AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY - DIVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS (AACP-DGS) |
Chair![]() Rita M. Rivera, M.S., CTP |
Vice Chair
| David Benitez, M.S. is a third-year Psy.D. student pursuing a clinical psychology doctorate with a concentration in neuropsychology at Albizu University-Miami Campus. At AU, he serves as President of the Neuropsychology Society, President of the Division of Clinical Psychopharmacology, and Institutional Academic Board Student Representative. He is the newly elected Student Representative for the APA’s Society of Prescribing Psychology (Div. 55), Vice-Chair of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology-Division of Graduate Students (AACP-DGS), and Past Chair of the Florida Psychological Association of Graduate Students (FPAGS). He also serves as a Student Representative for Albizu University’s Association of Neuropsychology Students and Trainees (ANST), sponsored by the APA’s Society of Clinical Neuropsychology (Div. 40), and is Co-chair of the Higher Education working group of the APA’s Interdivisional COVID-19 Taskforce. David has clinical experience working in outpatient and in-patient settings with a wide arrange of populations, including pediatrics, adults, and geriatrics. Among clinical presentations, he has worked predominantly with patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), dementia, and other neurocognitive disorders. |
Secretary
| Erica Ackerman, M.S. is a first-year Psy.D. student pursuing a clinical psychology doctorate while specializing in forensic psychology at Nova Southeastern University. She received her master’s in clinical psychology from Barry University where she served as the Vice President and subsequently President of the Graduate Association of Students in Psychology (GASP). Erica is the Secretary of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology-Division of Graduate Students (AACP-DGS). She has extensive experience presenting her forensically oriented research at various conferences and symposiums, some of which earning her awards in psychology and social science categories. Erica has experience constructing measures and hopes to continue to create assessment measures catered to the forensic population that will serve as a guide for evaluations for serious mental illness or competency issues in the jail/prison population. Other areas of interest include restoration processes, mitigation assistance, and jury consultation. Erica has clinical experience working in outpatient settings with adult populations. Her experience includes providing comprehensive neuropsychological assessments to patients with traumatic brain injuries and other neurocognitive disorders. She also has experience providing cognitive rehabilitation and various therapeutic services to individuals with diverse symptomatology. |
Clinical Psychopharmacology Advocacy Chair (CPAC)
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Inclusion & Diversity Officer (IDO) |
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International Affairs Representative (IAR) |
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