LEAD Institute Update

LEAD Institute Update

By Erlanger “Earl” Turner, Ph.D
Chair, Leadership Education to Advance Diversity (LEAD) Institute

In June 2023, SCCAP hosted the 3rd bi-annual Leadership Education to Advance Diversity (LEAD) Institute. This year’s theme was Creating Space for Your Own Identity. The Institute was filled with excitement, joy, and community. We were pleased to have SCCAP President Yo Jackson, PhD, ABPP and APA President Thema Bryant share a welcome message and a call-to-action on advancing equity within the profession.

The LEAD Institute was originally created in 2018.  In 2019, our inaugural institute was held at Florida International University in Miami. The first cohort included 20 fellows and, over the years, the program has significantly grown. The most recent cohort was more than double in size. LEAD fellows also represented members from different intersecting identities (e.g. ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientations). The mission of LEAD is to offer professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities for students and early career professionals. Over the years, we have covered many topics that are important to the field including cultural sensitivity in clinical practice, navigating diversity challenges as a leader, and leveraging social media as a psychologist.  LEAD fellows are offered financial support to help them attend the APA conference and networking is fostered through our annual social hour at APA convention. Fellows are also strongly encouraged to collaborate with each other to present at conferences and publish their work. To date, over 100 SCCAP members have participated in the Institute as a LEAD fellow.

LEAD’s vision continues to center diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. During the pandemic, the 2021 LEAD Institute was held virtually and this format has continued this year. Despite the shift online, LEAD continues to have overwhelming interests as demonstrated by the increasing number of applications. Our fellows have also commented on how much they enjoyed the experience. I am hopeful that the LEAD Institute will return in person in the future.

Special Thanks to the LEAD Planning Committee!

The LEAD Institute would not be possible without the contributions of the committee. Thank you for all of your hard work! The 2023 LEAD Committee members included Arturo Corrales, Psy.D., Lynda Gibson, Ph.D., Khiela Holmes, Ph.D., Joyce Lui, Ph.D., Erica Musser, Ph.D. and Trista Perez Crawford, Ph.D.