The American Psychological Association (APA) has announced the appointment of Maysa Akbar as its Chief Diversity Officer (CDO).
The highly respected scientist-practitioner will assume her new post on 15th January 2021. Her role will be to infuse equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into the fabric of the association’s work.
Akbar is a leader and expert in EDI. Her work includes founding a clinical practice based in New Haven, Connecticut, that specialises in race-based trauma. She also set up a consulting firm and educational organisation focused on organisational cultural transformation, which will be a key aspect of the CDO position.
In addition, Akbar has developed cutting-edge programmes anchored in EDI for city governments, public schools and court systems, among other organisations. She also holds a faculty appointment at the Yale Child Study Center as an assistant clinical professor of cultural diversity and family therapy, teaching cultural humility and responsiveness. APA believes that Akbar’s experience in addressing EDI across various forms of human diversity will be a major asset to the profession.
CORE EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION VALUES
“APA is thrilled to welcome Dr Akbar as our new Chief Diversity Officer,” stated APA CEO Arthur C Evans Jr. “She is an authority on equity, diversity and inclusion, specialising in antiracism, racial justice and developing allies. Her career has been built on the mission of deepening psychology’s commitment to these precepts. We look forward to applying her skills, knowledge and strategic thinking to our work in transforming APA and the discipline of psychology.”
Evans believes that EDI are core values of the entire association, and essential for “optimal organisational functioning and a robust, impactful field of psychology”. “We look forward to Dr Akbar’s moving APA forward in this arena,” he added.
As the leading architect of APA’s evolving EDI framework, Akbar will work with APA staff, leaders and members to refine and build consensus for an overall plan, operationalise its goals and establish accountability metrics to monitor and ensure progress. She will serve as a spokesperson and advocate for EDI in the field of psychology, both within and outside the association. Akbar will also report directly to the CEO and will serve on the Executive Leadership Team.
BUILDING EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Commenting on the new role, Akbar stated: “There could not be a more auspicious time for me to assume this position. Working with APA staff and members to develop innovative strategies to help address long-standing and systemic barriers to equity will be critical to APA’s work in promoting EDI in the association, the discipline of psychology, and broader society. Issues related to building equity, diversity and inclusion are central to the evolution of workplaces and communities, particularly in this time of nationwide trauma with heightened awareness of racism.”
Before founding her own EDI-focused businesses, Akbar provided behavioural health consultation for early childhood programmes in schools and was a staff psychologist at a federally qualified health clinic in New Haven. She later spent nine years as a medical consultant at a consortium in Portland, Maine.
Akbar holds a PhD in clinical psychology from St. Louis University, a master’s in community psychology from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee and a BA in psychology from the State University of New York at Albany. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Akbar grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
Sign up for our newsletter
