APA Candidate
Dr. Rodney Lowman

Like our country, APA currently faces difficult times. The great strides that APA has made in the last decades—organizationally and for the discipline of psychology—currently confront the sharp reality that much of what we do, and what we stand for, is under attack. At the same time, APA itself has experienced organizational tensions that still need attention.

As an industrial-organizational and consulting psychologist, an educator (e.g., at Michigan, Duke, North Texas, CSPP), and as a senior leader in, and consultant to, many different types of organizations, I know first-hand the importance of effective leadership for helping to unite and sustain institutions through challenging periods. I’ve been a department chair, dean, provost, acting president/president of two universities, president of two psychological societies—most, turnaround situations. I have also consulted to a number of types of organizations both in the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors. I understand complex organizations and how to help them become more effective. I particularly enjoy leading in challenging times and start-ups. I’ve almost always had budgetary responsibility including in financially-distressed organizations.

My APA leadership roles have included: inaugural chair of the Council Leadership Team, and of the CEO’s Strategic Advisory Committee, three terms on Council, chair of the Boards of Professional Affairs, Convention Affairs, COPPS, and member of CPTA, the Ethics Committee, and the Ethics Code Task Force. Much of this work has dealt with policy creation and implementation. As a Fellow in APA Divisions 1/General/Interdisciplinary; 10/Creativity; 12/Clinical; 13/Consulting; 14/Industrial-Organizational; 17/Counseling; and 52/International, I recognize the importance of all areas of psychology for the fulfillment of APA’s mission. I am also a widely-published author/editor (21 books; 135 articles).

In closing, the current times are as challenging as any I’ve seen in my career. However with strong leadership we can successfully navigate the current chaos and crises.