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Our History

The Association of Black Psychologists was founded in San Francisco in 1968 by a number of Black Psychologists from across the country. They united to actively address the serious problems facing Black Psychologists and the larger Black community. Guided by the principle of self-determination, these psychologists and students set about building an institution through which they could address the long-neglected needs of Black professionals. Their goal was to have a positive impact upon the mental health of the national Black community by means of planning, programs, services, training, and advocacy. Their objectives were:

  • To organize their skills and abilities to influence necessary change.
  • To address themselves to significant social problems affecting the Black community and other segments of the population whose needs society has not fulfilled.
The Association of Black Psychologists has grown from a handful of concerned professionals into an independent, autonomous organization of over 1400 members.

Mission and Vision

The Association of Black Psychologists sees its mission and destiny as the liberation of the African Mind, empowerment of the African Character, and enlivenment and illumination of the African Spirit.
Purpose of the Association
The Association is organized to operate exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including but not limited to:
  • Promoting and advancing the profession of African Psychology
  • Influencing and affecting social change; and
  • Developing programs whereby psychologists of African descent (hereafter known as Black Psychologists) can assist in solving problems of Black communities and other ethnic groups.

To accomplish these purposes, the Board of Directors (hereafter known as “The Board”) shall exercise the following specific functions:

  • Establish a central organization of Black Psychologists.
  • Develop funding sources for working capital, staff support, and educational programs.
  • Seek funding for projects involving Black Psychologists, such projects to include, but not be limited to: Scholarly Journals, Training Programs, Recruitment of Students and Faculty and community Mental Health Care Programs.
  • Work with such organizations of behavioral scientists as are able to implement the purposes of The Association.

ABPsi National Board

Sharon Bethea, Ph.D.
President
Derek J. Wilson, Ph.D.
President Elect
Shawn Jones, Ph.D., MHS, LCP
Secretary
Rachel Gaiter, MBA
Treasurer
Zeeyon Walker, Psy.D.
Western Regional Rep.
Eryka L. Boyd Ph.D.
Eastern Regional Rep.
Jermaine Robertson, Ph.D.
Southern Regional Rep.
Tania Lodge, Ph. D
Midwestern Regional Rep.
Joanne LeBrun
Student Circle Chair
Adeeba D. Deterville, Ph.D.
General Assembly Chair
Horace Mitchel, Ph.D.
Elder of Elders
Theopia R. Jackson, PD
Past Presidents' Council Representative
Yuma Tomes, Ph.D.
Convention Chair
Lisa Whitten, Ph.D
Ethics Co-Chair
Kathy Ann-Burlew, Ph.D.
Publications Committee Chair
Benson George Cooke, Ed.D.
Historian
Adeeba Deterville, Ph.D
CABP Co-Chair
Jermain Robertson, Ph.D
Rituals Co-Chair

OTHER COMMITTEES

Education and Training

Drs. Sabrina Scott-Lorestil & Pamela Jenkins

International Relations

Rameri Moukam



ABPsi Past Presidents

Dr. Charles W. Thomas  & Dr. Robert Green (1968-1969)
Dr. Robert L. Williams & Dr. Henry Tomes (1969-1970)
Dr. Stanley Crockett (1970-1971)
Dr. Reginald L. Jones (1971-1972)
Dr. James S. Jackson (1972-1973)
Dr. Thomas O. Hilliard (1973-1974)
Dr. George D. Jackson (1974-1975)
Dr. William Hayes,  (1975-1976)
Dr. Ruth E.G. King (1976-1977)
Dr. Ruth E.G. King (replaced Dr. Alvis V. Adair, president-elect) (1977-1978)
Dr. Maisha Bennett (1978-1979)
Dr. Joseph Awkard (1979-1980)
Dr. Daniel Williams (1980-1981)
Dr. David Terrell (1981-1982)

Dr. Kobi Kambon (aka Dr. Joseph Baldwin; replaced Dr. Bobby Wright, president-elect) (1982-1983)
Dr. William K. Lyles (1983-1984)
Dr. W. Monty Whitney (1984-1985)
Dr. Melvin Rogers (1985-1986)
Dr. Halford H. Fairchild (1986-1987)
Dr. Na’im Akbar (1987-1988)
Dr. Dennis E. Chestnut (1988-1989)
Dr. Suzanne Randolph (1989-1990)
Dr. Linda James Myers  (1990-1991)
Dr. Timothy R. Moragne (1991-1992)
Dr. Maisha Hamilton Bennett (1992-1993)
Dr. Anna M. Jackson (1993-1994)
Dr. Wade Nobles, (1994-1995)
Dr. Thomas A. Parham (1995-1996)
Dr. Frederick B. Phillips (1996-1997)
Dr.  Dana Dennard (1997-1998)

