Dr. Kathi A. Borden, Professor of Clinical Psychology, chaired a Symposium entitled, “Challenges to Teaching Advocacy in a Complex Political Climate” at the midwinter meeting of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology, held in Long Beach California. The symposium focused on how to help students feel a sense of empowerment through advocacy, open conversations, conflict resolution methods, the science of persuasion, and inclusion of diverse voices in the context of emotional reactions to the recent national elections. Papers presented at the symposium included “Walking the Tightrope: Teaching Advocacy in a Politically Diverse Nonprofit Setting” by Dr. Borden and Alexandra Ginsberg of the APA Education Government Relations Office; “Hard wired towards conservatism vs. liberalism: Is persuasion possible?” by Gilbert Newman of the Wright Institute; and “Advocacy by Diverse Graduate Students: Mentorship to Gain Voices” by Hideko Sera of the University of Redlands.
Gilbert Newman, Kathi Borden, Hideko Sera, Alexandra M. Ginsberg
