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Candidates for ICP Board Elections – President-Elect and Directors at Large
The ICP Board of Directors includes 5 Officers: President, President-Elect, Past-President, Treasurer, Secretary-General) and up to 10 Directors at Large (9 nominated from Members or Associate Members, 1 nominated from Student Members).
For 2025 the open positions for the ICP Board include President Elect, 3 Member Directors-at-Large, and 1 Student Member at Large
Candidate for President-Elect
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Candidates for Director at Large
Candidates for Student Director at Large (2 year term)
Candidate Statements / Bios
Candidate for President-Elect
Élison Santos, Ph.D.
Instituto IPSapiens, Brazil and Chrysalis Center for Human Development, USA – Candidate for ICP President-Elect
Personal Statement:
It is with deep respect for the history and mission of the International Council of Psychologists that I present myself as a candidate for President-Elect. Since its founding in 1941, ICP has evolved from a pioneering platform for women psychologists into a global network committed to psychological science, human rights, and intercultural collaboration. I am inspired by this legacy—one that champions inclusion, innovation, and global dialogue, and I am eager to contribute to its future.
My vision as President-Elect is rooted in ICP’s foundational values: advancing psychology across borders, fostering international cooperation, and advocating for human dignity. I bring nearly two decades of experience in clinical practice, education, and international leadership, and I have worked to amplify diverse voices through my roles on the ICP Board and as Chair of the ICP Award Podcast Series. I have also collaborated with global colleagues through the Global Network of Psychologists for Human Rights, an initiative ICP co-founded, and continue to be committed to initiatives that honor psychological responsibility on the world stage.
As a leader, I am thoughtful, strategic, and collaborative. I listen deeply and seek diverse perspectives to inform decisions. I am eager to engage with our members, support our committees, and expand our reach through meaningful projects, research, and events. I believe ICP’s Non-Governmental Consultative Status with the UN gives us a unique platform to promote peace, justice, and global well-being through psychology.
I recognize that the coming years will likely present significant global challenges. Yet it is precisely during such times that psychology, and our community, must rise to help people find meaning, reconnect with their inner strength, and restore hope in one another. I believe ICP has a unique and timely role to play in promoting dignity, dialogue, and healing, and I am committed to dedicating myself fully to this mission.
If elected, I would work to honor ICP’s proud legacy while advancing its relevance in a changing world, strengthening our impact, expanding our reach, and ensuring that our Council continues to be a beacon for international psychology, inclusion, and human rights.
Candidates for Director at Large – 5 nominees, 3 year term
Jonathan (Nathan) Aganan
University of San Tomas in Manilla, Philippines – Candidate for Director at Large
Personal Statement
I wish to serve on the ICP Board because I believe deeply in its mission of advancing international cooperation, ethical practice, and human welfare through psychology. My career has centered on bridging disciplines, communities, and cultures, and I see Board service as an opportunity to contribute these experiences to an organization committed to global impact.
As a psychologist, educator, and leader, I have learned the importance of listening carefully, analyzing challenges from multiple perspectives, and making informed decisions grounded in knowledge and evidence. My service as Regional Chairperson of the Psychological Association of the Philippines Calabarzon and Mimaropa Chapter and as National Chairperson of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Special Interest Group has strengthened my ability to collaborate across diverse groups, balance differing viewpoints, and design responsive programs that address both immediate needs and long-term resilience.
I bring to ICP not only my professional expertise in psychology, disaster response, and community engagement, but also my ongoing legal training, which sharpens my understanding of ethics, policy, and human rights. I am committed to working strategically and creatively with fellow Board members, preparing thoroughly for meetings, taking responsibility for assignments, and upholding decisions reached by consensus.
I am eager to contribute my skills in leadership, program development, and intercultural collaboration to strengthen ICP’s role as a platform for advancing psychology worldwide. Serving on the Board would allow me to give back to the profession and to continue building bridges that promote inclusion, resilience, and human dignity across nations.
