Executive Director

Tonie Marie Quaintance, PhD Candidate

The Executive Director is a non-voting, salaried position appointed by the Board with an indefinite term.  The Executive Director is responsible for general operations of the Association business.

President

Karen Ferguson, Ph.D.

The President presides over the meetings of the association and acts as Chairperson of the Board.  The President also exercises general supervision over the affairs of the association. The President's term is one or two years.

President Elect

Jennifer Beathe, Psy.D.

The President-Elect assumes and performs the duties of the President in his or her absence.  The President-Elect also assumes the duties of Secretary or Treasurer should these Board Members be absent. The President-Elect succeeds the President at the termination of the President's term of office. The President-Elect's term is one or two years.

Past President

Denise Dillard, Ph.D.

The Past President serves on the Board for an additional year following his or her term as President.

Secretary

Carey Edney, Ph.D.

The Secretary creates a record of all the meetings of the Association and Board of Directors. The Secretary's term is two years.

Treasurer

Denise Dillard, Ph.D.

The Treasurer is custodian of the Association funds, responsible for deposits and disbursements.  The Treasurer also provides accounting of the Association's financial activity and status. The Treasurer's term is two years.

Members-at-Large

Pamela Hays, Ph.D., Susan LaGrande, Ph.D.,  Mike Blakey, M.S., Maryam Bassir, Psy.D., Jaedon Avey, Ph.D. Candidate, Allen Levy, M.S.

Members-at-Large serve as a liaison between the general AK-PA membership and the Board, working to form and chair committees for various special projects. The MAL term is two years.

Representative to the APA Council of Representatives

David Sandberg, Ph.D. 

The American Psychological Association's Council of Representatives is its major legislative and policy setting body.  The Council has full power and authority over the affairs and funds of the Association. The business of the Council is multifaceted, including reviewing and developing changes in the bylaws, overseeing and directing the over 100 million dollar annual budget, determining the position of APA on social and governmental issues, and determining the over all direction of the association, not to mention the review and approval of the numerous reports submitted by the many committees and directorates that make up the rest of APA’s governance. The Council of Representatives meets twice each year: at the end of February and at the time of the annual convention in August.  Representatives to the Council are elected by the APA divisions and by the State and Provincial Psychological Associations.  APA's Council of Representatives Page.

Federal/State Advocacy Coordinator (FAC) & Legislative Chair

Robert Lane, Ph.D. (Federal Advocacy Coordinator), Phil Baker, Ed.D. (Legislative Chair)

The goal of the Federal/State Advocacy Coordinator (FAC) is to cultivate and strengthen relationships with the Alaska and the Federal Congressional officials and to develop and maintain an effective grassroots network of psychologists within Alaska.  The FAC is appointed by the president and serves a one-year term.  The FAC appoints a Legislative Chair that focuses more specifically on legislative matters within Alaska.  Current projects include recruiting a lobbyist and developing legislation to create a Legal Defense Fund for mental health professionals. You can read about legislative activities and the current agenda in the Legislation Section.

APA Graduate Students (APAGS) Representive

Heather Robinson, PhD Student

APAGS' mission is to:  Promote the highest standards in the research, teaching and practice of psychology to further the education and development of all psychology students; represent all graduate study specialties of psychology, facilitating information exchange between these groups; promote leadership development to communicate and advocate for students' concerns; establish and maintain channels of communication between APAGS and schools, universities, training centers, institutions and other members of the psychological community.  The group is critical in providing APA, its boards and committees, and other allied psychological/health-care entities with students' perspectives on issues of training and education, professional practice, diversity, psychological science, resource needs, legislative advocacy, public policy, public education and professional development, just to name a few. APA Graduate Students Page.

Continuing Education Committee Co-Chairs

Patricia Sandberg, Ph.D. and Allen Levy, M.S.

The Continuing Education Director is appointed by the president, serves a three year term and is responsible for conducting the Continuing Education Programs that AK-PA presents several times each year. You may contact the current Continuing Education Director via email at continuinged@ak-pa.org.

Psychology in the Workplace Network (PWN) Coordinator

Currently Vacant

Advancing the well-being and effectiveness of people at work

The Psychology in the Workplace Network (PWN) is a network of more than 50 psychologists representing state, provincial and territorial psychological associations (SPTAs) and some APA divisions. The PWN works to strategically position psychology in a leadership role within the marketplace by developing strong collaborative relationships with the business and employer community and educating them about the roles and value of psychology in the workplace. One representative is appointed by each SPTA or division. The PWN is overseen by APA’s Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice (CAPP) and supported by the Practice Directorate’s Marketing and Business Development Department. The network meets at an annual PWN Business Meeting, as well as the APA Convention and uses written and electronic communication to facilitate the network’s activities between meetings.

The PWN is one of the many Practice Directorate initiatives intended to address marketplace concerns, and it is intended to function for workplace issues in the same way the Federal Advocacy Coordinators function to advocate for legislative issues in Congress, and the way the Public Education Coordinators (PEC) function with regard to public education.

For more information about the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program and resources, including research articles and practical tools to help employees and organizations thrive, visit www.phwa.org.

Public Education Coordinator (PEC)

Mark Smedley, Ed.D.

The Public Education Campaign (PEC) Coordinator works to educate the public about psychological issues and concerns, as well the types of work that psychologists do.  In recent years, State PEC Coordinators have worked with the American Psychological Association's Public Education Campaign to disseminate information about recent topics such as building resiliency in adults, teens and and children, and preventing school violence.

Ethics Committee Chair

Linda Webber, Ph.D.

The Ethics Committee is available for consultation with members about ethics issues that may arise in psychology practice.

Rural Health Coordinator

Pamela Hays, Ph.D.

The mission of the American Psychological Association’s Committee on Rural Health (CRH) is to improve rural healthcare through psychology and to increase psychologists’ awareness of rural perspectives.  A recent initiative has been to create a state-by-state network of identified Rural Health Coordinators to participate in conjunction with the CRH in activities that promote psychology in rural areas. 

Diversity Delegate to APA’s State Leadership Conference

Christine Sam, M.S. 

APA’s Committee of State Leaders, reflecting its commitment to the development of ethnic diversity throughout the association and particularly in state leadership, has encouraged each state to identify a “Diversity Delegate” to attend the annual State Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.  Past delegates fully funded by APA have been Dr. Denise Dillard and Dr. Maryam Bassir. The Diversity Delegate additionally chairs AK-PA's Diversity Committee.

Disaster Response Network Coordinator

Susan LaGrande, Ph.D.

The Disaster Response Network (DRN) Coordinator works in partnership with APA and the American Red Cross to encourage recruitment, training, retention, and participation of psychologists trained in disaster response in order to offer pro bono assistance to relief workers, victims, and victims’ families after manmade or natural disasters. In addition to the Red Cross, the DRN Coordinator fosters relationships with other state and local emergency services such as police and fire departments.

Technology Co-Chairs

Peter Strisik, Ph.D. & Jaedon Avey, Ph.D. Candidate

The Technology Chair is a board appointed position with a two year term.  The Technology Chair leads the Technology Committee, which investigates, recommends, implements, and maintains technological aspects of the organization.  The Committee is also responsible for developing and maintaining the organization website, and monitoring and maintaining the email discussion lists. You may contact the current Technology Chair via email at .

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