This issue of The Forward is a blend of reflections on our summer conference highlights and a look ahead to our new leadership. Together, these pieces underscore SPSSI’s commitment to tackling complex social issues through rigorous research and advocacy. As we navigate an increasingly challenging social landscape, the insights and efforts of SPSSI leaders and members are invaluable.

Outgoing SPSSI President Patrick Grzanka reflects on his tenure and the challenges faced in addressing social justice issues, emphasizing the importance of our work amidst rising authoritarianism. Incoming president Heather Bullock highlights SPSSI’s history and ongoing commitment to addressing poverty, prejudice, and peace, calling for enhanced policy impact through research and advocacy.

Our leaders and award winners focus on robust engagement with legislators, students, and the SPSSI membership. Sam Abbott, SPSSI’s Policy and Communications Director, examines our economic landscape and wage equity. Diane Hall and Carolyn Weisz, co-chairs of the Teaching and Mentoring Committee, outline improvements in SPSSI’s funding processes and future initiatives for social justice education and mentoring. Anthony M. Foster, recipient of SPSSI’s Clara Mayo Grant, shares key components of a successful grant application.

The Summer 2024 conference theme was “Frontiers of Justice: Using Psychological Science to Reinvigorate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” In this issue, we have included a variety of articles from scholars who shared their work at the conference:

·      Resituating Prejudice Confrontation in Its Social Context by Abigail M. Folberg, Shelby Wynn, Jennifer S. Hunt, and Ellen D. B. Riggle, investigates how social relationships influence the likelihood of confronting racist acts.

·      Navigating Anti-DEI Legislation: Understanding the Risks to Student Expectations and Alumni Engagement by Alexandra Garr-Schultz and Skyler Carter explores the impact of anti-DEI legislation on student experiences and university dynamics.

·      Defending Gender: Transprejudice as Gender System Maintenance by Linas Mitchell, examines how perceptions of transgender people as a threat to traditional gender systems contribute to transprejudice.

·      The Strong Black Woman Schema, Identity Shifting, and Mental Health among Black Women in Professional Spaces by Naomi M. Hall-Byers and Danielle D. Dickens, explores the mental health impacts of the Strong Black Woman schema and identity shifting among Black women in professional settings.

·      Predictors of Burnout for Black, Brown, and Indigenous Doctoral Students by Taylor Payne, investigates factors contributing to burnout among minority doctoral students.

·      On Environmental Psychology and the Study of Structural Racism by Trevor Lies, Syed Muhammad Omar, and Glenn Adams, calls for greater integration of structural racism into environmental psychology.

·      How Occupied People’s Health Suffers in a Settler-colonial State by Apoorva Sarmal, Abriana Gresham, and Mejdy Jabr, discusses the health impacts of colonial violence on Palestinian people. 

·      Construing Voting as a Duty to Others Predicts Political Interest and Engagement by Hannah B. Waldfogel, explores how framing voting as a duty to others can increase political engagement. 

As we move forward, we continue to harness the power of psychological science to drive meaningful change. Thank you for being a part of SPSSI and for your commitment to social justice. Here’s to a productive and impactful fall!