Aimee Karam
St. Georges Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon – Candidate for Director at Large
Personal Statement
I have the privilege to be part of the Global Network of Psychologists for Human Rights, since almost 5 years now. When I was in Lisbon, meeting with colleagues for the climate change summit, part of the Global Psychology Alliance mission, I was so happily approached by Merry Bullock to be part of the GNPHR. Since then, I have enjoyed working with an international group of people, each one dedicated to serve, inspire and disseminate by their work the importance of human rights in understanding human behavior and their impact on shaping cognitions, emotions and behavior, also, the importance of understanding people’s psychology when working for human rights. In April 2025, we organized a seminar during the ICP conference in Rotterdam where I presented a collaborative work, done with IDRAAC (www.idraac.org), emphasizing the challenges faced by a country like LEBANON, dealing itself with severe societal, economic and political problems, to be a hosting country itself.
Connecting with people from various countries, living experiences and academic background, was such a valuable exposure. People dedicated and concerned by human rights, dignity and justice. The importance and power of collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and professionals at large gives a sense of meaning, purpose and solidarity globally, facilitating international dialogue, commonalities and peacebuilding.
Being myself , one of the founders of “The Third Voice for Lebanon”, during the year 2011-2022, an active civil society aiming at enhancing dialogue and peacebuilding in Lebanon, a country suffering from divides and political conflicts and as per my professional attitude and practice as a clinical psychologist, listening to people ideas, suggestions, beliefs and assumptions with a curious mind, processing with respect and humbleness and the willingness to learn from them was a very positive learning experience. Working within international perspectives, with people individually and in a group makes you a citizen of the World.
In this entire context, decisions based on knowledge, evidence based and science are solid problem solving venues, when faced with conflictual opinions and prejudices.
It will be such an added value for me to learn more about the Council, to contribute and be part of this organization, reflect responsibly and act efficiently in order to improve, even if it is little, our world and the “environment” around me, locally and internationally, collaboratively and consensually.
Lucy Waimuru Mukuria
True North, Kenya – Candidate for Director at Large
Personal Statement
It is as a result of my overall experience as an ICP board member over the last two years and the present state of the world that I am vying to continue serving as a board member. My main purpose will be to facilitate the holding of the ICP 2027 conference in Nairobi, Kenya. This objective is not just about breaking ground for the first time in African soil but, it is a strategic plan whose pay off should enrich the ICP culture, extend its reach and broaden the impact for the board, members of the International Council of Psychologists for Human Rights as well as the stakeholder circle and, other beneficiaries we are yet to be aware of. In my experience, the possibility of a physical and proximate immersive experience in Nairobi will steer the ICP board and members into mindful conversations followed by conscious actions that will reaffirm our mission statement. The make up of the board members increases my trust that through our collective engagement we shall make ICP conference 2027 a reality.
Izuchukwu Ndukaihe
Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria – Candidate for Director at Large
Personal Statement
I am eager to serve on the Board as a Director-at-Large because I believe in ICP’s wide-ranging initiatives to advance psychological science, promote human rights and interdisciplinary connections, with the potential to shape ethical, evidence-based practices across borders. My experience as a Chartered Psychologist and researcher has trained me to combine rigorous analysis with strategic, creative problem-solving. I bring a disciplined approach to turning data and diverse perspectives into actionable governance and policy initiatives that improve member services and uphold integrity.
Key leadership qualities I offer:
- Listening, analyzing, and strategic thinking: I routinely synthesize complex research findings and stakeholder input to inform decisions that balance rigor, feasibility, and impact. I value curiosity, question assumptions, and translate insights into clear, principled directions.
- Inclusive, international collaboration: With experience leading diverse teams and coordinating cross-disciplinary projects, I excel at considering multiple viewpoints and fostering respectful dialogue. I am comfortable engaging with colleagues from varied cultural and professional backgrounds to build consensus and shared solutions.