Dr. Afi Samella B. Abdullah (1998-1999)
Dr. Mawiya Kambon (1999-2000)
Dr. Anthony Young (2000-2001)
Dr. Mary E. Hargrow (2001-2002)
Dr. Harvette Grey (2002-2003)
Dr. Willie S. Williams (2003-2004)
Dr. James E. Savage (2004-2005)
Dr. Robert Atwell (2005-2007)
Dr. Dorothy A. Holmes (2007-2009)
Dr. Benson George Cooke (2009-2011)
Dr. Cheryl Tawede Grills (2011-2013)
Dr. Daryl Taasogle Rowe (2013-2015)
Dr. Kevin Mwaata Washington, Ph.D. (2015-2017)
Dr. Huberta Jackson-Lowman (2017-2019)  Dr. Theopia Jackson (2019-2021)
Dr. Donell Barnett (2021-2023)

ABPsi Founders

Dr. Joseph Akward
Dr. Calvin Atkinson
Dr. J. Don Barnes
Dr. Sylvia O’Bradovich
Dr. Ronald Brown
Dr. Ed Davis
Dr. Harold Dent
Dr. Aubrey Escoffery
Dr. Jim DeShields
Dr. Russ Evans
Dr. George Franklin
Dr. Al Goines
Dr. Robert Green
Dr. Bill Harvey
Dr. Thomas Hilliard
Dr. Mary Howard
Dr. George Jackson
Dr. Walter Jacobs

Dr. Reginald Jones
Dr. Roy Jones
Dr. Luther Kindall
Dr. Mel King
Dr. De Lorise Minot
Dr. Lonnie Mitchell
Dr. Jane Fort Morrison
Dr. Leon Nicks
Dr. Edwin Nichols
Dr. Wade Nobles
Dr. Bill Pierce
Dr. David Terrell
Dr. Charles Thomas
Dr. Mike Ward
Dr. Joseph White
Dr. Robert Williams
Dr. Samuel Winslow

ABPsi Life Members

Samella Abdullah
Leona M. Abdullah-Ward M.A.
Na’im Akbar
Adwoa Akhu
Michelle E. Anderson
Mildred R. Anderson
William H. Anderson
Russell Andrew
Bobbie M. Anthony-Perez
Pamela E. Ashe
Kimling T. Ashing Ph.D.
Ikechukwu Azuonye
Oscar A. Barbarin
Pearl Barner II
Rochelle T. Bastien Ph.D.
Lula Beatty
Ronald Beavers
Carolyn Block
Phillip J. Bowman
Sharon Bowman
A. Wade Boykin
Arletta Brinson
Ann K. Burlew
Patricia Canson-Griffith
Dennis E. Chestnut
Monica L. Clement
Madonna Constantine
Benson G. Cooke
Joy Cooley
Nyala Joan Cooper Ph.D.
Sandra Cox Ph.D.
Donald T. Cross
William E. Cross Jr.
Alpha O. Curry
Lennell R. Dade
Harry Davidson
Jerry Davis
Darlene DeFour Ph.D.
Carrie Dixon
James Dobbins
Aubrey S. Escoffery
Victor Etta
Helen L. Evans Ph.D.
Halford Fairchild
Merrilyn Faison
Hugh Faulkner-Jones
Paris Finner-Williams
Anderson J. Franklin Ph.D.
Antoine Garibaldi
Tracey Garrett Ph.D.
Johnny Gibson
Cleonis E. Golding
Constance Golding
Edmund Gordon
Maya K. Gordon

