President's Message

MePA’s Community Engagement and Social Justice Committee, led by co-chairs Doug Kimmel, PhD, and Laura Slap-Shelton, PsyD, aims to share psychological science and knowledge with Maine psychologists and the broader Maine community in order to help facilitate the goals of greater diversity, equity and inclusion and to contribute to the advancement of social justice and enhanced public well-being. In 2023, this committee spearheaded the development of MePA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement, hosted a book group to discuss the frequently banned book, Gender Queer, and developed a position statement affirming support for LGBTQ+ youth that will be reviewed by MePA’s Policy Council in 2024. The committee welcomes new members, and interested parties should contact Executive Director Randy Moser or co-chairs Doug Kimmel and Laura Slap-Shelton for additional information.

MePA’s Continuing Education Committee, led by co-chairs Susan Maataoui, PhD and Stacy Whitcomb-Smith, PhD, oversees professional development initiatives, including quarterly webinars, an annual conference, journal clubs, and at-home continuing education programming. MePA’s 2023 Annual Conference, Embracing a Culture of Equity, Inclusion, and Community, featured presentations by Dr. Idella Glenn and Ms. Quinn Gormley on intercultural competence and Maine’s transgender community. MePA also hosted ethics webinars by Dr. Mayra Ortiz and Dr. Leisl Bryant and partnered with the APA and other state associations to offer online trainings on pain management and attachment-based family therapy. Members who are interested in joining the Continuing Education Committee are encouraged to contact Executive Director Randy Moser or co-chairs Susan Maataoui and Stacy Whitcomb-Smith.

MePA’s Ethics Committee, led by co-chairs Chris Gray, PsyD, and Jamie Pratt, PsyD, offers free ethics consultation to members. Recent consultation requests have focused on topics related to billing, record keeping, termination of services, and clinical dilemmas. Members seeking peer consultation are encouraged to contact Executive Director Randy Moser for assistance.

MePA’s Legislative Committee, led by co-chairs Diane Tennies, PhD, and Doug Kimmel, PhD, monitors legislation relevant to the practice of psychology in Maine and engages in state-level legislative advocacy. In 2023, the committee met regularly with MePA’s lobbyist, Kate Knox from Bernstein-Shur, to monitor over 35 proposed bills and submit testimony as needed. MePA also received an APA Advocacy Grant of $7,500 to propose legislation to address barriers to achieving behavioral health integration and parity. Our proposed legislation (LD 1304), which seeks to establish a task force to identify and then recommend resolutions to barriers to integrated care, successfully passed with amendments; however, insufficient legislative staffing to assist with the work of the task force put the bill at risk. MePA’s lobbyist team successfully worked with the sponsor, Representative Perry of Calais, to allow for LD 1304 to be reconsidered in 2024. MePA has strong partners working on this bill, and we remain optimistic that we will be successful in establishing the requested task force during the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January 2024. The Legislative Committee is currently seeking new members, so please reach out to Executive Director Randy Moser or co-chairs Diane Tennies and Doug Kimmel to learn more.

With the support of our Federal Advocacy Coordinator, Diana Prescott, PhD, MePA also collaborates with the APA to engage in advocacy to advance the science and practice of psychology at a national level. In 2023, we met repeatedly with Congressional staff to advocate for changes to Medicare reimbursement and expanded funding for programs that support psychology workforce development, school-based mental health, psychological research, and suicide prevention.

MePA’s Finance Committee, led by co-chairs Howard Kunin, PsyD, and Rosemary McCullough, PhD, offers support to members facing challenges with reimbursement from third-party payers and reviews the organization’s fiscal policies. In 2023, this committee assisted with procedures to ensure tax compliance. Given that approximately 26% of membership dues are deemed non-tax-deductible because of their allocation toward lobbying expenses, MePA added disclaimers about the non-tax-deductible portion of membership dues to our website and renewal communications.

MePA’s Membership Committee is tasked with engaging new members and facilitating community. We are proud to represent 316 members, including psychologists, researchers, academicians, and graduate students, and we encourage anyone interested in supporting the work of this committee to contact Executive Director Randy Moser.

Amy Safford, who led MePA as its Executive Director for four years, left the association at the end of August 2023 to pursue her love of writing. Under Safford’s leadership, MePA received the National 2022 American Psychological Association (APA) Advocacy Award and secured an APA grant that was critical for the adoption of Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) legislation that allows Maine psychologists to serve out-of-state clients. We are incredibly grateful for her contributions.

In September 2023, MePA welcomed Randy Moser as its new Executive Director. Randy brings more than two decades of executive nonprofit leadership experience to his role at MePA, and his extensive background in communications, development, and program management makes him a valuable addition to the membership organization. Please reach out to Executive Director Randy Moser at any time with questions or feedback.

In 2024, I will transition to the role of Past President, while Jeff Matranga, PhD, takes the helm as President. Jeff Matranga previously served as President of MePA from 2012-2013 and is well-positioned to realize our organization’s mission to advance psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting human welfare. He will undertake this effort with support from the following dedicated Executive Committee members:

• President-Elect: Stacy Whitcomb-Smith, PhD
• Secretary: Christine Gray, PsyD
• Treasurer: Howard Kunin, PsyD
• Representative-at-Large: Laura Brennan, PhD
• Representative-at-Large: Lauren Dattilo, PhD
• Representative to the Council of Representatives of the APA: Mary Donahue, PhD

President Jamie Pratt and the 2023 Psychologist of the Year Rae Egbert. At the 2023 Annual Conference, MePA named Rae Egbert, PsyD, as Psychologist of the Year. Dr. Egbert specializes in working with those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their partners and family members, and has expertise in treating trauma and stress-related disorders, substance use disorders, and other addictive behaviors. Dr. Egbert was recognized for their contributions to MePA’s Community Engagement and Social Justice Committee and tireless work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.

MePA also recognized three Maine educators for their exceptional work promoting wellness for the school-age population. Jeni Frazee (Waterville Public Schools), Joy Jancewicz (RSU 56), and Catherine Newell (Scarborough Public Schools) were celebrated for establishing positive relationships with students, championing social and emotional learning, and advocating for mental health.