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| From our Editor
Ashley M. Votruba, Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
At the time this newsletter is published, our world is heavy with the disruption, loss, and uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many aspects of our lives—both professional and personal—have changed and many people are unsure of what the future holds. Needless to say, current events have had an impact on the SPSSI community. Organizational impacts include having to cancel the annual in-person conference, among others. As I sit at my home desk, working on this issue of the newsletter, I am heartened to know that despite these challenging times, SPSSI’s mission continues. Throughout this issue, there are wonderful examples of how SPSSI’s membership routinely uses social psychological research to both inform and better a wide array of societal problems. In this uncertain time, it strikes me that SPSSI’s mission is as important as ever. | | 
| From our President
Stephanie Fryberg, SPSSI President, Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan
What I love about SPSSI is that we are a community who cares. This year I planned to use my presidency to shed light on groups that often go overlooked or are invisible (e.g., murdered and missing Indigenous, Black, and Latinx Women and Girls, and LGBTQ individuals) in society and in psychological research. I never imagined that a pandemic would disrupt our daily lives and change so many of our plans; that SPSSI would cancel the in-person conference and other in-person events; that we would defer our Marshall Fellow and summer internships for a year; and that we would potentially go years before seeing one another in person. While there is certainly much to grieve, we cannot become complacent. There has never been a more important time to stay connected and to keep fighting for social justice and equity issues. Continue reading this article here.
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| From our Secretary/Treasurer Richard L. Wiener, SPSSI Secretary/Treasurer, Bessy Professor of Psychology, University of Nebraska – Lincoln As I enter my last year as SPSSI Secretary Treasurer, I find myself thinking not about the last 5 years during which I have served two terms in this role, but rather looking ahead to what is on the horizon for our organization. The two topics that I want to address are: (1) How can we secure the health and safety of our organization in these difficult times of pandemic and (2) Who will be the next Secretary Treasurer for our organization? With regard to the health and safety of SPSSI, some challenges most certainly lie ahead for our leadership, central office staff, and our membership. While the Covid-19 epidemic has attacked people from all walks of life, all ages, and all social groups, it is undeniable that it has impacted older people (especially men) and people of color most severely. This is of course of great concern for SPSSI in part because our mission is to serve people who find themselves in these vulnerable groups. This is the time for us to be especially aware of SPSSI values and our dedication to improving the lives of those from diverse backgrounds. Continue reading this article here. | | | | | | | | |
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