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Arthur C. Evans Jr. Will Retire as APA CEO in 2028

The American Psychological Association will begin a national search for a successor to lead the organization.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in People

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American Psychological Association CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr. will retire in January 2028, prompting the organization to launch a national search for his successor. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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American Psychological Association CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr. will retire effective January 3, 2028. He has agreed to lead the organization for the next 15 months to facilitate a deliberate transition.

Why it matters

The leadership change comes as the association aims to maintain the strategic direction established in 2019. The planned departure allows the Board of Directors sufficient time to conduct a comprehensive national search.

The APA membership base grew to over 190,000 from 114,000 in 2017. Additionally, the association has published six million records to the PsycInfo database and increased its media coverage by 1,000%.

The players

Arthur C. Evans Jr.

He is the outgoing CEO of the American Psychological Association who has served in the role since 2017.

American Psychological Association

This is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychologists in the United States.

APA Board of Directors

This governing body is responsible for overseeing the association's strategic direction and leadership selection.

The details

Evans, who began his tenure in March 2017, established the Center for Behavioral Science and AI during his leadership. An APA CEO Search Committee will now oversee the process of finding a replacement to guide the organization into the future.

Timeline

  1. March 2017: Arthur C. Evans Jr. began his tenure as CEO.

  2. 2019: The Council of Representatives established a new strategic direction.

  3. September 22, 2026: The APA announced the upcoming retirement of Arthur Evans.

  4. January 3, 2028: Arthur C. Evans Jr. will retire as CEO.

Market Landscape

The search for new leadership follows the organizational blueprint set by the 2019 Council of Representatives strategic direction. This transition marks a shift for the association as it seeks to maintain its current growth trajectory.

The transition period ensures the American Psychological Association maintains consistency in its ongoing advocacy and research initiatives. Members and stakeholders should expect a focus on organizational stability throughout the 15-month search period.

The takeaway

The planned 15-month transition reflects a deliberate approach to executive succession planning within large professional organizations. This period provides an opportunity for the board to align future leadership with the association's established long-term goals.

Further reading

For more on changes in organizational leadership, visit the People section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Apa.

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