Keynote Speakers

ACT 2026 Keynote Speakers, St. Louis, MO

ACT 2025 Keynote Speakers, Minneapolis, MN

Stephanie Afful

STP President

Dr. Stephanie Afful is a Professor of Psychology at Lindenwood University, specializing in social psychology with a focus on racial identity, interracial relationships, and inclusive pedagogy. She holds a PhD in Social Psychology from Saint Louis University and a BA in Psychology and Sociology from Drury University.

A dedicated educator and advocate, Dr. Afful is recognized for her excellence in teaching and academic leadership. She has received numerous honors, including the STP Early Career Jane Halonen Award, two Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards, and the MLK Jr. Leadership Award. Her scholarship bridges research and practice, with publications in the Journal of Social Issues, Teaching of Psychology, and the Journal of Black Psychology, along with contributions to several book chapters on pedagogical innovation and professional development.

Her TEDx talk, “I Spy Something White,” explores racial perception and the often-unseen dynamics of whiteness in everyday life. Through her work, Dr. Afful offers valuable perspectives at the intersection of identity, equity, and effective teaching.

She is a committed leader in the academic community, serving on the executive committee of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology and currently serving as its 2025 President. Dr. Afful is known for her thoughtful leadership, resilience, and ongoing commitment to inclusive and impactful education.

Beyond academia, she enjoys crafting, reading, traveling, and embracing her role as a proud soccer mom.

Nicholas Epley

University of Chicago

Nicholas Epley is the John Templeton Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavior Science and Director of the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He studies social cognition—how thinking people think about other thinking people—to understand why smart people so routinely misunderstand each other. He teaches an ethics and wellbeing course to MBA students called Designing a Good Life. His research has been featured by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Wired, and National Public Radio, among many others, and has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Templeton Foundation. He has been awarded the 2008 Theoretical Innovation Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the 2011 Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology from the American Psychological Association, the 2015 Book Prize for the Promotion of Social and Personality Science, and the 2018 Career Trajectory Award from the Society for Experimental Social Psychology. Epley was named a "professor to watch" by the Financial Times, one of the "World's Best 40 under 40 Business School Professors" by Poets and Quants, and one of the 100 Most Influential in Business Ethics by Ethisphere. He is the author of Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want, and of a forthcoming book to be published in the fall of 2026 tentatively titled, Hello? Connecting Better in an Overly Lonely World.

Nadine J. Kaslow

Emory University

Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, ABPP, Professor, Vice Chair for Faculty Development and DEI, Chief Psychologist, Director of the Nia Project, and Director of Postdoctoral Residency Training at Emory Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is the Director of Wellbeing, Resilience, and Flourishing in the Emory at Grady Dean’s Office. Past-President of the American Psychological Association (APA) and a member of the Board of the International Association of Applied Psychology Professional Practice Division, she also is Past President/Chair of four APA divisions, American Board of Clinical Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology, and Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers. She has received numerous awards, including the APA Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training Award, an APA Presidential Citation, Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award, Grady Health Foundation’s Inspiring Mentor Award, Emory University’s Thomas Jefferson Award, Emory at Grady Career Impact Award, and Emory School of Medicine’s Lifetime Service and Leadership Award and is a Distinguished Member of Psi Chi. The recipient of multiple federal grants, she has over 380 publications and has co-edited seven books related to psychology education and training, culturally responsive interventions for family violence and suicide, trauma-informed and patient- and family- centered care, leadership, and healthcare worker well-being. A frequent media guest, Dr. Kaslow is the psychologist for the Atlanta Ballet.

Loretta McGregor

STP President

Stephen Chew