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Welcome to the APA Nomination Portal
Serving on an APA board or committee gives you an opportunity to be directly involved in shaping the future of psychology. You will have a voice in changes that affect psychological science, practice, research, education and knowledge.
APA policies are set by the Council of Representatives. But boards and committees can propose policies for council to approve.
APA looks to board and committee members to represent an area of expertise or to represent specific constituencies, such as people of color, practitioners, academicians, researchers, etc. Ad hoc groups (task forces, working groups, panels, etc.) are appointed for a specific purpose and a limited time.
Learn how to get appointed or elected to a committee and participate in the creation of APA policy.
Have a voice
Advocate for issues that will shape the future of psychology
Give back
Use your knowledge and experience to help advance psychology in ways that improve lives.
Make a difference
Influence how psychology affects change in society by being an APA leader.
2026 Board of Directors Call for Nominations
The call for nominations has closed. If you have any questions, please contact Abby Green at agreen@apa.org.
Board and Committee Call for Nominations
The board and committee call for nominations is now closed. Please check back on December 1, 2025 to participate in the next nomination cycle.
Nominations will be sought for the following boards and committees whose members are elected by the Council of Representatives:
- Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest
- Board of Convention Affairs
- Board of Educational Affairs
- Board of Professional Affairs
- Board of Scientific Affairs
- Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Subspecialties in Professional Psychology
- Committee for Global Psychology
- Committee for the Advancement of General Applied Psychology
- Committee on Rural Health
- Ethics Committee
- Finance Committee
- Membership Board
- Policy and Planning Board
- Publications and Communications Board
Nominations will be sought for the following committees whose members are appointed by the Board of Directors:
- Committee for Postdoctoral Education and Training Programs in Psychopharmacology for Prescriptive Authority
- Committee on Aging
- Committee on Animal Research and Ethics
- Committee on Associate and Baccalaureate Education
- Committee on Children, Youth, and Families
- Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology
- Committee on Division/APA Relations
- Committee on Early Career Psychologists
- Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs
- Committee on Health Equity
- Committee on Human Research
- Committee on Professional Practice and Standards
- Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
- Committee on Socioeconomic Status
- Committee on Women in Psychology
- Continuing Education Committee
- Fellows Committee
If you have any questions, please contact the Election Office at elections@apa.org.
Seeking Experts to Serve on APA Panels and Ad Hoc Groups
Join APA’s Climate Change Community of Scholars and Practitioners
This Community is comprised of scholars and practitioners dedicated to addressing the impact of climate change on society.
Community members support APA’s efforts by:
- promoting the importance of psychological science in addressing climate change
- helping build connections between APA and influential organizations/individuals working on climate change
- providing advice, guidance, and expertise to APA staff on matters of climate science and policy
- responding to correspondence from APA staff and interacting with other Advisory Group members in electronic discussions
- attending on-line meetings scheduled by APA staff, which may occur quarterly
How to Apply: The nomination must be completed online and include the following:
- CV
- A brief letter of intent, not to exceed two pages, that includes:
- Willingness to partake in community engagements
- Description of the nominee’s qualifications, specifically highlighting how the nominee might contribute to the efforts mentioned above
For additional information about the application process, please contact Mark Chan at oap@apa.org
Serving on an APA board or committee gives you an opportunity to be directly involved in shaping the future of psychology. You will have a voice in changes that affect psychological science, practice, research, education and knowledge.
APA policies are set by the Council of Representatives. But boards and committees can propose policies for council to approve.
APA looks to board and committee members to represent an area of expertise or to represent specific constituencies, such as people of color, practitioners, academicians, researchers, etc. Ad hoc groups (task forces, working groups, panels, etc.) are appointed for a specific purpose and a limited time.
Learn how to get appointed or elected to a committee and participate in the creation of APA policy.
Have a voice
Advocate for issues that will shape the future of psychology
Give back
Use your knowledge and experience to help advance psychology in ways that improve lives.
Make a difference
Influence how psychology affects change in society by being an APA leader.
A New Way to Support Psychology
APA Services, Inc. is a companion professional organization to the American Psychological Association serving all members and advocating for psychology.
APA represents the largest and most visible national presence advocating for psychology at the federal level. APA advocacy efforts are guided by the Advocacy Coordinating Committee, which evaluates and prioritizes advocacy goals for the discipline of psychology and the professions of psychologists in scientific, educational, public interest, health service practice and applied practice settings.
