Rollins Researcher Named President-Elect of American Psychological Association

Candice Hargons, PhD, associate professor at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health, was chosen as president-elect of the American Psychological Association (APA). This is the largest professional and scientific organization of psychologists in the United States with more than 190,000 members. Hargons will begin her role in 2027 and will serve as president-elect for one year before moving into the presidency of APA in 2028.

“I want to thank my campaign team for their outstanding work and every psychologist who trusted me with their vote,” says Hargons. “My campaign emphasized coalition building to support mental health for all communities, unifying silos in psychology, and supporting psychologists in our varied roles across the career lifespan through a liberation lens. I am grateful the membership resonated with this vision. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues and organizational partners who recognize that togetherness doesn’t require us to hide our differences.”

Hargons’ platform focuses on initiatives that include lowering the barrier of entry for young psychologists seeking education and training, developing community collaboratives, supporting health service psychologists and psychological scientists, and fighting misinformation through strong public health communication efforts.  

“To meet this moment, we cannot rely on complacency,” she writes in her position statement. “True leadership requires a visionary outlook, a transformative approach, and the courage to uphold our values even when it feels difficult.”  

Hargons is an award-winning expert in sexual and mental health. A licensed health service psychologist, she has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as the 2025 book, Good Sex.  

At Rollins, Hargons leads the Study of Mental and Sexual Health Equity in Relationships laboratory and is principal investigator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-funded Neighborhood Healers Project (which trains community members in Mental Health First Aid) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-funded Assessing Differential Dyadic Mechanisms of Women’s Sexual Functioning study.  

“Candice's election as president-elect of the American Psychological Association is an extraordinary and well-deserved recognition of her leadership and vision,” says Don Operario, PhD, chair of the Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences at Rollins. “She brings intellectual rigor, moral courage, and a deep commitment to making psychology more accessible and relevant to the communities it serves. We are immensely proud of Candice and excited to see the impact she will have on the field and on the public's health.”