Standing Committees
Standing Committees
Chair: Chuck Benincasa, PsyD
This committee develops criteria for awards, proposes new awards and creates processes for selecting the recipients of those awards, which are announced annually.
Co-Chair: Melissa Brymer, Ph.D.
Co-Chair: Erika Felix, Ph.D.
Disasters are violently destructive events that initiate various levels of acute, persistent, and chronic stress. Some proportion of those who are most affected are likely to develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as other mental health problems. This committee focuses on strengthening the capacity of the Division of Trauma Psychology and its members to provide evidence-informed psychological support to disaster survivors across a variety of situations and settings. Additionally, this includes access to scientifically sound information regarding the epidemiology of the psychosocial sequelae of disasters and the risk and protective factors associated with greater or lesser resilience.
Chair: Maria Valgoi, Ph.D
This committee represents Division 56 to APA's Early Career Psychology Network, and coordinates ECP activities within Division 56.
Co-Chair: Anka Vujanovic, Ph.D.
Co-Chair: Christal Badour, Ph.D.
This committee encourages education and training at doctoral and post-doctoral levels in the science and practice of trauma studies, and oversees the creation of Continuing Education programs.
Chair: Charles Figley, Ph.D
Fellow status in APA is given to those who have made unusual and outstanding contributions to the field of trauma psychology. Their distinguished contributions are the foundation on which the future of trauma psychology builds. Fellows make on-going contributions to science, practice, and public policy through activities in this Division and in the field of psychology. Applications for fellow status are coordinated by the Fellows Committee.
There are two types of Fellows Applications: Initial Fellows & Current Fellows
A. APA members who are not Fellows of any APA division must meet APA Initial Fellow criteria, apply for Fellow Status according to APA procedures, and complete forms via the APA application portal.
In addition to meeting APA Fellow criteria, applicants must meet two or more of the specific Division 56 Fellow criteria, listed below:
- Being a pioneer in the recognition and application of trauma psychology
- Made important contributions to the scholarly literature in the field of trauma psychology
- Producing consistently outstanding instructional or training programs that educate the next generation of trauma psychologists or developing important innovations in teaching or education in the field.
- Demonstrating consistently outstanding clinical work with the traumatized as recognized by international or national groups through citations, awards, and other methods of recognition.
- Demonstrating consistently outstanding public service relevant to trauma psychology over many years that might include (a) leadership within Division 56; (b) testimony about trauma psychology before courts and Congressional committees or government commissions; (c) service on review panels (e.g., NIH, NSF); or (d) public education/advocacy.
- Demonstrating leadership in the area of trauma psychology across science, education, policy, and practice internationally and/or nationally.
Division 56 requires that all new Fellow application materials (including three letters of recommendation from APA Fellows, at least one of whom must be a Division 56 Fellow) be submitted through the APA portal by around November of each year. This timeframe allows the Fellows committee to review all materials, make a recommendation, and forward completed application materials to APA in time to meet their deadline.
B. If you are a current Fellow in another APA division, we ask that you write a letter describing the ways your work meets the above Division 56 Fellow criteria. We also ask for an updated CV and one (1) letter of recommendation from a current Division 56 Fellow (listed on our website): https://apatraumadivision.org/division-56-fellows/
Please submit these materials by e-mail directly to Charles Figley, charlesfigley@gmail.com. We accept these applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.
We encourage all who are interested and qualified to apply! Although self-nominations are welcome, if you know of someone who qualifies for Fellow status, please encourage them to apply. If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process please feel free to contact us directly.
Chair: Barbara Niles, Ph.D
This committee deals with all budgetary matters for the Division.
Co-Chair: Tyson D Bailey, Psy.D. ABPP
Co-Chair: Oona Appel, Psy.D
Psychological trauma is overrepresented in clinical and forensic populations. Research findings on the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), dissociation, neurological imaging, epigenetics, developmental trauma, complex trauma, and toxic stress have entered the legal arena. Hence, psychologists are increasingly offering trauma expertise in criminal, administrative, immigration, civil proceedings, correctional and post-correctional settings. Literature has established forensic psychology as a specialized area of practice that necessitates training. Unfortunately, much like trauma training in general, it is rare to find forensic training opportunities that are trauma-informed. Given the high prevalence of trauma, particularly complex presentations, in forensic samples, it is critical that Division 56 play a key role in guiding the conversation and education between two overlapping disciplines with large bodies of research and practice. Creating relevant training opportunities could help bridge the divide between forensic psychologists who may lack trauma expertise and trauma psychologists who may find themselves in court without much knowledge about forensic guidelines, research, trends, and practices.
The Forensics/Correctional Committee within Division 56 is focused on:
- informing and guiding Division 56 members on forensic and correctional guidelines, research, trends, and practices relevant to trauma psychology;
- identifying and disseminating information to students, practitioners, researchers, and educators;
- promoting and influencing trauma-informed policies within the legal arena; and
- creating partnerships with other disciplines (e.g., legal, judicial, law enforcement, etc.), institutions, organizations, and APA divisions to address research, funding, and dissemination of best practices in the assessment and treatment of trauma within forensic and correctional contexts.
