Brehm named president of APA

A published psychology professor and former IU-Bloomington chancellor was named the newest president of the American Psychological Association Wednesday. \nSharon Brehm will join the ranks of former IU president William Lowe Bryan in 2007 when she becomes head of the oldest organization representing psychology in the United States.\nBrehm was elected by a majority vote from the 150,000 members of the APA, the largest association of psychologists in the world.\n"I screamed," she said of her reaction to the news.\nShe said being elected president of the APA is particularly rewarding because, unlike most nonprofit organizations, the members make the selection, not a board of governors. This means that in order to gain the position, Brehm had to garner the votes of tens of thousands of psychologists across the world.\n"You have to network and make contacts with people," she said. "I was extremely pleased to find out I won."\nThe APA presidency is a volunteer position and Brehm will remain at IU for the duration of her one-year term. But with required attendance at board meetings and official functions, she will frequently commute between Bloomington and the APA headquarters in Washington, D.C., said Executive Director of Governance Affairs Judy Strassburger. As president, Brehm will be the figurehead and a representative of the entire APA. \nBrehm will also have the power to direct parts of APA policy, and she already sees some issues she would like to improve. \n"There is nothing more important in any community than nurturing the next generation," she said in a press release. "APA has been active in this area, but I would like to see its efforts become even more vigorous."\nBrehm also wants to work on improving communication within the APA and with the public and state and federal governments.\nInternational student Juwon Lee, who is taking Brehm's "Intimate Relations" class, was very happy to learn of Brehm's election, though unsurprised by the announcement. Lee said Brehm has been an encouraging professor and has taken a genuine interest in Lee's studies.\n"She is very warm and receptive and has offered me a lot of advice," she said. "She is great at encouraging students at their work."\nLee, who said she wants to pursue a career as an academic psychologist, said she owes her goals to Brehm.\n"I look upon her as a role model now since I also want to become a professor in social psychology," she said.\nIU Spokesman Larry MacIntyre said the University is happy to have Brehm representing it in an organization as prestigious as the APA.\n"These things are always important to major research universities, and whenever we can land someone in a position like this, everyone is pleased," he said.\nBrehm served as IUB chancellor for two years until she stepped down in October 2003. She previously served as provost at Ohio University. Brehm currently is a professor of psychology whose research interests include intimate relationships and the psychology of women. She has written several books on psychology, including one of the first texts on intimate relationships.