The AAPA Leadership Fellows program is a leadership pipeline program that provides mentorship around professional development and a leadership pathway by serving as an entry point for leadership for those individuals who might not have other traditional methods of receiving opportunities and mentorship toward leadership in AAPA. For example, the program works to be inclusive to early career members who come from less recognized psychological disciplines and those who could benefit from more focused mentorship that leads to AAPA leadership. The program seeks to diversify the leadership by providing Fellows with mentors and leadership experience in AAPA. The program facilitates the development of AAPA leaders who will contribute to advancing Asian Americans, multiculturalism, and social justice within psychology and the association and to serve as leaders in other academic and organizational settings.
Fellows selected for the program will participate in several trainings, receive individual and group mentoring from experienced leaders in AAPA and Past Fellows, observe and participate in AAPA Executive Committee sessions, complete a year-long Fellows’ project, and present their experiences at the 2015 AAPA conference (attendance at midyear meetings, if applicable).
Fellows’ Projects
Working closely with a Project Mentor, Fellows will assume primary responsibility for a Fellow’s Project associated with AAPA initiatives and activities. Past examples of fellows’ projects are provided below. Project format and content and are dependent on Fellow’s interests.
- Creating fact sheets for bullying and suicide among Asian Americans
- Aiding in drafting grant proposals for CNPAAEMI Leadership Fellows program
- Assisting state organizations with the creation of a mental health Information Sheet for California Insurance Programs
- Attendance at the California Leadership and Advocacy Conference as an AAPA representative with a report to the Newsletter
- Participation on the Social Justice Task Force for the creation of the AAPA Social Justice Standing Committee program
The specific goals and outcomes for each Fellow in relation to her/his project will be developed in collaboration with project mentors. AAPA Fellows participate in the Executive Committee throughout their fellowship year to ensure a connection between the Fellows and AAPA leadership.
Fellows will receive a stipend in the first year to defray travel costs for each required meeting (i.e., AAPA Toronto and midyear meeting TBD or other agreed upon professional conference or meeting, maximum of $750 per trip, up to $1500 per fellow for the entire year). Additional costs of travel and participation will be at fellows’ expense.
Applicant Criteria
Applicants must be AAPA members who have completed their doctoral degree by August 31, 2014. Preference will be given to applicants who have some prior leadership experience in local contexts (e.g., within their graduate program) but who have not had leadership experience at the national level within psychology (e.g., held formal leadership positions in APA or other national psychological associations or served in any capacity on the AAPA Executive Committee). Individuals who have had limited opportunities to become more involved in leadership roles within AAPA and other organizations (e.g., current mentors are not involved in AAPA, underrepresented professional interests or personal backgrounds) are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Process
Applications should include (a) the required cover sheet (attached and also available at the AAPA website, https://aapaonline.org/), (b) the applicant’s CV (no more than 3 pages, please include a section detailing prior leadership experience and the names of 2 professional references), (c) a short statement (no more than 1500 words) describing the reasons for applying, the desired outcome for the applicant, and the reason for interest in the Fellows program, and (d) one letter of reference from an individual familiar with your professional work and past leadership experiences.
Please send electronic applications by November 17, 2014, to the Leadership Fellows Chairs (Nellie Tran and Cindy Liu): ntran@mail.sdsu.edu and cliu@bidmc.harvard.edu. Adobe Acrobat’s Portable Document Format (*.pdf) is preferred and Microsoft Word format (*.doc, *docx) is acceptable.
Download the AAPA Leadership Fellows Program call for applications