Governance
The Pennsylvania Psychological Association is governed by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the General Assembly. It shall be their aggregate responsibility to establish policy, make decisions, and implement action consistent with the philosophy and objectives of PPA. PPA's current Board of Directors took office in June 2025 and will continue in office through June 2026.
Click here for the updated Bylaws - July 2020
PPA OFFICERS:
Gail Karafin, D.Ed. - President
Meghan Prato, Psy.D. - President-Elect
Allyson Galloway, Psy.D. - Past President
Julie Radico, Psy.D. - Secretary
Helena Tuleya-Payne, D.Ed. - Treasurer
Erika Dawkins, Psy.D. - Diversity & Inclusion Officer
APA REPRESENTATIVE:
Jeanne Slattery, Ph.D.
BOARD CHAIRS:
Krista Boyer, Psy.D. - Communications Board
Tanya Vishnevsky, Ph.D. - Internal Affairs Board
Sam Schachner, Ph.D. - Professional Psychology Board
Michelle Wonders, Psy.D - Program and Education Board
Tony Ragusea, Psy.D., MSCP, ABPP - Public Interest Board
Shirley Woika, Ph.D. - School Psychology Board
PPAGS BOARD:
Nadyah Spahn, B.A. - Chair
Sarah Pertiz, M.S. - Chair-Elect
Harsimran Kaur Wadhwa, M.S. - Past Chair
Claudia Hyman, M.S. - Programming Focus
Annalise VerBeek, B.S. - Communications Focus
Patricia Obilo-Azandegbe, M.Ed. - Diversity Focus
Rachel Windsor, B.A. - State Advocacy Coordinator
Julie Radico, Psy.D. - Representative from PPA Board of Directors
The PPA General Assembly is comprised of all of the members of the Board of Directors and the chairs of all PPA committees, as described below:
Communications Board Chair and Committee Chairs
Krista Boyer, Psy.D. - Board Chair
Internal Affairs Board Chair and Committee Chairs
Tanya Vishnevsky, Ph.D. - Board Chair
- Awards - Marie McGrath, Ph.D.
- Budget & Finance - Helena Tuleya-Payne, D.Ed.
- Legislative & Governmental Affairs - Tanya Vishnevsky, Ph.D.
- Membership - Brianna Bernardo, Psy.D. and Tiffany Brown, Ph.D.
- Nominations & Elections - Allyson Galloway, Psy.D.
Professional Psychology Board Chair and Committee Chairs
Sam Schachner, Ph.D. - Board Chair
- Insurance - Valerie Domenici, Ph.D.
- Integrated Care - Richard Kutz, Psy.D.
- Ethics - John Gavazzi, Psy.D., ABPP
Program and Education Board Chair and Committee Chairs
Michelle Wonders, Psy.D - Board Chair
- Leadership & Professional Development - Linda Knauss, Ph.D.
- Proposal Selection - Michelle Wonders, Psy.D
Public Interest Board Chair and Committee Chairs
Tony Ragusea, Psy.D., MSCP, ABPP - Board Chair
- Child & Family Forensics - Allison Otto, Psy.D. and Ashley Milspaw, Psy.D.
- Public Education - Jill Adaman, Ph.D.
- Colleague Assistance - Kirby Wycoff, Psy.D.
School Psychology Board Chair and Committee Chairs
Shirley Woika, Ph.D. - Board Chair
- Outreach/Liaison - Jessica Dirsmith, D.Ed.
- Public Policy - Shannon Boccardi, Ph.D.
- School Psychology Communications - Joel Winnick, Ph.D.
Others
- Pennsylvania Psychological Foundation President - Williametta Simmons, Psy.D
- PennPsyPAC Chair - Michael DeStefano, Ph.D.