Thomas A. Gordon Ph.D.
Frances Grant
Scott L. Graves Jr.
Harvette Grey
Brittany Griffin, Ph.D
Cheryl Grills
Maisha Hamilton
Mary Elizabeth Hargrow Ph.D.
Linda Hartwell
V. Robert Hayles
Jessica Henderson Daniel Ph.D.
Allyson Henry
Herbert Henry
Vincent D. Henry
Denyse Hicks-Ray
Asa G. Hilliard III
Denise Hinds-Zaami
Dorothy A. Holmes
Charmain Jackman
Eric Jackman
Anna M. Jackson Ph.D.
Laurence Jackson
Theopia R. Jackson Ph.D.
Huberta Jackson-Lowman, Ph.D
Linda B. James Myers
Ericka Jenifer
Pamela L. Jenkins
Benetta E. Johnson Ph.D.
Annie Lee Jones Ph.D.
Jerome Jones
Patricia Y. Jones
Reginald L. Jones
Lee N. June Ph.D.
Kobi K. Kambon Ph.D.
Mawiyah Kambon Ph.D.
Shelvy H. Keglar Ph.D.
Richard C. Kelsey Ph.D.
Muriel Kennedy Ph.D.
Helen M. Kinard-Scott
Velma LaPoint
G. Evelyn LeSure-Lester
Maat E. Lewis
Harvey D. Linder Ph.D.
Roma Little-Walker
Howard Mabry Ph.D.
Jocelyn E. Maxime
Jean-Marie Mayas
Harriett McAdoo
Victor J. McCarley
Dorothy McDonald
Kathleen Y. McDuffie
Horace Mitchell Ph.D.
Kenneth P. Monteiro Ph.D
Timothy O. Moore
Joseph R. Morris Ph.D.

Amanda Murphy
Ernest R. Myres
Tiesha S. Nelson Psy.D.
Edwin Nichols
Wade Nobles Ph.D.
Ezemenari M. Obasi
Nettie B. Obleton
Caryn Pass
Aldrich M. Patterson Ph.D.
Garret E. Payne Ph.D.
Dorothy C. Pettigrew
Frederick Phillip
Randolph Potts Ph.D.
Suzanne M. Randolph Cunningham
Philip J. Raphael Ph.D.
Harriette Richard
Larry T. Richardson
Keba M. Rogers
Daryl M. Rowe Ph.D.
James E. Savage Jr.
Adib A. Shakir
Pamela L. Shipp
Anthony J. Smith
Margaret B. Spencer
Satira S. Streeter Psy.D.
Barbara F. Streets
Judy Sundayo
William Talley Ph.D.
Ronke L. Tapp
William A. Thomas
Derise Tolliver
Nkechi F. Townsend
Les Triché
Alvin Turner Ph.D.
Beverly J. Vandiver
Wilson Vincent
Tifase’ Webb-Msemaji Ph.D.
Arthur L. Whaley
Lisa A. Whitten Ph.D.
Linda Whittington-Clark
Birdean Williams
Brian K. William
Constance Y. Williams
Daniel E. Williams
Michael Williams
Robert L. Williams
Willie S. Williams
Sheila C. Williams-White
Melvin N. Wilson
Sandra Wilson-Cannon
Leo Wilton
LaPearl L. Winfrey
Frank C. Worrell
Julia S. Wright
Evelyn K. Young

ABPsi Distinguished Psychologists

Dr. Na’im Akbar
Dr. Daudi Azibo
Dr. Margaret Beale-Spenser
Dr. Faye Belgrave
Dr. Nancy Boyd-Franklin
Dr. Kathleen Burlew
Dr. Kevin Cokley
Dr. Michael Conner
Dr. William Cross
Dr. Beverly Daniel-Tatum
Dr. Harold Dent
Dr. Hal Fairchild
Dr. Paris Finner-Williams, Esq.
Dr. A. J. Franklin
Dr. Benson George Cooke
Dr. Robert L. Green


Dr. Robert Guthrie
Dr. Camara Jules P. Harrell
Dr. Janet Helms
Dr. Asa Hilliard III
Dr. Anna M. Jackson
Dr. Linda James-Myers
Dr. James Jones
Dr. Reginald Jones
Dr. Kobi K.K. Kambon
Dr. James R. Lanier
Dr. Jacqueline Mattis
Dr. Harriett McAdoo
Dr. Horace Mitchell
Dr. Carolyn Murray
Dr. Helen Neville

Dr. Edwin J. Nichols
Dr. Wade W. Nobles
Dr. Thomas Parham
Dr. Suzanne Randolph
Dr. Taasogle Daryl Rowe
Dr. Suzette L. Speight
Dr. Marcia Sutherland
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum
Dr. Cheryl Tawede-Grills
Dr. Jerome Taylor
Dr. Charles Thomas
Dr. Shawn Utsey
Dr. Joseph White
Dr. Lisa Whitten
Dr. Robert Williams

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