The Society For Military Psychology

Society Leadership Program

Dear ECP and Student Members: 
 
The Society for Military Psychology has a call for applicants to apply for the 2020 Society Leadership Program (SLP). The SLP is designed to inspire and develop our future leaders in military psychology. Participants will attend leadership training, receive mentoring, and complete a capstone leadership project related to the Society’s mission and current initiatives. Students in the SLP will attend ten hour-long virtual lessons with faculty and peers, attend the 2020 Midyear Executive Committee (EXCOM) Meeting held in February 19 (in person or via teleconference), attend the 2020 American Psychological Association (APA) Convention, be provided readings and mentorship, with a focus on developing leadership potential in broadly defined diverse and global contexts. Outcomes of the capstone leadership projects will be presented at the 2020 APA Annual Convention in Washington, DC. We expect graduates of SLP to commit to future service on Society committees and sections, as elected officers in the Society, and as leaders and advocates in a variety of positions in APA, their places of employment, and society at large.
 
We invite Early Career Psychologists (ECP; 10 years or less since doctorate) and psychology doctoral students who are interested in and committed to leadership in the Society to apply for the SLP. To apply for the SLP, please submit the application and supporting materials to Dr. Maurice Sipos at maurice.sipos@gmail.com by 1 December 2019.
 
Please email questions to below faculty using the subject line SLP QUESTION with your initials.
Co-Chair, Stephen Bowles, PhD lifewellbeing@gmail.com
Co-Chair, Maurice Sipos, PhD maurice.sipos@gmail.com

2019 Society Leadership Program
Call for Applications
DUE 1 December 2019
The Society Leadership Program (SLP) is designed to inspire and develop our future leaders in military psychology. Participants will attend leadership training, receive mentoring, and complete a capstone leadership project related to the Society for Military Psychology’s mission and current initiatives. Students in the program will attend the 2020 Midyear Executive Committee (EXCOM) Meeting held in February (in person or via teleconference), attend the 2020 American Psychological Association (APA) Convention, be provided readings and mentorship, with a focus on developing leadership potential in broadly defined diverse and global contexts. Outcomes of the capstone leadership projects will be presented at the 2020 APA Annual Convention in Washington, DC. We expect graduates of SLP to make a commitment to future service on Society committees and sections, as elected officers in the Society, and as leaders and advocates in a variety of positions in APA, their places of employment, and society at large.

We invite psychology doctoral students and Early Career Psychologists (ECP; 10 years or less since doctorate) who are interested in and committed to leadership in the Society to apply for the SLP. The program is designed for individuals who are interested in leadership but have not yet held major leadership positions in the Society, APA, or APAGS. By training a diverse group of participants, the SLP will help develop the Society’s next generation of leaders and contribute to the future of military psychology. By pairing future leaders with current Society leaders, the SLP hopes to create opportunities for graduates to take the next steps toward leadership.

  1. Participants will take an online leadership assessment in January 2020.
  2. Participants should engage with their project and mentor NLT February and will receive feedback on their leadership assessment by April.
  3. Participate in ten hour-long virtual lessons with faculty and peers.
  4. Participants will develop leadership project proposals with their mentors for Society Leadership Program Committee/EXCOM approval NLT 1 March 2020.
  5. Lead one hour-long journal session with faculty and peers on a journal article related to capstone leadership project (May-June).
  6. Design, conduct, and complete a capstone project that contributes to a current Society initiative (e.g., EXCOM, Committee, and Working Groups) with the help of a mentor. Participants should complete the majority of the project by July 2020 for presentation at APA.
  7. Participants and their mentors will meet regularly to review program readings and capstone project status (February to July 2020).
  8. Observe the Society’s EXCOM and business meetings and participate in joint activities with EXCOM members in person or via teleconference.
  9. Participants will present capstone leadership project updates during the APA convention in the Society’s hospitality room (August 2020).
  10. Participants will join the SLP faculty for a half-day leadership training session concurrent with the Annual EXCOM meeting held during the 2020 APA Convention.
  11. Participate in Society leadership activities and events at the 2020 APA Convention.
  12. Participants and mentors will finalize the capstone project. Participants will write a capstone leadership project summary for publication in the Newsletter. Mentors will provide participants with leadership feedback and action plan for their future with the Society.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
The Society Leadership Program is designed to help participants:

  • Understand the structure and function of leadership positions in the Society;
  • Assess one’s own leadership style using various perspectives;
  • Observe EXCOM meetings;
  • Observe and participate in leadership activities;
  • Conceptualize and implement a SLP capstone project to be completed and presented at the 2020 APA convention;
  • Network and develop working relationships with Society leaders;
  • Identify a path to leadership within the Society and seek/obtain a leadership position.
Application Procedures

To apply for the Society Leadership Program, please submit the following materials to Dr. Maurice Sipos at maurice.sipos@gmail.com by 1 December 2019. Materials will only be accepted via email. Please send all materials in a single attachment. The file name should be your last name and your status as either a student or an ECP (e.g., “ManeseECP.pdf” or “ForrestStudent.pdf”). Your application should include:

(1) A letter of interest that is no more than two pages single-spaced. In this letter, please provide information about yourself and your professional identity as a psychologist or a student in the field of psychology. Briefly discuss current/previous leadership experiences and what you learned from them, particularly as they relate to the diverse military psychology context. Please discuss why you would like to participate in the SLP, what you hope to gain, and how you would see yourself utilizing the SLP experience in your future work as a leader in the Society, including specific leadership roles you might like to pursue. Please also discuss ideas or areas for your capstone project, Division 19 mentors you would like to work with and have contacted, and positions you would like to serve in Division 19 on your application statement.

(2) A current curriculum vita.

(3) A letter of recommendation which specifically addresses your potential as a leader, your interpersonal skills, and your ability to complete projects successfully in a timely manner. If you are a student, please have a faculty member write this letter on your behalf. If you are an ECP, this letter could be written by a colleague or mentor.

We hope to notify applicants of decisions about selection to participate in the 2020 Society Leadership Program by December 2019 at the latest to ensure adequate time for booking airfare and clearing your schedule to attend designated meetings.

Please email question to the 2020 Society Leadership Program Faulty at below email address using the subject line SLP QUESTION with your initials.

Co-Chair, Stephen Bowles, PhD lifewellbeing@gmail.com
Co-Chair, Maurice Sipos, PhD maurice.sipos@gmail.com