Chair: Ayli Carrero Pinedo, Ph.D
Formed in 2020, the Inclusion, Diversity, Anti-Racism, Equity (I-DARE) Task Force served as a central driver for the Division's commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives. Taking a collaborative approach, the task force partnered with the consulting firm Dailey Innovations to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Division. Leveraging the consultant's findings and recommendations, the I-DARE Task Force played a key role in crafting a strategic plan for Division 56. Through in-depth analysis of the assessment, the task force identified six strategic goals, forming the core content of the Division's strategic plan.
Co-Chair: Duane Booysen, Ph.D.
Co-Chair: Akiko Kaji, Ph.D.
This committee insures that international issues are represented in division business and policies and fosters international collaboration and communication concerning trauma related issues including research, practice, training, and policy.
Co-Chair: Margo Jacquot, Psy.D., CSADC, BCETS
Co-Chair: Jeff Grand, PhD
This committee is responsible for recruitment of members and processing applications. Please send any questions or comments about the membership process to margojacquot@thejunipercenter.com.
Carlos Cuevas, Ph.D.., serves as chair of Nominations and Elections. Please contact that person if you are interested in any elected office in the Division. Nominations are due by January 15th of the year in which an election is held. For information about which offices are open in any given election, please check the Fall issue of the Newsletter.
Co-Chair: Hayley van Serke, Psy.D
Co-Chair: Michaela Mendelson, PhD
This group is concerned with all aspects of treating the effects of psychological trauma and will monitor the state of the field, identify areas of need for training and research, funding and dissemination, and look for ways to help provide informational resources to Division members. This committee is currently working on a number of projects including a project with Division 35 on curricula about violence against women and children, inclusion of a complex trauma diagnosis in the DSM V in collaboration with other groups within the field of trauma treatment, writing a Monitor article on trauma, developing training videos on trauma through APA, creating a current best practice standards for trauma treatment.
Co-Chair: Diane Elmore, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Co-Chair: Nida Corry, Ph.D.
The mission of the APA Division 56 Public Policy Committee is to share the scientific and clinical expertise of the division membership and the broader trauma field with policy makers to help inform and promote appropriate and effective public policies related to psychological trauma. The Public Policy Committee has been working on a variety of federal policy issues related to psychological trauma in conjunction with the Public Interest Government Relations Office at APA. These efforts have included sharing information and resources with policy makers, drafting and reviewing legislative proposals, recommending trauma experts for consultation and presentations and meeting with congressional offices, federal agencies, and stakeholder organizations.
2025 Program Chair: Robyn Gobin, PhD
This committee is responsible for organizing the annual APA convention program for the division. This includes soliciting and reviewing submissions for the convention, developing the convention program, and planning suite programming.
Chair: Jolin Yamin
This group develops content and standards for all of the division's publications:
Editor: Viann Nguyeng-Feng, Ph.D., MPH
Co-Associate Editors:
Vera Békés, Ph.D
Nicole Mantella, Ph.D
Editor: Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Ph.D
Co-Associate Editors:
Jack Tsai, Ph.D.
Zhen Cong, Ph.D
Sylvia Marotta-Walters, Ph.D
Sandra Mattar, Psy.D
Diane Elmore, Ph.D
Paul Frewen, Ph.D
Tyson D. Bailey, Psy.D., ABPP
Ian Stanley, Ph.D
Rachel Wamser-Nanney, Ph.D
Co-Chair: Ateka Contractor, Ph.D.
Co-Chair: Nicole Weiss, Ph.D.
The Science Committee monitors the state of the field, identifies areas of need for research, and provides informational resources to Division members regarding scientific research on trauma. We will also provide guidance to Division 56 leadership on an as-needed basis. Our goals include working on ways to make the science of psychological trauma more available to the general public in a way that is accurate. These include working on Wikipedia entries on psychological trauma and related issues and on conceptualizing and selling a better federal funding structure for trauma research.
Co-Chair: Rebecca Rampe, Ph.D.
The Social Media Committee develops and maintains the Division's social media presence, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Our goal is to communicate with members and engage with others who are interested in trauma. These channels will allow us to highlight current events regarding trauma, present highlights of work that Division members are doing in the field of trauma, and quickly communicate about events that are happening at the APA convention.
Chair: Amanda Acevedo, M.A., Ed.S.
This committee created a nationwide network of fellow students with interests in trauma, as well as a forum in which they can participate in current academic conversations and events regarding cutting-edge work within the field of trauma. Division 56 members can also join the Division 56 Student Listserv.
Chair: Joan Cook, Ph.D.
This committee is responsible for planning and organizing the Division 56 webinar series. Please contact the chair if you have suggestions for a topic or to request an opportunity to present.