HEADLINE EVENTS
Main Stage, Ballroom AB | In-Person and Virtual
lead through
the lifespan
Headline Events are dynamic, big-picture sessions designed to address the most pressing challenges facing psychologists — and society. This year, join us on the Main Stage to psychology is leading through each stage of life and each facet of wellness, from generating knowledge to offering guidance to advocating for change.
JUMP TO:
Thursday, August 6
HEADLINE EVENT
Presidential Opening Session
8:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. ET
Join APA's 2026 president, Wendi S. Williams, PhD to kick of APA 2026 with a celebration of psychology
Kick off APA 2026 with a celebration of psychology—its insights, its impact, and the people who make it possible—led by
Join us as we kick off three inspiring days of learning and connection with remarks from APA’s 2025 president, Dr. Debra Kawahara, and APA’s CEO, Dr. Arthur C. Evans, Jr., a powerful keynote presentation by Eric Lieu on responsible citizenship, and inspirational stories that highlight the “human side” of psychology. This energizing session will set the stage for exploring how engaging with an array of perspectives can power new possibilities in psychology, coming together as a community to celebrate the transformative potential of our profession.
for a conversation about what it means to be radically well — and what psychology makes possible when we pursue wellness together.
Speakers Include:
Linda Charmaraman, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Wellesley Centers for Women
Lisa Damour, PhD
Clinical Psychologist and New York Times Bestselling Author
Nikki Iyer
Co-Chair, Design It For Us
Ali Mattu, PhD
Clinical Psychologist and YouTuber
Eva Telzer, PhD
Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, UNC Chapel Hill
Brendesha Tynes, PhD
Professor of Education and Psychology, USC Rossier School of Education
Speakers Include:
Brendesha Tynes, PhD, Professor of Education & Psychology, USC Rossier School of Education
Eva Telzer, PhD, Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, UNC Chapel Hill
Linda Charmaraman, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Wellesley Centers for Women
Nikki Iyer, Co-Chair, Design It For Us
Lisa Damour, PhD, Clinical Psychologist & New York Times Bestselling Author
Ali Mattu, PhD, Clinical Psychologist & YouTuber
HEADLINE EVENT
Childhood Reconsidered: What Growing Up Digital Actually Does to Development
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET
Becoming yourself has always been psychology's territory—we understand identity formation, the developmental tasks of adolescence, and how young people try on selves and consolidate who they are. But the entire infrastructure of that process has shifted. Previous generations experimented privately, failed quietly, and had do-overs. This generation performs every version of self publicly, permanently, algorithmically amplified, and sometimes to AI audiences. Psychology is leading through this unprecedented shift—not judging or panicking but working in real time alongside families to understand what's actually happening and what we can do about it.
Speakers Include:
Linda Charmaraman, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Wellesley Centers for Women
Lisa Damour, PhD
Clinical Psychologist and New York Times Bestselling Author
Nikki Iyer
Co-Chair, Design It For Us
Ali Mattu, PhD
Clinical Psychologist and YouTuber
Eva Telzer, PhD
Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, UNC Chapel Hill
Brendesha Tynes, PhD
Professor of Education and Psychology, USC Rossier School of Education
Speakers Include:
Brendesha Tynes, PhD, Professor of Education & Psychology, USC Rossier School of Education
Eva Telzer, PhD, Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, UNC Chapel Hill
Linda Charmaraman, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Wellesley Centers for Women
Nikki Iyer, Co-Chair, Design It For Us
Lisa Damour, PhD, Clinical Psychologist & New York Times Bestselling Author
Ali Mattu, PhD, Clinical Psychologist & YouTuber
Friday, August 7
HEADLINE EVENT
Adulthood Unmoored: Psychology for the Overwhelmed
10–11 a.m. ET
Adulthood is genuinely, structurally hard right now. The relentless cognitive load of caregiving, work that never stops transforming, financial pressure, and relationships strained by impossible logistics—this isn't a personal failing; it’s the predictable result of how we've organized modern life. And these pressures aren't evenly distributed: race, class, caregiving burden, and access to resources all determine who bears the heaviest load. In this session, psychologists offer a genuine understanding of what chronic overwhelm does to people and practical frameworks for navigating impossible conditions without losing yourself in the process.
Speakers Include:
Thomas Curran, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, London School of Economics Curran
Jacqueline Mattis, PhD, Dean, School of Arts & Sciences, Rutgers University–Newark
Tessa West, PhD, Professor of Psychology, New York University
Speakers INclude:
Thomas Curran, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology, London School of Economics
Jacqueline Mattis, PhD
Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University–Newark
Clare M. Mehta, PhD
Professor of Psychology, Emmanuel College, Boston; Academic Visitor, Royal Holloway University of London
Tessa West, PhD
Professor of Psychology, New York University
Saturday, August 8
HEADLINE EVENT
The Aging Paradox: Change, Growth, and Psychology's Essential Role
1:30–2:30 p.m. ET
Aging can bring compounding challenges — cognitive changes, physical decline, social isolation, loss of purpose, and anxiety about end of life. Yet here's the paradox: research consistently shows that older adults report greater emotional well-being, clearer priorities, and deeper satisfaction than younger people. The brain doesn't simply decline, it reorganizes. People don't just lose, they refine. This session confronts the complexities of aging, exploring what it means to "age well," the barriers that make aging more difficult for some populations, and what psychology knows about helping people navigate this period of profound transition with their dignity and well-being intact.
Speakers Include:
Tanisha Hill-Jarrett, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, the UCSF Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center
Rachel Wu, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of California, Riverside
Speakers include:
Tanisha Hill-Jarrett, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, the UCSF Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center
Daniel Jimenez, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami
Thad Polk, PhD
Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan
Ann Steffen, PhD
Founders Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Missouri – St. Louis
Yaakov Stern, PhD
Florence Irving Professor of Neuropsychology, Columbia University Medical Center
Rachel Wu, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology, University of California–Riverside
Speakers, session times, and locations subject to change.
