Yale's Alan E. Kazdin Named President of the American Psychological Association

Alan E. Kazdin, the John M. Musser Professor of Psychology, Child Psychiatry, and Institute for Social and Policy Studies at Yale, has been named President of the American Psychological Association (APA), the largest association of psychologists worldwide.

Kazdin, who also directs the Yale Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic, will begin his leadership of the 150,000-member organization on January 1, 2007, as President-Elect and then in 2008 as President. The APA seeks to advance scientific interests and inquiry, and the application of research findings to the promotion of health, education, and the public welfare.

“Alan Kazdin’s combination of clinical, administrative and scientific expertise makes him a uniquely qualified leader of the APA,” said Yale President Richard C. Levin. “His energy and passion for advancing the field of psychology will be a great asset to the association.”

Kazdin is focused on advancing psychological science and service on a world stage and in the areas of diversity, children and families, and social policy. “The contributions of psychology are now global as we work with other countries and organizations to address health issues or the traumas of war and natural disasters,” said Kazdin. “Understanding diversity, culture and identity will help develop more sensitive services in our own country and on a world stage.”

“I am eager to work with APA members, the Council of Representatives, State Organizations and APA Divisions, and Directorates,” Kazdin added. “I am also interested in partnering with other disciplines and professional organizations to increase our impact, to advance science more generally, and to make more prominent the critical role of psychology and psychological research in serving the public.”

Kazdin has served as Chair of the Department of Psychology at Yale and as Director of the Yale Child Study Center. He has been Director of Psychiatry Services at Yale-New Haven Hospital, overseeing emergency room consultation and liaison services for children. He also trains graduate students and supervises therapists and therapists in training in conjunction with the School of Medicine.

For over 30 years, Kazdin and his students have conducted programmatic research on clinical dysfunction and treatments for children and families. The research, conducted at the Yale Child Center and Child Conduct Clinic has identified effective treatments for children with severe aggressive and antisocial behavior.

Kazdin’s work has been recognized through ongoing National Institutes of Health funding support, including two research career awards and a 10-year MERIT award from 1987 to 1997. He has also published over 600 articles and has authored or edited 43 books. He served as Editor of the “Encyclopedia of Psychology,” Editor of “Current Directions in Psychology Science,” and Co-editor of the “Annual Review of Psychology.” He has also edited a book series in psychology by Yale University Press.

Kazdin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at San Jose State University and his doctorate in clinical psychology from Northwestern University. After several years on the faculty of Pennsylvania State University, where he studied adult psychotherapy and childhood emotional disorders, he moved to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to direct both inpatient and outpatient services for children with psychiatric disorders.

In 1989, Kazdin joined the faculty of Yale’s Department of Psychology, with a joint appointment in the Child Study Center. As chair of Psychology from 1997 to 2000, Kazdin hired over a dozen new faculty members, including five in the senior ranks. In addition, under his leadership, the department established a number of new programs, including one in neuroimaging and cognition.