Serving as the 2026 President of the Iowa Psychological Association has reminded me that the real strength of our organization is its members. Every conference, continuing education program, advocacy effort, committee initiative, public outreach project, and student opportunity exists because psychologists across Iowa have chosen to share their time, expertise, and passion with others in our profession.

Whether you’re an early career psychologist, a graduate student, or someone who has been practicing for decades, your viewpoint is valuable. There is no single path to becoming involved, and there is no expectation that you have previous leadership experience. Organizations like IPA thrive because many people contribute in different ways. You might serve on a committee, volunteer for a short-term task team, write a blog post, mentor a student, help with a Legislative Day, offer a continuing education workshop, or simply attend committee meetings and share your ideas. All contributions, large or small, help move IPA forward.

I especially encourage members to consider joining one of our committees or task teams, sharing their expertise through a conference presentation or webinar, or sponsoring a student member. By sponsoring a student, you help connect the next generation of psychologists with valuable professional development, networking, mentorship, and leadership opportunities while strengthening the future of our profession.

As we look ahead, we are also seeking members interested in taking on leadership roles. In particular, we are looking for a President-Elect who is interested in helping guide the future direction of IPA. If you’ve ever considered becoming more involved in professional leadership, I encourage you to explore this opportunity. Leadership within IPA is both rewarding and an excellent way to shape psychology in Iowa while working together with committed colleagues from across the state.

In addition, we are actively looking for members who would like to serve on our Public Education Committee. This committee plays an important role in helping the public better understand psychology, promoting evidence-based mental health information, reducing stigma, and highlighting the many ways psychologists improve the lives of Iowans. If you enjoy writing, speaking, collaborating with others, or engaging in community outreach, we would love to have you join us.

If any of these opportunities interest you—or if you’re simply wondering where you may fit within IPA—I would genuinely enjoy hearing from you. Please reach out to me. I’d be happy to answer your questions, learn about your interests, and help connect you with opportunities that match your goals and availability. You could also fill out an IPA Interest Form at this link: IPA Interest Form.

Together, we can continue building a vibrant, engaged, and forward-looking association that supports our members, advances our profession, and improves the mental health and well-being of the people we serve.

I hope to hear from you soon.

David VanHorn, Ph.D.

President, Iowa Psychological Association