James W. Lichtenberg, PhD, ABPP – Chair
James W. Lichtenberg, PhD, ABPP, is Professor Emeritus of Counseling Psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology, former Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research for the School of Education, and former Director of the University Counseling Center--all at the University of Kansas.  He served as training director for the university’s counseling psychology program for 34 years.

He received his A.B. from Miami University (Ohio) and his PhD from the University of Minnesota.  He has served as President of APA’s Div. 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology), as its Vice President for Science, as co-chair for divisional task groups on Doctoral Program Discontinuance and on Masters-Level Competencies, and on its special task group on empirically supported interventions. Dr. Lichtenberg served nine years on the Executive Board of the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs (CCPTP)—twice as its Chair.  In 2006 he received CCPTP’s award for Lifetime Contributions to Education and Training in Counseling Psychology and in 2015 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award given on behalf of the Division 17’s Section for the Promotion of Psychotherapy Science.

Dr. Lichtenberg represented APA’s Board of Scientific Affairs on the APA’s Task Force on the Assessment of Competence in Professional Psychology, served as a member and Chair of the APA’s Committee on Accreditation, and served as Div. 17’s representative to APA’s Council of Representatives).   He is the recipient of APA’s 2017 Distinguished Contributions of Applications of Psychology to Education and Training Award.

Linda Maria Garcia-Shelton, PhD, ABPP – Vice Chair
Dr. Garcia-Shelton has spent the bulk of her career working in medical education settings as a primary care behavioral medicine specialist.  I also founded and directed psychology practicum, internship, and postdoc programs nested within departments of family medicine that functioned as integrated/collocated practices. When not in clinical practice she was administrator of 3 different psychology education programs. Over the years I wrote grants to US/HHS and to the State of California that resulted in direct funding of over $2.6 million to support the educational, clinical, and research work of her department.

Vladimir Nacev, PhD, ABPP – Treasurer
Vladimir Nacev, PhD is a clinical psychologist with 40 years of clinical experience and 30 years as a university professor at undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate schools. His academic postings include Georgetown University, George Washington Medical School, Argosy University, and University of Maryland University College where he is an adjunct professor. He is a board certified clinical psychologist with the American Board of Professional Psychology while also holding two other board certificates, three licenses, and membership in over half a dozen professional organizations. In addition, he completed a post-doctoral fellowship in child and adolescent psychology and has qualified as a forensic psychologist.

Dr. Nacev is a retired Navy Commander where he had varied clinical, administrative, and leadership assignments. For the past ten years of his civil service, he was at the Defense Health Agency, where he was a subject matter expert on PTSD, psychological health and resilience. Currently he is a consultant, specializing in clinical, health, and aviation psychology and leadership coaching.

Meghna Patel, PhD, ABPP – Secretary
Meghna Patel, PhD, ABPP, Secretary of the board of the American Board of Professional Psychology Foundation, is the team leader for the Military Sexual Trauma/Dialectical Behavior Therapy Team at the Atlanta VAMC. In addition to her clinical duties, she manages a multi-interdisciplinary team. Dr. Patel serves as an adjunct assistant professor for Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. As part of this position, she provides clinical supervision, presents seminars, and engages in research. Her clinical interests include cognitive behavioral treatments for PTSD among veterans with complex trauma histories. Her research interests include evaluating the effectiveness of treatments, developing and evaluating alternative treatments, and collecting neurobiological data within this population

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Board Members

Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP is a Licensed Psychologist and is Board Certified in Clinical Health Psychology.  She is the Director of the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Medicine in Atlanta, GA.   She addresses a variety of mental health concerns in her practice, with expertise in treating health related conditions. Dr. Kelly currently serves as Recording Secretary for the American Psychological Association.  A past president of the Georgia Psychological Association, she has served as the Federal Advocacy Coordinator for 16 years.  She is a recipient of APA’s State Leadership Award, Karl F. Heiser Advocacy Award, Legislative Award by the Georgia Psychological Association, and the APA Practice Organization’s Federal Advocacy Award.
 
Sally Barlow, PhD, ABPP
Sally H. Barlow, PhD, taught in the Psychology Department at Brigham Young University for 34 years where she received the university’s highest award for excellence in teaching.  She has co-edited 2 books, and authored a third with Oxford press, published many articles and books chapters.  An international expert in group psychotherapy, she has conducted workshops all over the world, and has served in many positions in professional organizations promoting the evidence-based practice of group psychology.

