Draft:Maysa Akbar

Maysa Akbar, PhD (born Dominican Republic) is an American/Dominican academic, author, and scientist. She is the chief diversity officer and interim chief of psychology for the American Psychological Association in Washington, DC. Akbar is a former professor at the Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center as a clinical professor.

Akbar earned her BA in psychology from the State University of New York at Albany. She received her MS in community psychology from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and her PhD in clinical psychology from Saint Louis University. She also holds pre- and post-doctoral degrees from the Yale Child Study Center.

Because of her scientific expertise in child development, Akbar was chosen to report and speak at the United Nations, where she provided research and advice for the creation of policies that uphold human rights and advance welfare.

Publications
Akbar has authored three books (as of 2024): Urban Trauma: A Legacy of Racism, Beyond Ally: The Pursuit of Racial Justice, and Urban Trauma: The Workbook For Self-Healing.