Advocacy Coordinating Committee Call for Nominations
Nominations are sought for the Advocacy Coordinating Committee (ACC). It consists of no less than 12 members serving 3-year terms. Four new ACC member appointments will begin on January 1, 2026 and end December 31, 2028. Nominations may originate from individuals (including self-nominations), APA boards and committees, APA divisions, and state, provincial and territorial psychological associations (SPTAs).
Committee Mission
The ACC is responsible for evaluating and recommending to the Board of Directors annual advocacy priorities with respect to impact on both the discipline of psychology and the professions of psychologists in scientific, educational, public interest, health service practice and applied practice settings. Within APA/APA Services’ integrated c3/c6 advocacy model, the ACC is responsible for developing a highly inclusive and transparent input process that recognizes the importance of both long-term advocacy goals, and the need for agility in carrying out advocacy priorities in a fast-paced political environment.
Committee’s Charge per the APA Services Bylaws
“…There shall be an Advocacy Coordinating Committee (ACC) whose responsibility shall be to evaluate and prioritize advocacy goals with respect to impact on both the discipline of psychology and the professions of psychologists in scientific, educational, public interest, health service practice and applied practice settings. ACC shall consist of no fewer than 12 members who shall broadly represent all aspects of the Corporation’s diverse membership including disciplinary focus, demographic diversity, student membership, and members at all career stages, and in various employment settings. The members of the ACC shall be chosen by the Board of Directors based on a nominating process set forth in rules adopted by the Board of Directors that are designed to achieve the representational goals set forth in this paragraph…”
Nominee Qualifications
- The Board of Directors is seeking a balanced ACC that broadly represents all aspects of APA’s membership including disciplinary focus, geographic diversity, diversity of career stage (including student membership) and various employment settings.
- Policy or advocacy experience, as well as experience in APA/APA Services governance, divisions and/or SPTAs, are desired.
- Members of the APA Council of Representatives are eligible to serve concurrently on the ACC, but members of other APA and APA Services boards and committees may not serve concurrently on the ACC.
- The Board of Directors is seeking individuals with creative problem-solving expertise in different advocacy settings to advance the association’s priorities, including Congress, Federal agencies, state government, local government, community organizations, private industry and more.
- Members should be constituents of the U.S. Congress (reside in a district or state represented by a member or delegate of the United States Congress).
Responsibilities
- Members of the ACC are expected to attend all called meetings of the whole committee and actively participate in at least one of the ACC’s subcommittees as well as review proposed APA Council of Representatives New Business Items (NBI) .
- It is anticipated that the committee will have at least one in-person meeting in Washington, DC, and bi-monthly virtual meetings (on the Second Wednesday of the Month).
- ACC members will be invited to actively participate and travel to at least one APA Advocacy event annually (which may include Advocacy Summits, trainings, or Psychology PAC events).
- ACC members are expected to keep abreast of significant advocacy developments and initiatives through the review and sharing of periodic updates. Members are encouraged to share advocacy goals across platforms and social media and respond to action alerts.
- ACC members may be asked to serve as a liaison to various APA governance groups.
How to Apply
Nominees must be members, graduate student affiliates of APA, or non-psychologists with relevant state advocacy or leadership experience. Each nomination must be thoroughly completed and accompanied by the required supporting documents as outlined below:
- Curriculum vitae
- Brief statement of interest (max 200 words)
APA is engaged in a process of transformation, placing a greater emphasis on making an impact that clearly benefits society and improves lives. In February 2024, the Council of Representatives adopted a revised strategic plan that sets APA’s organizational priorities for the next three to five years. Boards and committees are working in an integrated, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary manner since no single board or committee can achieve any of the plan’s objectives on their own. Given the importance of this approach to the Association’s strategic priorities, APA encourages nominees to review the strategic plan to become familiar with the larger context in which their expertise and interests will contribute to APA's success.
Further information regarding the Advocacy Coordinating Committee may be found at https://www.apaservices.org/advocacy/governance.
Questions may be directed to Andrew Ferreira, Director of Governance and Operations, at aferreira@apa.org.
BOARD OF SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE (BSA)
(One member to be appointed for a 3-year term)
The BSA is receiving nominees for one seat on the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA) with a term ending on December 31, 2028. This call for nominations is to fill the BSA seat.
Nominees should be knowledgeable about education and training in psychology and have had broad, national exposure to multiple aspects of the profession. In addition, nominees should "…reflect individual and cultural diversity and the breadth of psychology as a discipline.”
