The DCPA organization is run by a number of talented individuals many of whom are licensed psychologists in the District of Columbia. The board of directors meet once a month, usually on the 1st week of the month, to discuss matters concerning memberships, psychology practices, insurance, referral services, daily business, continuing education plans, and more.

Active Board Members:

President : Rona Fields, Ph.D.

Past President : Barbara Roberts, Ph.D.

President Elect : James Savage, Ph.D.

APA Council of Representatives : Stephen Lally, Ph.D., ABPP

Treasurer: Walter Hillabrant, Ph.D.

Walter has maintained a private practice in the District since 1974, primarily working with families and children. His post-doctoral internship was at the Area C Community Mental Health Center in the District with rotations at the George Washington University Hospital and at the DC Department of Maternal and Child Health. He is the president of Support Services International (SSI), a consulting firm that specializes in research, training, and IT solutions. Walter is enrolled in the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and is active in Native American health, education, and economic development. He is a member of boards of the National Indian Youth Leadership Program (Treasurer), and C-4 Solutions (Secretary), an organization promoting improvement of substance abuse treatment.

Secretary : Michael Lavin, Ph.D.

Michael Lavin has been Secretary of DCPA since July 2006.  He is licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and Arizona, and has a private practice in the District.  He is a full member of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, American Philosophical Association, International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders and a clinical and research member of the Association for the Treatment Sexual Abusers.  He earned a Ph.D. (1999) in Psychology from the University of Arizona and a PhD. (1983)  in Philosophy and Humanities from Stanford.  He has published a variety of papers, chapters, and reviews on philosophical and psychological topics in academic journals and books.  He welcomes the opportunity to serve DCPA members as their Secretary.

Vice President of Membership and Community Affairs : Ernest Myers, Ph.D.

Dr. Myers represented the American Psychological Association, DCPA and the Black Psychologists Association before the DC City Council to present a Mental Health initiative that was adopted in 1983. That bill incorporated psychologists and psychological services in DC Mental health to a degree not previously attained and presently no longer operative. He stood up for upgrading mental health services in general and requiring full cooperation of city and federal bodies. He is a Community Psychologist, Fellow of the APA and Professor of Psychology and Counseling at the University of the District of Columbia. His Ph.D. in Psychology was achieved at the Union Institute University while he was an expert consultant at the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Earlier he was Assistant Director of the National Urban Leagues Washington Bureau. He has authored and published over 100 refereed articles and his latest book, particularly timely is entitled, Challenges of a Changing America.  Dr. Myers retired from his Chairmanship at The University of the District of Columbia having achieved a recognized undergraduate program in Psychology and a Masters level program accredited by the APA.

Vice president of Professional Affairs : Elaine Graves, Ph.D.

Ruth Elaine Graves is our new Vice President of Professional Affairs.  Dr. Graves is a licensed clinical psychologist in DC and is an Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry at Howard University Hospital.  There she serves as the Psychiatry Department as Director of Psychological Services.  She is engaged as Principal Investigator on a study of Assessment of Stigma towards Mental Illness and Co-Investigator and Coordinator of PTSD in the African American Primary Care Setting. She is a member of the APA and author and co-author of ten professional journal publications. She has presented her work at various professional conferences, including those held by the Southeastern Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the Association of Advancement of Behavioral Therapy, and the International Society of Bipolar Disorders. Dr. Graves is a Scientist-Practitioner who is very concerned with social issues and with the role of psychology in society.

Vice president of Organizational Affairs : Larry Greenfield, Ph.D.

Larry Greenfield is assigned for Vice President of Organizational Affairs position. He has a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, with 30 years of evaluation research experience. He currently works as a private consultant helping organizations with their research and evaluation needs, including research design, data collection and analysis and proposal writing. He also manages a small business, developing and marketing data collection software (www.teratech.com/ads). His program evaluation expertise is in the fields of substance abuse treatment and prevention and as a consultant to Prince George's County Public Schools for the past year, public education. He is a member of the American Public Health Association and has served on the DCPA Board for the past 8 months.

