Happy Holidays! I wanted to end the year by taking a moment to reflect on my tenure as ADAA president - which was served entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the highlights of these two years has been all that we were able to accomplish together despite the chaos of the world.  

For example, the enhancement of ADAA's virtual professional education offerings and a strong focus on fundraising helped ensure that the organization remained vibrant and financially strong during the many challenges of the pandemic.   

Pivoting to a 2021 fully virtual conference – the first time for ADAA – was a herculean effort on the part of the staff and resulted in an extremely successful event. I could not be more thankful to work with such a dedicated, mission aligned and passionate group of individuals – the ADAA staff. 

And, most importantly, ADAA’s members have shown themselves to have been incredibly generous during the pandemic. Our members shared their expertise, mentored other members, and continued to remain active participants in ADAA. Thank you! I also want to thank our sponsors and allies, who continue to support ADAA and our mission.  

In the end, I was able to lead the development of ADAA’s 5-year strategic plan which positions the organization for growth, enhances its professional and public mission, and further develops partnerships and community engagement. In addition, this past fall I worked with the board and staff to focus on ADAA’s DEI efforts to ensure that when people across identity groups are regarded and engaged as full participants in leadership, decision making and programs, that we are able to provide resources and programs that best meet the needs of our members and the public.    

Finally, I would like to thank the board for their ongoing support and welcome Dr. Charlie Nemeroff as the new president. I look forward to continuing our collaborative partnership in the years to come and to working together to ensure ADAA’s continued success and growth.