Pepperdine Professor Thema Bryant-Davis Named President-Elect of American Psychological Association (APA)

Congratulations to GSEP's very own Professor Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis (MDiv '16). Dr. Bryant-Davis is a Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Culture and Trauma Research Lab who has been voted president-elect of the American Psychological Association (APA), the leading scientific and professional organization representing the field of psychology in the United States. The 2021 election was open to APA members—which includes more than 122,000 clinicians, consultants, educators, researchers, and students—from September 15 through October 29, 2021.

"This historic vote means a lot to me as it is an endorsement of my platform, which centers around addressing trauma, loss, and inequities," said Bryant-Davis, the first elected APA president under the age of 50 and the fourth Black woman to be president. "As a trauma psychologist, I felt this was the right time for me to lead as we seek to address both COVID-19 recovery and racism, as well as other forms of oppression. This is a significant moment for Pepperdine because of its foundational values of seeing faith and scholarship in partnership rather than in opposition, especially as I continue to highlight the role that faith, spirituality, and religion play in the realm of mental health."

Congratulations Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis!