D., and Brian Conlon deserves more than a standing ovation.  Their devoted perseverance to creating a robust curriculum promoting authentic scholarship, diversity, forward thinking, integrity, and service to the APA organization at large truly demonstrated both the skillful talents of each and all of them, but also our best of best divisions. Thank you, Convention Planning Team! 

In my humble (and sure, it could easily be argued extremely biased opinion), each of our D46 presentations was a convention highlight, with three approved for CE credits.  The presentation by Jerri Lynn Hogg, Ph.D., Sean P. Thoennes, Ph.D., & Tatyana El-Kour was a true fan favorite. Their Artificial Intelligence’s Transformative Power in Shaping the Future session drew a standing room only crowd (with some attendees even posting up on the floor when there were no more seats available!) who came to hear these scholars share their knowledge on what is increasingly becoming the zeitgeist topic of our times. 

David Shapiro, Ph.D. & James H. Bray, Ph.D. shared sheer brilliance and love for Media Psychology during their Ethical Issues in Communicating Psychological Science to the Media session, which was also offered for CE credit. 

Joanne Broder, Ph.D. and I also secured CE support for our session entitled Illuminating the Dark Shadows of Cyber-Aggression and offered attendees an investigative exposure of this nefarious and unacceptable phenomenon increasingly targeting and harming innocent online victims. Since this is my column, I am going to leverage that privilege now and give a vociferous shout out to my writing partner, co-conspirator in non-prosecutable crimes, past division president (2017), and current division Council Representative Dr. Broder, who was also honored as a 2023 APA Fellow during the convention and celebrated in a special pinning ceremony. #ForShesAJollyGoodFellow!

D46 scholars also did us proud across myriad areas of our field, courageously presenting on vital and vibrant topics facing media psychology today.  Susan’s distinguished intelligence, insight, academic acumen, experience, and extraordinary grace of narrative had the room spellbound and silent with respect as she fearlessly offered her Presidential Address entitled: In search of the truth in a post-truth era: Challenging book banning, whitewashing, and disinformation. #BravaMadamePresident 

Other superb D46 supported presentations included: (1) our President-Elect Grant J. Rich, Ph.D. in a collaboration with Mohsen Fatemi, Ph.D. as they discussed The Psychology of Film, (2) division and APA emeritus scholar Frank Farley, Ph.D. and co-chair Ted M. Kahn, Ph.D. leading an outstanding and honest examination of Anti-Semitism in the Media, Social Media and Via Game Related AI with Joanne Broder, Ph.D. and Julie Ancis, Ph.D., (3) Kay Nikiforova, Ph.D., Jessica Jackson, Ph.D., and Grin Lord, Ph.D. exploring The Use of Technology to Advance Health Equity in Psychological Care, and (4) Dr. Kay chairing The Role of Psychologists in the Health Technology Industry with session panelists Michael Arevalo, Psy.D., Alison Greco, Psy.D., and Mark S. Aloia, Ph.D. 

Once more proving her integrity and fidelity to inclusion, equality, and social justice, our fabulous D46 student committee co-chair (along with the equally exceptional Stephanie Joseph, Ph.D.) and newly Ph.D.-minted Stephanie Miodus presented a focal talk with colleagues from Division 37 (the “Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice”) entitled: Walk-a-Mile Being Exposed to Community Violence: Experiences of Underserved Children, Youth and Families Seeking Trauma Informed Care. 

Following our presentation at last year’s convention of our emergent research study investigating the potential influence of a caregiver’s device use behaviors on attachment bonds with their children, Barbara Nosal, Ph.D., LMFT (Chief Clinical Officer; Newport Healthcare) and I were invited back by APA to share about it again this year as part of the D.C. conference “Exchange” sessions programming.  We were excited and honored by this privilege and offered our presentation twice during the convention.   

Always a highlight of our annual APA gatherings is Dr. Frank Farley’s “Conversations.”  This year Frank engaged with none other than APA CEO Arthur Evans, Ph.D.  This event was truly superb.  The authentic respect and honor between these two outstanding scholars, colleagues, and APA legends was obvious as they openly and honestly discussed the past, present, and future of APA, current “hot topics,” historical events of the organization, and of course shared wonderful anecdotes, jokes, and camaraderie.  It was really something special. 

