Psychology in California is under unprecedented pressure. Attacks on higher education, health care access, and equity are reshaping the landscape of our profession and the communities we serve. Key threats include:

• Student Loan Caps – New federal limits cap graduate borrowing at $100,000, far below the true cost of doctoral psychology programs. This risks shutting out students from diverse backgrounds and narrowing the pipeline of future psychologists.

• University Funding Gaps – California universities face hundreds of millions in deferred funding, creating barriers for training programs and increasing tuition burdens.

• Medicaid Cuts – Federal proposals slash $1 trillion over 10 years, threatening coverage for millions and reducing access to behavioral health services for low-income Californians.

• Attacks on Equity and Culturally Responsive Care – Efforts to defund DEI programs and restrict culturally responsive, trauma-informed care undermine the very foundation of psychology’s commitment to inclusion and justice.

• LGBTQ+ Rights Under Fire – National and state-level efforts to curtail LGBTQ+ rights—including restrictions on gender-affirming care and funding rollbacks—directly endanger patients, students, and psychologists in our community.

• Workforce Shortages – Without bold action, looming retirements and training barriers could worsen provider shortages, leaving California’s most vulnerable populations without timely care.

These threats are not abstract. They affect students choosing whether to enter the field, families deciding whether they can access care, and communities already carrying disproportionate burdens of health inequity.

Dr. Changaris’ Leadership Vision

California psychology is facing an unprecedented moment. Equity advances, training pipelines, and access to care are all under attack — and CPA must rise to meet the challenge. My vision is for CPA to be a bold, unifying, and forward-looking organization that both protects psychology and expands its impact statewide and nationally.

Key Commitments of My Leadership Vision:

• Expand Advocacy – Move CPA from reactive defense to proactive influence in Sacramento and Washington. We must shape legislation, budgets, and mental health frameworks so that psychologists and the communities we serve are protected and empowered.

• Develop Mentorship and Leadership Pathways – Create a stronger pipeline for students and early-career psychologists through mentorship, equity-centered leadership development, and student representation across CPA governance.

• Strengthening and Protecting Diversity in the Student Pipeline –

  Equity in psychology begins with who can afford to enter the field. California must expand student loan grants, repayment programs, and financial supports so that rising costs and federal loan caps don’t shut out diverse voices. By reducing debt burdens, we can ensure our workforce truly reflects the communities we serve.

• Advancing Prescription Authority

  Equity also means access to timely, comprehensive care. Expanding prescription authority—with rigorous training and safety standards—will help psychologists serve communities where psychiatric providers are scarce. This is about more than scope of practice; it is about ensuring Californians receive the care they need, when they need it.

• Advance Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) – Build on California’s leadership in primary care and county systems to expand IBH into schools, justice systems, and community clinics, making whole-person care a statewide standard.

• Protect and Expand Practice Rights – Support psychologists in securing tools and authority that allow us to serve fully, including advancing prescription authority where aligned with training, safety, and equity.

• Strengthen Research and Innovation – Uplift clinician-driven, equity-focused research that bridges science and practice, ensuring psychology leads in shaping evidence-based public health.

For me, leadership is a form of care — service over status. It means listening deeply, centering diverse voices, and building systems that endure long after any one leader’s term. With courage, collaboration, and a clear vision, I believe CPA can become a national model for health equity, workforce development, and whole-person care.

For me, leadership is a practice of care — not a position or a title. It begins with listening, showing up where the needs are greatest, and creating the conditions for others to thrive. My leadership style is shaped by five core commitments:

• Service-Driven Leadership – I believe leadership is service. I have led in clinics, classrooms, county systems, and policy spaces to expand access, reduce disparities, and protect communities.

• Equity as Infrastructure – Equity is not optional; it must be the foundation of our systems. From implicit bias training to trauma-informed supervision, I embed equity into every program and policy I help build.

• Mentorship and Legacy – Leadership is about investing in the future. I have trained and supervised more than 100 psychology trainees and created APA-accredited rotations to prepare the next generation to lead.

• Connector and Coalition Builder – Progress happens at the intersections. I bring people together across psychology, medicine, academia, and public systems to solve complex problems and expand our collective impact.

• Building Systems that Last – True leadership creates infrastructure, culture, and pathways that endure. My commitment is to grow CPA into a proactive, equity-centered, nationally recognized organization that reflects California’s diversity.

This is the leadership style I bring to CPA: one rooted in service, equity, mentorship, connection, and systems that endure.