Robert G. Frank, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Frank began his educational career at the University of New Mexico where he completed his undergraduate coursework and remained to complete a PhD in Clinical Psychology.  His internship was at the University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.  His first academic appointment was at the University of Missouri School of Medicine where he rose through academic ranks to become a professor.  He served as Dean and Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology for the College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida for 12 years.   In 2007, he became Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kent State University.   In 2012, he returned to his alma mater to become the 21st President for the University of New Mexico.  He is now the Director of the Center for Innovation in Health and Education. He is also Professor for the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Department of Psychology.  He teaches in the College of Population Health on health policy and global health. He is a Specialist in Clinical Psychology and a Fellow of the APA (Rehabilitation, Health and Clinical Psychology divisions).

Ted Stachowiak, PhD, ABPP
Ted Stachowiak received his PhD in Counseling Psychology from Michigan State University (1974). He has served as associate director of community mental, director of two university counseling centers, and most his career as Associate Director of Clinical Services, Student Counseling Service, Texas A&M University.  After receiving ABPP Board Certification in the Specialty of Counseling Psychology (1984), he served as President of the American Board of Counseling Psychology (twice), and President of the American Academy of Counseling Psychology.  He currently serves as Mentor, Reviewer of Practice Sample, and Oral Examiner for Board Certification in the Specialty of Counseling Psychology, and Chair of Site Visit for APA Accreditation of Doctoral Internship Programs in Health Service Psychology.  He is the recipient of The Society of Counseling Psychology’s John D. Black Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Practice of Counseling Psychology.

Sherry Benton, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Sherry Benton is the founder and Chief Science Officer for TAO Connect, Inc. She is also a professor emeritus from the University of Florida’s Department of Psychology. She has more than 25 years of clinical and research experience in counseling psychology. She has been President of the American Academy of Counseling Psychology and President of the Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies and the Vice-President for Practice of the Society of Counseling Psychology (Division 17 of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Benton is a fellow in APA and a Diplomate in the American Academy of Counseling Psychology. She has publications in the areas of college student mental health, stepped care models of service, substance use and prevention, and digital behavioral health services. In addition, she has made many presentations on adapting services to the digital world, artificial intelligence and behavioral health, tele-behavioral health, and the future of psychotherapy. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Counseling Psychology for Extraordinary Service to Counseling Psychology and the Educational Advocacy, Distinguished Service Award from the American Psychological Association Board of Educational Affairs.

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David R. Cox, PhD, ABPP - Executive Officer ABPP
David R. Cox, PhD, ABPP is Executive Officer of the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is board certified in Rehabilitation Psychology and was a founding member of the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology.  Dr. Cox has served on the staff and faculty of U.C. San Diego, Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Florida.  He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association Divisions of Rehabilitation (22), Neuropsychology (40) and Independent Practice (42) and is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. He is a recipient of the Heiser Award of the American Psychological Association, the Lifetime Practice Excellence Award from APA Division 22, a past president of the Florida Psychological Association and recipient of that organization’s Distinguished Practitioner Award, Distinguished Service Award and Legislative Affairs & Public Policy Board Chapter Representative of the Year.  Dr. Cox has widely presented and published in the areas of rehabilitation, neuropsychology, and competency in professional psychology.
 
Joel C. Frost, EdD, ABPP - Representative, ABPP BOT
Joel C. Frost, EdD, ABPP, serves in an ex-officio capacity on the board of the American Board of Professional Psychology Foundation. He is the Secretary of the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is Chair of the ABPP Diversity Committee. He is board certified in Group Psychology. He is a Life Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and a Fellow of the American Board of Group Psychology, ABPP.

He is presently retired, having served as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Allied Health with Clinical Privileges (Psychiatry), Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. He was in Private Practice in Boston, MA for 30 years. His teaching, supervision, presentations, and publications have been in the areas of Gay Male Development, and Group Psychotherapy.

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Jared Skillings, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Jared Skillings is a licensed psychologist in Michigan and ABPP board-certified in three specialties: Clinical Psychology, Clinical Health Psychology, and Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology.  He is Chief of Psychology for the Spectrum Health System, a $5.2 billion enterprise in Grand Rapids, MI.  During his nearly 5 years of service, the system has grown from five behavioral health providers to over 40, including 27 psychologists.  Dr. Skillings is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Surgery at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.  His professional leadership roles include Chair of the APA’s Board of Professional Affairs (BPA), President-elect of the Michigan Psychological Association (MPA), Chair of the Council of Presidents of Psychology Specialty Academies (CPPSA), and Board of Trustees member with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).         

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Alessandra Shapiro, PsyD, ABPP
Alessandra Shapiro serves as the Administrator of the American Board of Professional Psychology Foundation. She is an early career psychologist board certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Alessandra is a new, proud mother to Lucy.