As part of our Mirror Initiative to help men to “see themselves” in psychology as students, professionals, and help-seekers, we are launching a national pilot backed by the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 51 and the American Institute for Boys and Men with funding by the Melinda Gates Foundation to empower students, staff, and faculty to serve as advocates for the psychology of men and masculinities on their campuses through a Campus Representatives Program. Representatives will help foster meaningful dialogue, connect communities with evidence-based resources, and promote awareness of mental health issues affecting boys and men. We have funding available to reimburse Campus Representatives for expenses like making copies, food, drinks, etc. that are related to putting on an event on your campus! The program is open to anyone who is interested in the psychology from any discipline (psychology, sociology, gender studies, etc.) of men and masculinities, including: undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff, and individuals of any gender identity No prior expertise is required, and you do NOT need to be a member of Division 51, or even have a background in the psychology of men—just a commitment to learning, engagement, and advocacy. Reach out to info[at]division51.net for additional information.

One of our current priorities is to recruit, train, and support campus representatives—open to undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and faculty—so that anyone on campus can participate in promoting the psychology of men. These representatives will be equipped and funded to raise awareness of available resources and to help instructors integrate men’s psychology and masculinities research into their coursework. Ideally, the campus representatives will promote and facilitate a series of campus events, including documentary screenings, guided conversations and reflections, and a presentation on the current state of men in the psychology field. For more information about how to apply, contact info[at]division51.net.

We are developing criteria and an administration process which will award five $10,000 scholarships to support applicants who are University of Kansas students pursuing graduate training in psychology with a focus on men’s issues, prioritizing students with financial need. Scholarship recipients will participate in a webinar series showcasing their work. Each awardee will also be paired with two mentors from D51—one current graduate student and one established professional psychologist—to provide guidance and support throughout their training. This program at the University of Kansas is a pilot program, and the intent to scale the scholarships program to other universities and institutions once we have results about the pilot program’s effectiveness. For Kansas University students looking to get more information about this program and applying, contact info[at]division51.net.