May 2026 Newsletter Updates
Grand Rounds | Board Nominations | Convention Program Committee | Member Engagement Committee | Defining Personality Assessment | Community Events & News | Job Postings
SPA Grand Rounds
You now have the option to register for individual sessions or all sessions with one registration. Click on each title below for more information.
- June 3 | Using the MMPI-3 as a Therapeutic Intervention - Dr. Stephen E. Finn
Board Nominations
Deadline is May 8
The SPA Board of Directors is seeking your recommendations for our next Representatives-at-Large. A detailed job description—including qualifications, duties, and estimated time commitments—along with the Candidate Leadership Guide, are available on the Elections & Nominations webpage.
Nominees will be requested to submit their interest at that time. Finalists will be interviewed in July and August 2026, and the election slate will be submitted for SPA Board approval. Once approved, members will vote Fall 2026, and new leaders will begin their terms on January 1, 2027.
2027 SPA Convention Program Committee
Extended Deadline is May 10
Be a part of making the 2027 SPA Convention in Long Beach, CA from March 31–April 4, 2027. Program Committee members are responsible for selecting the workshops and sessions during the convention, as well as working with SPA staff to plan the convention.
Member Engagement Committee
Extended Deadline is May 25
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our new Member Engagement Committee, which is a group focused on strengthening connections, building community, and making our organization an even more welcoming and engaging place for everyone.
As part of this committee, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Help plan networking opportunities and member activities
- Brainstorm creative ways to welcome and involve new members
- Gather feedback and ideas to improve the overall member experience
Whether you enjoy connecting with people or sharing ideas, this is a great way to get involved with SPA and make a meaningful impact.
If you are interested in joining please fill out the application below.
Defining Personality Assessment
Deadline is June 10
As discussed at the Town Hall, which you can watch here, the Board has been reflecting on how we define ourselves in a changing landscape of personality and psychological assessment. I would like to thank Dr. Jordan Wright for sharing his perspective during that discussion. We look forward to continuing this conversation with all of you in the months ahead, and I encourage you to share your thoughts through the brief survey below.
Community Events & News
Call for Papers, Proposals, Nominations, etc.
- Call for Assessment Special Issue: Assessment is requesting proposals for a special issue dedicated to Artificial Intelligence in Psychological Assessment. For more information, please click here.
Trainings, Workshops, Webinars, etc.
- ISR Summer Seminar: The ISR Summer Seminar will be held in Prague between July 9–11. The early bird rate has been extended until May 30. Click here for the registration form OR click here to learn more.
- Training: Wartegg Level 1 Training: A virtual training sequence for the Crisi Wartegg System (CWS) will begin in September 2025! The CWS is an empirically validated and standardized methodology (administration, scoring, interpretation) for the clinical use of the Wartegg Drawing Completion Test (WDCT)—an easy, efficient, and non-overwhelming performance-based personality measure that can be completed in 5-10 minutes and is appropriate across the lifespan. The CWS is recognized as a valid performance-based personality test that can be used for certification in Therapeutic Assessment. The Level 1 workshop focuses on history and statistical foundations, reviews standardized administration procedures, and builds proficiency in the normative scoring system. Following completion of Level 1, clinicians are able to independently administer the test with clients but require consultation for accurate scoring and interpretation. Levels 2 and 3 of the training sequence (focused on interpretation) are further described in the attached flyer. Online registration can be made at: https://sc-cca-com.3dcartstores.com/.
Survey
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Survey: We are requesting your participation in an online survey analyzing clinicians’ perceptions and beliefs surrounding malingering assessments, and how procedures change when examining individuals with diverse backgrounds. Each participant will receive a $5 gift card honorarium after completing the survey.The survey can be accessed by this link:
- Survey:
We are requesting your participation in an online survey regarding how forensic psychologists conduct assessments with individuals with limited English proficiency.
This survey takes approximately 25 minutes to complete, and your responses will be confidential. You will also receive $5 as compensation for your participation! This research project has been approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus.
To qualify, you must:
- Be a licenced doctoral-level clinical psychologist practicing or residing in Canada or the USA
- Be working in the field of forensic mental health services in criminal or civil contexts
- Have completed ≥1 forensic assessment with an individual with limited English proficiency in the last 12 months
We appreciate your time and participation!
To access the survey, please copy the following link in your browser:
https://umanitobapsych.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5aPoBhPz0n4DMW2?Source=SPA
If you have any questions, please email Katérine Aminot at aminotk@myumanitoba.ca, or Dr. Alicia Nijdam-Jones at alicia.nijdam-jones@umanitoba.ca.
- Survey: The goal of this study is to estimate associations between DSM-IV/5 personality disorders and PID-5 maladaptive trait domains and facets. The study has been preregistered on OSF, click here to complete the survey.
Other News
- Joint Letter: APA coordinated a letter that was sigened by many researchers, educators, and acadmics of the United States regarding the continued decline in public trust in scientists. A copy of the letter can be found here: https://unitedsciencealliance.org
- Request to Contact Policymakers: APA has also organized this action alert to allow individuals to contact policymakers to stop proposed policy changes at NIH that would harm the ability to continue to do research: https://www.votervoice.net/APAAdvocacy/Campaigns/121382/Respond