Eligibility. Individuals eligible for the BSA seat should demonstrate the following:
- Tenure in an academic leadership position
- Expertise in generating psychological science, via research publications and other avenues
- Experience in teaching scientific psychology at the graduate level
- Knowledge of and experience with accreditation processes at program and/or institutional levels
- Understanding of current higher education policy at the national level
Commitment. APA-CoA members must commit to:
- Meeting four times per year for approximately four days each (Wednesday through Saturday) using a virtual or hybrid format. Three of the meetings are “program review meetings.”
- Considerable preparation for the program review meetings. Each member will serve as a reviewer for 5 to 8 programs, with an expected review preparation time of 5 to 15 hours per review. Reviews are completed within four weeks of the three program review meetings.
- Preparation for policy discussions including topics such as provisions of the accreditation standards as well as the general conduct of the accreditation review process.
- Participation in a CoA work group (e.g., Communication, Training, Research, or Complaints) and a policy group (e.g., Master’s, Doctoral, Internship, or Postdoctoral Residency)
Other potential service. Beyond the expectations described above, other potential service tasks for CoA members may include:
- Preliminary reviews of self-studies from applicant programs
- Chairing or co-chairing a program review panel during a program review meeting
- Serving as a chair or co-chair of a work group or policy group
- Conducting workshops for site visitors or training directors
- Participating in CoA governance via membership on the CoA executive committee
- Occasionally participating in special site visits
Nomination Process & Details:
- The term of service for the seat is January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028.
- Based on the APA Association Rules governing simultaneous service, nominees may not hold any other APA elected or appointed position during their term.
- Nominees are asked to confirm their availability to attend all the 2026 meetings listed below.
- New member/liaison program review training (hybrid) – February 4
- CoA Policy meeting (hybrid) – February 5-7, 2026
- Spring meeting (hybrid) – April 15 - 18, 2026
- Summer meeting (fully remote) – July 15 – 18, 2026
- Fall meeting (hybrid) – October 21 – 24, 2026
Nominations must include a current vita. Self-nominations are welcome.
Please read all questions carefully and answer as completely as possible. Required information is marked with an asterisk and must be completed in order for your nomination to be considered. Your application must be "Submitted as Final" by 11:59pm (EDT) on July 18, 2025
APA is an accredited nongovernmental organization (NGO) at the UN where it holds special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is associated with the Department of Global Communications (DGC). These credentials allow psychologist Representatives to serve as advocates at the UN. APA’s UN team consists of 8 psychologists: one Main Representative, who is an APA staff member, a Lead Representative, and six volunteer Representatives. The APA team fosters dialogue and information exchange between APA, UN and member state staff, and other NGOs to encourage the development of psychologically-informed policies and programs to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The APA UN Representatives advance the APA strategic plan by making a positive impact on critical societal issues, embracing a global perspective, and promoting human rights. Based on APA advocacy goals and UN initiatives, APA volunteer Representatives collaborate with APA offices and volunteer leaders, the global psychology community, UN Representatives in Geneva, and other NGOs to develop substantive input to the UN, impacting social issues and human rights around the world. They do this through, for example, developing and disseminating to the UN position papers or fact sheets; organizing and participating in workshops, seminars, and side events; and disseminating to the APA membership information about UN priorities and events.
Volunteer Requirements
Appointments are for a 3-year term (the first year is probationary), with the potential for one 3-year term renewal. The time commitment averages 5 hours per week.
Representatives are preferably based in or near New York City (NYC), or they may be based elsewhere in the country or the world. NYC-based Representatives will participate in both in-person and virtual activities, while Representatives more than 50 miles outside of the New York metro area will participate virtually via videoconference and other forms of electronic communication and contribute to written documents and other materials. They may choose to attend in-person events at their own expense. Monthly team meetings are scheduled at a convenient time for the majority of the Representatives, most of whom are based in NYC.
These are unpaid, volunteer positions. APA reimburses Representatives for local travel within a 50-mile radius of NYC (including travel from suburban areas) on public transportation or for parking costs; membership on up to two UN-NGO committees; and pre-approved direct costs (i.e., registration fees). APA does not reimburse travel and registration costs for the APA Annual Convention.
The online nomination packet must include an application letter (no longer than 750 words) entailing a brief statement of interest that highlights your skills, experience, and interest in this position. Applicants should be specific with reference to ongoing or upcoming UN activities to which psychology can contribute. Nomination applications must be received in their entirety by December 6, 2024 and can be submitted HERE.