Clinical Designated Member-at-Large : MariLee Aronson, Psy.D.

Marilee Arson, Psy.D., is a candidate for the Clinical Member-at-Large position on the DCPA Board.  She is a licensed clinical psychologist in DC and has been a member of DCPA for several years.  Marilee has worked in a variety of clinical capacities with children, teens and adults.  Settings include private practice (currently), university counseling centers, group homes and a residential school for emotionally disturbed youth, inpatient psychiatric units, and a residential program for previously homeless women.  She has enjoyed providing supervision and case consultation for psychology and social work graduate students.  She has also consulted with a human relations firm in the areas of diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity.  She is from Chicago and her degree specialization is in Multicultural Clinical Psychology.  Marilee is excited to step-up her involvement in DCPA!

Public Sector Designated Member-at-Large : Mercedes Ebanks,Ph.D.

Mercedes E. Ebanks, Ph.D., is a candidate for Member-at-Large for Public Sector. Dr. Ebanks a 2005 graduate of Howard University School of Education Counseling program. She was trained in applied behavior analysis to address severe behavior disorders. She implements strategic plans to effect school and home improvement. She has used her skills in Spanish to serve the growing Latino community.  She is an applicant for the examinations for national and state licensure.  Dr. Ebanks serves as Adjunct Faculty with Howard University and Bowie State University. She is enthusiastic about her work with children and adolescents to equip them with coping skills and to provide support to parents and school personnel to insure long-term positive outcomes. Dr. Ebanks wants DCPA to grow into a leading state organization to address the needs of the professionals to better serve the mental health community.

Academic/Scientific Designated Member-at-Large : Salman Elbedour, Ph.D.

Dr. Salman Elbedour is a tri-lingual full Professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychoeducational Studies at Howard University School of Education with a multicultural background.  Dr. Elbedour earned his first degree from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel and taught for five years in Bedouin high schools. He holds a Master’s degree in Psychological Foundations of Education, a Specialist degree in Clinical School Psychology, and a Ph.D. in School and Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Elbedour’s research has focused primarily on disadvantaged and under-served populations.  He has specialized in developmental psychopathology, school violence, conflict resolution, child abuse and neglect, and programs to stop violence in schools and communities and has obtained several grant awards for research projects that address these topics.  Dr. Elbedour served as a school psychologist (six years) in Minnesota and in Bedouin schools and is licensed as a school psychologist in the District of Columbia, the state of Minnesota, and in Israel. Dr. Elbedour has taught graduate and undergraduate school psychology courses (e.g., Consultation in School Psychology, Practicum in School Psychology, Introduction to School Psychology, Seminar in School Psychology, Theories and Methods of Classroom Intervention) for seven years at Howard University and in Ben-Gurion University and has served as a director of a center for children at risk in the city of Rahat, Israel.  He has presented his work at international, national, regional, and university venues in North America, the Middle-East, and Europe and has published extensively (48 articles) in journals such as Journal of Educational Psychology, Journal of Social Psychology, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, International Journal of Mental Health, Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

Management/Organizational Designated Member-at-Large : Stephen Bowles, Ph.D.

Stephen Bowles, PhD, ABPP, has been appointed Management/Organizational Designated Member at Large/ Disaster Network Resource and, the new responsibility as indicated by the APA State and Provincial Leadership, Business of Practice Network (BOPN) representative. Dr. Bowles is an Assistant Professor in Medical and Clinical Psychology Department. His diplomate (ABPP) is in clinical health psychology and his current fellowship is in health psychology. He is engaged in mentoring and developing psychology graduate students in his lab. His recent publications are in the area of weight reduction, stress, and coaching. His other interests are in leadership, consultation, couples education, and health issues. Dr. Bowles is interested in promoting healthy work behavior in organizational work settings. He will assume a varied portfolio on the Board of DCPA and in every instance of responsibility he has publications, work and teaching experience and expertise. He is new to DCPA but has a lengthy history in APA.