Become an APA and Division 36 Fellow

Why you may want to become a fellow of the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

The Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality welcomes within its membership psychologists who are interested in and who identify with the field—its practice, research, service, instruction, supervision, consulting, mentoring, and/or other missions. The Society encourages members who have made significant contributions to these missions to apply for fellow status in the Division and the American Psychological Association. Current APA Fellows are invited to apply for the Fellow designation in Division 36. Fellow status is a way for the division to showcase the contributions that our division makes both within APA and to the general public. Most importantly it is a way to identify and honor individuals for their exceptional work and contribution to the psychology of religion and spirituality.

Being recognized as a Division 36 fellow may well increase the visibility of your work, may provide greater opportunities to share your work or develop collaborations. Fellows are often sought for mentors of peers and early career psychologists, as well as in teaching and advisor capacities. Fellows are encouraged to become active in the division and help shape the division's mission. 

Criteria for APA Fellow Status

• doctoral degree based in part on a psychological dissertation
• prior status as a member for at least one year, and nomination by a division to which the member belongs
• active engagement in the advancement of psychology
• five years of acceptable postdoctoral experience
• evidence of unusual and outstanding contribution or performance in the field of psychology

Criteria for APA Division 36 Fellow Status

In considering applicants for Fellow status, Division 36 emphasizes research and theoretical work in the psychology of religion and spirituality as well as psychological commentary and theory related to religious/spiritual inquiry. Research in other areas may be considered as additional evidence of advanced achievement in the science and profession of psychology. Specific criteria that may be taken into account include the following:

• Election or appointment to the editorship or the editorial board of a well-recognized psychological journal or monograph series related to the Division's interests.
• Election or appointment to state, provincial, regional, national, or international positions, committees, commissions, or offices in psychology, including leadership positions in Division 36.
• Evidence of outstanding teaching, including innovative course or curriculum development with significant and broad influence beyond one's own institution.
• Active participation indicative of leadership in other relevant organizations involving psychologists, e.g., the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, the International Society for the Psychology of Religion, American Association for the Advancement of Science, etc., or appointment to study sections and task forces of major national or international foundations or institutes.
• Authorship or editorship of a book or textbook dealing with the psychology of religion, and spirituality, religious/spiritual issues and behavior seen from a psychological perspective, or other areas of convergence among religion/spirituality, psychology, psychotherapy, or pastoral counseling.
• Extensive and far-reaching leadership and instructional participation in continuing education projects established in the service of advanced study in the psychology of religion and spirituality or closely related areas.
• Special recognition through honorary degrees or distinguished service awards and citations if such recognition represents accomplishments of broad consequence to the science or profession of psychology.
• Service as head, director, chairperson, coordinator, or founder of a department or agency, if this service results in unique models for the delivery of psychological services in the religious/spiritual sector.
• Evidence or documentation that the nominee has enriched the depth and scope of psychology as it relates to religious issues on a scale well beyond competence as a practitioner, research scientist, or teacher.
• Outstanding performance as a provider of psychological services as attested by documentation and publications. The provision of these services must have positive consequences for the advancement of psychology within the religious/spiritual sector and should include innovative approaches to the understanding and solving of individual, group, and organizational problems.
• Recognition of expertise in the psychology of religion and spirituality or related areas by virtue of invitations to make presentations at major universities and conferences.

Applications are due December 15, 2025

To begin the application process, please email Fellows Chair Ed Shafranske here.