NCSPP 2027 Mid-Winter Conference

January 18-21, 2027
Long Beach, California

Bridging Futures and Increasing Sustainability: Through Inclusion, Advocacy, and Action

Over the past 50 years, the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP) has served as a catalyst for innovation in professional psychology education and training. NCSPP conferences have historically provided a space where leaders in professional psychology come together to exchange ideas, develop new models of training, and collectively shape the future of the field.

As NCSPP enters its 51st year, the field of professional psychology finds itself at a defining crossroads. PsyD programs have long served as the training ground for practice-focused psychologists who are deeply embedded in the communities they serve. Yet the landscape of healthcare, higher education, licensure, and professional identity continues to evolve rapidly. This moment calls for leadership, innovation, and clarity.

The 2027 NCSPP Mid-Winter Conference invites delegates to come together to examine how we define the PsyD, how we prepare the next generation of psychologists, and how we ensure the long-term sustainability of professional psychology education and practice.

The conference theme, Bridging Futures and Increasing Sustainability: Through Inclusion, Advocacy, and Action, reflects NCSPP’s commitment to honoring the wisdom of our past while actively building the future of professional psychology. The conference will emphasize collaboration, leadership development, and concrete strategies that strengthen PsyD training and the profession as a whole.

Consistent with NCSPP’s history of innovation, the 2027 conference will prioritize interactive and action-oriented sessions that move beyond conceptual discussion to generate tangible tools, models, and strategies that delegates can bring back to their programs.

We welcome submissions that advance dialogue, innovation, and practical solutions in professional psychology education and training.

Areas of Interest

Proposals may address a broad range of issues relevant to PsyD education, leadership, and the future of professional psychology. Topics of particular interest include:

• Defining the PsyD in a Changing Licensure Landscape
  Exploring how PsyD training is distinct from other pathways to licensure and how programs can clearly articulate the competencies and value associated with doctoral-level training.
• Innovative Models for Competency Development and Assessment
  Presentations that explore new approaches to evaluating student competencies, including competency portfolios, practice-based demonstrations, integrated milestone systems, and other innovative models beyond traditional dissertation requirements.
• Product-Oriented Workshops and Action Labs
  Interactive sessions that provide structured time for participants to develop concrete tools and resources. Examples may include sustainable syllabus redesign workshops, competency assessment templates, gatekeeping policies, advocacy training modules, or program development frameworks.
• Leadership Development in Professional Psychology
  Strategies for cultivating leadership competencies among students, faculty, and administrators, including mentorship models, leadership development in doctoral training, and faculty leadership pipelines.
• Advocacy, Policy, and Systems-Level Engagement
  Preparing PsyD students and graduates to engage in legislative advocacy, public policy, systems consultation, and leadership within healthcare systems, educational institutions, and community organizations.
• Innovations in Teaching and Training
  Creative approaches to curriculum development, supervision, practicum training, and program design that strengthen student learning and professional identity formation.
• Sustainability in Psychology Education and Training
  Exploring sustainable models for faculty workload, program structure, financial accessibility for students, disability inclusion, and long-term program viability.
• Equity, Inclusion, and Disability Justice in Professional Training
  Advancing inclusive, accessible, and culturally responsive training models that reflect the diverse communities served by psychologists.

Conference Formats

The conference will include keynote speakers, workshops, panel presentations, working groups, and collaborative sessions designed to facilitate discussion, innovation, and collective problem-solving.

We especially encourage proposals that include:

• Interactive workshops
• Collaborative working sessions
• Program development discussions
• Mentorship and leadership training sessions
• Sessions designed to produce concrete materials, templates, or tools that participants can implement within their programs.

Mentorship and First-Time Presenter Initiative

Consistent with NCSPP’s commitment to leadership development and sustainability, the conference strongly encourages proposals that include first-time presenters.

Experienced NCSPP delegates are encouraged to partner with:

• Faculty who have not previously presented at NCSPP
• Early-career faculty
• Program administrators
• Doctoral students engaged in program innovation or leadership development

This mentorship model reflects NCSPP’s long-standing commitment to cultivating the next generation of leaders in professional psychology. Submissions that intentionally incorporate mentorship and leadership development are strongly encouraged.

The Conference Planning Team will be offering proposal workshops to assist in mentoring delegates and faculty through the proposal process.

Continuing Education

NCSPP is committed to ensuring that conference programming supports the professional development needs of attendees. We are committed to structuring all conference sessions so that they meet continuing education (CE) requirements whenever possible. All proposals must clearly meet the CE requirements, including clear learning objectives, relevant educational content, and current APA citations.

Additional guidance will be provided to accepted presenters to support CE eligibility.

Submission Guidelines

Proposals will be submitted via a Google Form platform and include:

• Title of presentation
• Names and affiliations of presenters
• Brief session description (300–500 words)
• Learning objectives
• Proposed session format
• Description of how participants will be engaged in the session

For product-oriented workshops, proposals should also describe the specific tools or materials participants will develop during the session.

Here is the link to the proposal submission form for the NCSPP 2027 Mid-Winter Conference
MWC27 Proposal Submission Form

Review Process

Proposals will be reviewed by the conference planning team based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to the conference theme
• Contribution to innovation in PsyD education and training
• Potential to generate actionable tools or ideas
• Clarity and organization of the proposal
• Participant engagement and interactivity
• Preference will be given to proposals that promote collaboration and active participation among delegates.

Submission Timeline

• Call for Proposals Opens: April 1st, 2026
• Submission Deadline: June 15th, 2026
• Notifications of acceptance will be sent by August 15th, 2026.

Thank you,

2027 Conference Planning Team

• Dr. Alette Coble-Temple — President-Elect, National University
• Dr. Lou Felipe — University of Denver
• Dr. Andy Carlton — The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles
• Dr. Megan Carlos — The Wright Institute
• Dr. Carilyn Ellis — George Fox University