As my term as President of the Society on Addiction Psychology draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on this past year with immense gratitude. It's been a wonderful (and lightning-speed) journey made possible by our dedicated board members and committee chairs—the true backbone of our Society. With over 1100 members strong, we represent some of the brightest minds in addiction psychology. I’ve been in awe as listserv requests come in and members immediately jump in to share thoughts, ideas, resources, and offerings. What an amazing network we have! Working alongside each of you has been an honor, and our shared commitment to this field has been nothing short of inspiring.
One of the standout moments for me this past year was attending our mid-year CPA conference in April in Denver. It was such a wonderful opportunity to connect, share ideas, and advance our field together, all while supporting our students and early career psychologists. The energy and engagement from everyone who attended was palpable and highlighted the vibrant spirit of our community. At the mentee/mentor lunch, the discussion at our table made me feel confident that our Society is in good hands with the next generation of addiction psychologists. A huge shout-out to Jordan Davis and Erin Deneke and the entire CPA Committee for organizing such a fabulous gathering.
Speaking of conferences, I’m incredibly excited about our upcoming APA convention in Seattle from August 8-11. Our division’s theme, "Reimagining Addiction: Centering Equity and Racial Justice in Addiction Research, Treatment, and Prevention," feels especially timely. In today's political climate, the need for thoughtful and inclusive approaches to addiction science and practice is critical. I’m so proud of the program that Christina Lee and Tessa Frohe have curated. How often do you go to a conference where the theme truly resonates throughout? Also, a huge shout-out to Lourah Kelley, who is stewarding our Early Career Psychologist poster session/social hour and providing travel support to 16 SoAP students and early career awardees to attend the conference through her perfectly scored NIAAA/R13. I’m confident that the discussions and insights that come out of our programming will drive meaningful change and deepen our understanding of addiction. Please check out the final program for Division 50 here.
Last but not least, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our board members and committee chairs. Your dedication, leadership, and guidance have continued to drive our accomplishments this past year, and I am excited to continue working toward ideas that have been sparked this year that I am confident will contribute to our division’s growth and our collective knowledge (e.g., SoAP sponsored clinically focused conference, expanding our CE offerings through the TPN network, Tech/Comms Committee revamping our SoAP website, etc. to name some initiatives I am most excited about). A huge thank you to our outgoing executive team: Aaron Weiner (Past President), Linda Rinehart (Secretary), Brandon Bergman (Member at Large, Science), and Bonnie Rowland (Senior Student Rep). Your service on the board has been invaluable, and I deeply appreciate all you’ve done. As we close this chapter, I’m thrilled to welcome our newly elected members: Noah Emery (President-Elect), Mary Beth Miller (Secretary), Cassandra Boness (Member at Large, Science), Katie Berry (Senior Student Rep), Corey Monley (Junior Student Rep) and of course, Susan Collins, who will be stepping into the role of President. The Division is in excellent hands.
Thank you all for your unwavering support throughout my tenure as President. I look forward to continuing to serve our division as Past President and beyond, and I am excited about the growth and achievements that lie ahead for our Society. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to addiction psychology.
Resources are available for those struggling with addiction and numerous effective treatments exist. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or a loved one, we encourage you to seek out help.