Andrea Solarz

"What's a community psychologist doing in a place like this?"

Invited Keynote Address from EPA Conference 2006

ABSTRACT: Community psychologists work in many different kinds of settings. For those who pursue careers in applied settings, this can mean applying community psychology principles in non-traditional and sometimes unexpected ways. The speaker, a past president of the Society for Community Research and Action, has an extensive career focused on public policy work at the state and national levels; she has worked in Congress, for thinktanks, for a national professional association, and now as a consultant. Although none of her positions has been as a community psychologist, she has been able to bring a community psychology perspective to her work. She will discuss her different work experiences, how her training in community psychology has enhanced her ability to work in those settings and influenced her work products, the skills that have been particularly useful, and different ways that community psychology perspectives can be brought to bear.

Andrea L. Solarz, PhD, has worked since 1998 as a consultant for behavioral health policy, research, and action, working on such topics as adolescent health, public health advocacy, and the promotion of strengths-based policies. Previously, she was with the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM), where she directed the studies "Lesbian Health: Current Assessment and Directions for the Future" and "Genetics, Health, and Behavior: Science in Perspective." She has also served as Assistant Director for Science Policy at the American Psychological Association (APA), as a policy analyst in the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment Health Program, and as an APA Congressional Science Fellow in the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on the Handicapped. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and a past president of the Society for Community Research and Action, Division 27 (Community Psychology) of the APA. She received her PhD in ecological-community psychology in 1986 from Michigan State University.

Listen to her talk (Windows Media Audio)>>