Dolores Albarracín Elected 2023 SPSP President

WASHINGTON, DC—Dolores Albarracín, a professor of psychology and business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been elected the 2023 president of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP). She will serve as president-elect in 2022 and past president in 2024.

An SPSP fellow and acclaimed scholar in the fields of attitudes, communication and behavior, Albarracín’s research is a unique blend of basic and applied psychology. She has authored six books and roughly 170 journal articles and book chapters in major science outlets. She has also served the field of psychology in various capacities, including as Editor in Chief of Psychological Bulletin from 2014 to 2020.

SPSP recognized Albarracín’s work with the Award for Outstanding Scientific Contributions to Research on Attitudes and Social Influence in 2018, as well as the 2020 Diener Award for Outstanding Mid-Career Contributions in Social Psychology.

“As a renowned researcher, author and educator, Dr. Albarracín has demonstrated her commitment to understanding how people affect and relate to one another,” says SPSP Executive Director Rachel Puffer. “SPSP will continue to thrive under her leadership and guidance.”

Albarracín received her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has served as a tenured professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Florida. Her 2021 book, Action and Inaction in a Social World: Prediction and Change of Attitudes and Behaviors, was published in February by Cambridge University Press. Her book Creating Conspiracy Beliefs: How Our Thoughts are Shaped will be published by Cambridge University Press in 2022.

“It will be truly an honor to serve as president of SPSP,” says Albarracín. “The organization has a critical mission and will continue to advance the impact of personality and social psychology within and outside of academia. I much look forward to working with my outstanding colleagues to make a positive contribution and elevate the stature of our discipline.”

Camille Johnson of San Jose State University was elected as Treasurer. Newly-elected Board Members at Large include Julie Garcia of California State University, San Luis Obispo for Outreach and Advocacy, Lisa Brown of Austin College for Primarily Undergraduate Institutions and Julie O’Brien of WW (formerly Weight Watchers) for Application. Each will serve three-year terms.

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology promotes scientific research that explores how people think, behave, feel, and interact. With more than 7,500 members, the Society is the largest organization of social and personality psychologists in the world.