crumpled cutout numbers 2020 showing on person's open palm

President’s Column: 2020 What a Year!

V. Krishna Kumar, PhD kkumar@wcupa.edu 2020 can be thought of as the year of multiple crises: worldwide genocide by COVID-19, police shootings of black individuals and consequent worldwide protests, and wildfires and hurricanes.  The Zoom invasion that began in March 2020 turned our lives into virtual reality.  Life without Zoom has become unthinkable.  For the…

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Past President Column: The Pain of 2020: How Did We Get Here?

Kathryn Stamoulis, PhD Kestamoulis@hotmail.com 2020 has been a terrible year for many Americans. The relentless spread of COVID-19. Distrust of science. Extreme political polarization. A contentious presidential race. A rise in conspiracy theories. Heightened depression, anxiety, and loneliness, less sex, and on and on. All this negativity begs the question, how did we get here?…

laptop screen showing a virtual meeting and a cup to the left of laptop

Council Corner: Summary of August 5 & 6, 2020 Council Meeting

Danny Wedding, PhD danny.wedding@gmail.com APA’s Council of Representatives met virtually August 5-6, 2020, during which it adopted a policy/position regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to forward to the Membership for a vote bylaws changes that would offer voting seats on the Council of Representatives to members of the ethnic minority psychology associations and voting…

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Student Committee Column: 2020 Reflections

Stephanie Miodus, MA, MEdstephanie.miodus@temple.edu Stephanie Joseph, MA, MEdStephanie.joseph08@gmail.com As 2020 draws to a close and we reflect on this past year as Student Committee co-chairs, we want to thank all the students who have been involved in our initiatives. We started the year with the primary goal of increasing opportunities for students within the Division,…

Division 46 Board Members’ Statement: Our Commitment to End Racism

Dear Colleagues, Our division shares in the feeling of heartbreak and horror following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many other Black Americans.  These tragic events have raised concerns internationally as evidenced by organized demonstrations in Amsterdam, Auckland, London, Paris, and other cities.  Whether at the hands of police or armed…

President’s Column: 2020: Some Thoughts for Your Consideration

V. Krishna Kumar, PhD Kkumar@wcupa.edu Succeeding a line of highly competent presidents and then anticipating other equally competent individuals to succeed you can be an intimidating and anxiety-producing experience. Division presidents often have their own agendas, missions, visions, and themes. When I served as President of the Society for Humanistic Psychology a few years ago,…

Past President’s Column: Sexting to Sextortion

Kathryn Stamoulis, PhD kestamoulis@hotmail.com In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, when most Americans have been ordered to stay at home, people are using the Internet to fill multiple roles. To create a semblance of normalcy, many rely on their phones and computers to work, learn, maintain social support, and distract themselves from the horrors…

Council Corner: Council Passes Resolutions Reaffirming, Updating Some Past Policies

Danny Wedding danny.wedding@gmail.com WASHINGTON – The Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association adopted updated resolutions regarding LBGTQ issues and reiterated its positions on violent video games and climate change at its meeting Feb. 29-March 1, 2020. Council archived three outdated policies related to LGBTQ issues and replaced them with new versions that also…