- Evidence-based decision-making: I prioritize knowledge over opinion, drawing on ethics, data, and established best practices to guide governance choices. I aim to strengthen transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes in ICP’s programs.
- Commitment to learning and accountability: I am prepared to deepen my understanding of the Council, attend quarterly virtual Board meetings, and fulfill responsibilities with diligence. I value continuous learning and reliable delivery of assignments.
- Team-oriented governance: I thrive in collaborative environments, respect Board decisions reached by consensus or vote, and contribute to a cohesive governing body that honors diverse perspectives while upholding ICP’s mission.
If chosen, I will bring integrity, adaptability, and a service-minded approach to advance ICP’s strategic objectives and member value.
Tushar Singh
Banares Hindu University, Varanasi, India – Candidate for Director at Large
Personal Statement
I am both delighted and honored to be nominated in election for the position of Director at Large on the Board of the International Council of Psychologists. I accept my nomination with humility and am motivated to serve the council. The strengths I bring to the board comes from my lifelong commitment to advancing psychology as a discipline that promotes human rights, social justice, and global well-being. Having engaged in research and international collaborations on child and adolescent mental health, stigma and discrimination, and the psychosocial impacts of global crises, I believe ICP’s mission resonates deeply with my professional works and values.
If elected, I bring to the Board extensive leadership experience both at national and international levels. I am currently serving as President of the National Academy of Psychology (NAOP), India, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP). These services, I have offered, have shaped my ability to listen, analyze, and engage in strategic decision-making in diverse and multicultural settings. My research and advocacy work with marginalized groups including but not limited to LGBTQ+ communities, abused women and children, and survivors of violence has further strengthened my capacity to consider multiple perspectives with sensitivity and empathy.
As a researcher, editor, teacher and motivational speaker, I have learnt to value decisions that are rooted in knowledge and evidence. As a leader, I recognize the importance of consensus-building, transparency, and shared responsibility. I am fully committed to learning more about the Council, contributing actively to Board discussions, and fulfilling responsibilities with diligence and respect for collective decisions.
If elected, I will bring to the ICP Board a blend of international experience, scholarly engagement, and organizational leadership, with the aim of strengthening psychology’s contribution to global well-being and fostering dialogue across cultures and communities.
I thank you for your time and consideration.
Candidates for Student Director at Large (2 year term) – 2 NOMINEES for 1 position
Javier D’Carlo Garcia
Harvard University, USA – Candidate for Student Director at Large
Personal Statement
I am honored to be a candidate for Student Director-at-Large of the International Council of Psychologists. I believe students hold the key to shaping a healthier and more hopeful world. Now more than ever, we must set the example by practicing respect, honesty, integrity, and ethics. We must cooperate because cooperation is essential to success. By working together across borders we can have a greater impact.
This position is not about me. It is about helping students. I would like to help create opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and global engagement so that students can share ideas, learn from one another, and develop initiatives that reflect their knowledge and values. My own experience as a student and managing projects in over forty countries has taught me the importance of listening to everyone’s opinion, analyzing multiple options, working as a team, and making decisions based on evidence. The pleasure of speaking three languages has also given me a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and international perspectives. Traveling around the world has taught me that the true international currency is mutual respect.
I would like to focus on amplifying student voices and fostering global cooperation, ensuring that the International Council of Psychologists is a space where students feel supported, empowered, and connected. Despite the challenges of today’s world, students have the power to lead with integrity, inspire hope, and shape a brighter, more compassionate future for psychology and society. Today’s world is not about being in the audience but being part of the action.
Leslie Hernandez
Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, USA – Candidate for Student Director at Large
Personal Statement
What can I bring to the council?
The ability to analyze and provide more strategies for the vulnerable communities and populations. Everyone deserves equal access to healthcare and education. I am inspired to help others by making a difference in their lives. No problem is too big to work on a crisis during moments of resiliency to achieve personal goals.