2025 Division Officer Election Opens May 8

SOCIETY OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

DIVISION 12

Election Closes June 6, 2025

We would like to introduce our 2025 Slate for the 2025 Society of Clinical Psychology, Division 12 Election.  Voting Members, those who are fellows and/or Full Members of the Society of Clinical Psychology and APA are eligible to vote beginning May 8. The election will run through June 6, 2025. You will be able to vote via the APA Website.  You will receive an email from APA regarding the election and how to vote.

Please see all Candidate Statements below.  These will also be viewable on the Society’s website and with APA.

President-Elect Candidate(s)                                                                          

Damion Grasso, Ph.D.

 Candidate Statement:

I am a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. My clinical and research expertise focus on prevention and recovery in the context of family adversity, child maltreatment, and trauma, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications on these topics. I co-lead the UConn Health Family Adversity and Resilience Research Program and currently co-lead three NIH R01/U01 research studies. In addition to my academic endeavors, my passion for working with adversity-exposed youth extends to a non-profit youth mentoring program I founded in 2014 and currently operate on a volunteer basis. As a current APA Division 12 Fellow, I have been intimately involved with SCP since graduate school when I served as a campus representative. This evolved to include numerous leadership roles – most recently as Secretary on the Board and co-chair of the Committee on Science and Practice. In this latter position, I have played an instrumental role in advancing SCP’s efforts to evaluate and inventory empirically supported psychological treatments (ESTs). Indeed, my presidential initiative will prioritize these efforts by expanding our capacity to engage and inform the public with resources designed to promote ESTs, establish an informed consumer-base, and caution against the growing trend for non-efficacious and potentially harmful approaches. Given my 18-year history with SCP, I am very well-acquainted with our operational structure, membership, and aspirations for the future. As such, I am well-positioned to take on this role and eager to lead SCP, especially during these uncertain and challenging times.

Council Representative Candidate(s):                                                           

Helen L. Coons, Ph.D., ABPP

 Candidate Statement:

Thank you for the opportunity to seek a second term as a representative for Division 12/Society of Clinical Psychology (SCP) on the APA Council of Representatives (CoR). The SCP has been a primary professional home for me for decades. My professional experience in evidenced-based clinical program implementation and evaluation in women’s health settings for individuals from diverse and underserved communities, research, education and training, mentoring, and scholarship, has been entirely consistent with the SCP’s mission. Through extensive service in APA governance (Board of Directors, Finance Committee, CoR for Division 12 and 38, Board of Professional Affairs, etc.), I have demonstrated skill in working from within APA to improve our roles as psychologists, our field and our impact. SCP leadership on the CoR is essential as we face ongoing challenges with funding for our clinical services, basic and applied research, and the education and training of a diverse psychology workforce. We also need to effectively communicate the value of and translate our contributions to funders and policy makers. As one of your four SCP Representatives, I would continue to prioritize and advance the application of clinical science throughout APA initiatives and new policies. I would also continue to work strategically and collaboratively to address and advance diverse stakeholder needs. My leadership in academic medicine and public health, as a consultant in the private sector, and in practice in health care and independent settings have provided me with the skills to effectively promote SCP’s mission and priorities in APA policies and initiatives.

Misha Bogomaz, Psy.D., ABPP, AGPA-F

 Candidate Statement:

I am running for the American Psychological Association (APA) Council of Representatives because I am deeply committed to advancing the field of clinical psychology and ensuring that our profession continues to thrive during these turbulent times. My passion for psychology has driven my career, and I believe that serving on the Council will allow me to contribute meaningfully to the future of our field and Division 12.

One of my primary goals is to advocate for sound policies that allows for clinicians, researchers, and general public to flourish. As a clinician and administrator, I have seen firsthand the transformative power adopting human centric policies. Additionally, I am committed to addressing the mental health needs of diverse and underserved populations. Our field must be inclusive and rapidly responsive to the unique challenges of the next four years. I will work to advocate for policies and responses that support equitable access to mental health services for all individuals.

I appreciate your vote of confidence!

Secretary:                                                                                                   

Rachel Hershenberg, Ph.D., ABPP

Candidate Statement:

I am excited to run for the position of Secretary of APA Division 12.

National service has been a consistent passion of mine since my introduction to Division 12’s Committee on Science and Practice as a graduate student. I progressed to become a full committee member and then Co-Chair of the Committee on Science and Practice from 2016-2023, alongside my colleague (and now dear friend), Susan Raffa, PhD. Throughout my tenure on the Committee, we edited a special section in Psychotherapy, created content for Division 12’s Psychological Treatments website, and manualized and disseminated a standardized process for using the “Tolin criteria” to evaluate psychological treatments. Through these projects, I honed my ability to think critically about the diverse needs of clinical psychologists, from bench to bedside, and championed the integration of research into practice.

Most recently, I served as President of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology (SSCP; Division 12 Section 3) in 2024 and will remain on the Board of Directors as Past President for 2025. My Board involvement has been especially fulfilling, complementing my interdisciplinary work at Emory with rewarding interactions with psychologist colleagues at the national level who share the values of scientific integrity and integration of science in our roles as educators, clinicians, mentors, and advocates. I additionally serve a national role as a Specialty Board Officer for the American Board of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology.

As I look ahead to 2026, I am eager to continue my service to Division 12, my professional home throughout my career, and embrace a new leadership role. Serving on the Division 12 Board has been a long-standing aspiration, and I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute as Secretary. I have the time, energy, and organizational experience to excel in this role and support Division 12’s mission. Thank you for your consideration.