Presidential Programming

This year's convention theme, Lead Through, is not a call to step up. You are already leading, in big ways and small, through the work you do and who you strive to be for our field and our communities. Lead Through is an acknowledgment that leadership, in all its forms, is what psychologists do: in practice, in research, in academia, and in places society hasn't centered.

My presidential theme, Radically Well, Together!, is both a commitment and a challenge. Wellness should not be an afterthought. It is essential infrastructure for our work and our lives. Wellness cannot flourish in isolation. It requires better systems, strong communities, and a willingness to reimagine what it truly means to be well "together." How do we empathize beyond the boundaries of personal interest? How do we extend generosity, especially in times of fear and retrenchment? It is in these difficult spaces where we are invited to be brave. It is in these trying yet familiar times that the power of our shared commitment to a better world becomes most necessary and most possible.

The sessions I have curated for APA 2026 treat these not merely as ideals, but as invitations to connect across difference in pursuit of our collective wellness. We will explore how psychological expertise is expanding beyond traditional boundaries, and what it means to build workplaces, systems, and careers where well-being is not an add-on but a foundation for a world that holds the dreams and aspirations of our tomorrows.

100 Psychologists Rising amplifies psychologists working in non-traditional contexts to inspire the field's evolution beyond conventional boundaries. This initiative aims to inspire students, early-career psychologists, and professionals considering career pivots by demonstrating how psychology can transcend traditional boundaries and create meaningful impact across diverse sectors. Learn more about innovative applications of psychological science across diverse sectors at this TED Talk-style session.

Plus, join the awardees at the Gathering Place in the Solutions Center following the session for an inspiring meet-and-greet.

Give back to the Washington, DC, community by volunteering to host a booth at the APA 2026 Community Engagement Wellness Fair, organized by Division 45 and 2026 APA president, Dr. Wendi S. Williams, in collaboration with the DC Psychological Association. As communities of color continue to face unique stressors and significant barriers to culturally responsive mental health care, this fair creates space for healing, resilience, and connection for local residents. DC community members are invited to explore interactive wellness booths grounded in the healing traditions, resilience, and cultural strengths of communities of color—featuring experiences like storytelling, mindfulness, art, and more.

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It is with great joy that I welcome you to APA 2025 in Denver, Colorado! Whether you are joining us in person amid the beautiful Rocky Mountain landscape or connecting virtually from across the globe, you are an essential part of our professional community.

This year’s convention theme—Perspectives Power Possibilities—celebrates the wide array of perspectives and expertise that strengthen our profession and the collective impact we have on societal well-being. In a world facing uncertainty, our profession stands as a beacon of understanding, healing, and positive change.

APA 2025 is about more than your growth as a professional—it’s also about coming together as a community. Throughout these days, I invite you to prioritize connection and belonging, focus on small meaningful actions, and practice mindfulness by observing and naming our collective experiences and interconnectedness. In doing so, we draw strength from one another and from those resilient individuals who came before us.

I encourage you to approach each session, conversation, and interaction with openness and curiosity. Connect and engage at social events for those attendees in Denver or in live chats for virtual attendees, share your insights generously, and receive others’ perspectives with compassion. The collective wisdom in our community flourishes when we engage fully with one another.

As we gather in Denver, let us remember that what we do each and everyday matters. I look forward to learning alongside you and being inspired by you and your dedication to our field, to society, and to humankind.

With gratitude and anticipation,

Debra M. Kawahara, PhD
President, American Psychological Association

Thursday, August 7

Friday, August 8

Saturday, August 9

Presidential Opening Session

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Main Stage

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.

Presenters:

Jason Cantone, JD, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Federal Judicial Center
Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, CEO, American Psychological Association
Debra M. Kawahara, PhD, 2025 American Psychological Association President, Alliant International University - Calif
Eric Liu, CEO, Citizen University
Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, PhD, Founder and Director, Fourth Dimension Consultancy, Immediate Past Chair, Amnesty International
Susan Opotow, PhD, Social and Organizational Psychologist, City University of New York
Rick Waters, Executive Director, Denver Indian Center, Inc.

Engaging Psychology's Future: Join us in inspiring high school and community college students about diverse Psychology careers

8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Room 304

Join us in inspiring high school and community college students about diverse Psychology careers. The APA Engaging Psychology’s Future presidential initiative task force will showcase Psyched for Success events held around the U.S. and will invite participants to host events during Fall 2025.

Session Co-chairs:

Jaye Van Kirk, MA, San Diego Mesa College
Kathryn B. Anderson, PhD, Our Lady of the Lake University

Presenters:

Debra M. Kawahara, PhD, 2025 American Psychological Association President, Alliant International University - Calif
Jessica S. Reinhardt, PhD, Temple University
Heather Schoenherr, Psi Beta Honor Society
Hideko Sera, PsyD, Executive Director of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Morehouse College
Catherine Vieira-Baker, PhD, Psychologist, South Coast Educational Collaborative
Virginia Welle, MS, Chippewa Falls Senior High School

Buddhist Psychotherapy: Connecting Early Buddhism to Mindfulness and Western Psychotherapy

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Mile High Ballroom 2-3, Feature Stage

CE Credits: 1

Mindfulness is a concept that migrated from Buddhism to psychology. Mindfulness is used as a technique without a theoretical context. One psychologist, a Buddhist academic and practitioner (Tien Liang), teamed up with a multicultural feminist psychologist (Debra Kawahara) to ‘translate’ the fundamentals of Buddhism into a theoretical framework for psychotherapy.

Presenters:

Debra M. Kawahara, PhD, 2025 American Psychological Association President, Alliant International University - Calif
Liang Tien, PhD, Alliant International University

Midlife and Menopause Health and Wellbeing: A Critical Conversation about Research and Clinical Care

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Room 303

Individuals traversing menopause, a major midlife transition, often experience multiple complex physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sexual, relationship and professional challenges and opportunities. This critical conversation with interprofessional experts will highlight pressing issues in research and clinical care to improve health and wellbeing during midlife and the menopause transition across diverse communities.

Presenter:

Debra M. Kawahara, PhD, 2025 American Psychological Association President, Alliant International University – California
Helen L. Coons, PhD, President and Clinical Director, Women's Mental Health Associates, Women’s Mental Health Associates
Rebecca C. Thurston, PhD, Assistant Dean for Women’s Health Research; Director, Center for Women’s Biobehavioral Health Research; Endowed Professor of Psychiatry & Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
Vivian Ota Wang, PhD, Deputy Director, NIH Office of Research on Women's Health
Luz M. Garcini, PhD, Rice University

Disaster Preparedness Response & Recovery: 2025 Presidential Initiative Progress

3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Room 304

This discussion will present the workgroup's progress on Dr. Kawahara's Presidential Initiative focusing on disaster preparedness, response and recovery from a participatory, community-based approach. Progress on the task force's three work streams will be presented with an opportunity for feedback from participants regarding gaps seen in their communities related to mental health needs.

Presenters:

Kathleen Brown
Lisa M. Brown, PhD, Palo Alto University
Daniel Dodgen, HHS/ASPR/IO
Melissa Brymer, PhD, UCLA-NCCTS
Annette M. La Greca, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics, University of Miami