Speaking of “past, present, and future,” I saved my personal favorite convention presentation “best for last.”  Thanks to the beautiful ideas which seem to perpetually bloom in Frank’s mind, Susan’s immediate enthusiasm and embrace of the plan, Grant’s fantastic production support, and the generosity of Dean Keith Simonton, Ph.D. and D26 (the “Society for the History of Psychology”) in gifting us an hour of their division’s programming, 12 past, present, and future D46 presidents joined together for an amazing and historical convention presentation entitled: Presidents’ Summit: The Past, Present & Future of Media Psychology. Spanning the D46 history decades, from our inaugural to future leaders, participants included: Michael Broder, Ph.D. (1987), Florence Kaslow, Ph.D. (1993), Lenore Walker, Ph.D. (2001), Elizabeth Carll, Ph.D. (2003), Frank Farley, Ph.D. (1998 & 2008), Danny Wedding, Ph.D. (2010), Jerri Lynn Hogg, Ph.D. (2015), Joanne Broder, Ph.D. (2017), Kathryn Stamoulis, Ph.D. (2019), me (2022), Susan Eddington, Ph.D. (2023), and Grant J. Rich, Ph.D. (2024). This event was genuinely historic, epic, and one for the proverbial D46 annals.  I felt so humbled, honored, and proud to be included within a cabinet of such depth, dignity, and distinction and sincerely hope this event becomes a convention tradition moving forward. 

Our division also proudly flexed more than 50 posters during our two scheduled sessions! The genius, creativity, and forward thinking of our students was nothing short of mind blowing.  They really are our future, and from what I saw, it is in very capable and smart hands. #BravoBraveandExcellentStudents! 

For the first time, our division partnered with Divisions 48 (the “Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence) and 52 (“International Psychology) for a lively combined social hour overflowing with fun, unity, and laughter.  Thank you to D47 President Robin Lynn Treptow, Ph.D., Ph.D., IFEC-MH and D52 Chair-Elect Erinn C. Cameron, Ph.D., for working so arduously with Susan to make this great collaborative event a reality! Another special shout out to APA convention program meeting and events manager Jamie Arca, DES, who absolutely went above and beyond to help make our convention program and experience so successful. 

Another of my favorite convention events is our opportunity to honor the magnificent scholars in our division.  The awards committee this year consisted of me (chair) and Susan J. Eddington, Ph.D.  The number of eligible award candidates this year was astounding. So much so that after reviewing them, our Executive Board decided to award multiple honorees in two categories-they were just that good! 

The 2023 winners, announced at the convention were: 

Distinguished Lifetime Contributions to Media Psychology and Technology: (1) Michael Broder, Ph.D. and (2) Danny Wedding, Ph.D. 

Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Media Psychology & Technology: (1) Paul Wright, Ph.D. and (2) Bernie Luskin, Ph.D. 

Distinguished Early Career Professional Contributions to Media Psychology & Technology: Brian Keum, Ph.D. 

Student Dissertation in Media Psychology & Technology: Casie H. Morgan 

Congratulations, All! 

Finally, I would like to thank our most esteemed and beloved V. Krishna Kumar, Ph.D. for his unstinting efforts on behalf of not only our division, but also this magazine-the crown jewel of D46.  After many years of tireless and cherished service, Krishna finally announced his decision to “retire” from his role as Editor and enjoy a well-deserved life.  We can never repay your love and dedication to all of us and for all you have done, Dr. Kumar.  Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon-either on the Listserv or perhaps at a future convention! 

Finally, having shared five previous columns of thoughts with you as I have moved through my various roles within your “Presidential Trio” over the past three years, I want to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to you all for allowing me to be of such privileged service.  I have so loved supporting this best of all best divisions-and each of you, my most exceptional 46 “Divisionaries.”  I hope I have served you well. However, as you have also granted me the spectacular reward of electing me to serve as a Member-At-Large to begin in January, for better or worse, it appears that you are all stuck with me-for at least a couple of years!  I cannot thank you enough for that affirmation, either and look so forward to continuing to support you and 46. 

Wishing you and yours a healthy and happy holiday season, and only the best of best in the new year to come and beyond!