September 1, 2026      

Dear STP Colleagues,

Welcome to the start of a brand-new school year! I hope your summer months provided you with ample time to rest, recharge, and practice the very self-care we so often encourage in our students. I had a wonderful summer, first with colleagues at the AP Psychology Reading in Kansas City, followed by a great week in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with family (and thanks to those of you who contacted me with suggestions for sights to see and restaurants to try while we were up there). After some recharging and class prep time in Albion, I got to attend the APA Convention in Washington, DC. I hope your past few months were every bit as enjoyable as mine were. Whether you spent the break traveling, diving into research, prepping class material, or simply unplugging with family and friends, there is a tangible energy that comes with the fall term - a collective sense of anticipation, renewed purpose, and optimism for the work ahead.

As we step back into our classrooms, lecture halls, and virtual spaces, we carry that restored energy with us. Teaching psychology is a unique privilege; we get to light the spark of curiosity about human behavior, mind, and connection. At the start of almost every school year, I find myself pretending to be Brandon Flowers of The Killers famously singing the song Mr. Brightside:

 "I'm coming out of my cage and I've been doing just fine."

After a summer of stepping away and breaking out of our daily school routines, I hope we have all returned to our campus communities ready to thrive, innovate, and inspire each other and our students.

That renewed spirit of connection and shared growth makes this season even more special. I am thrilled to remind everyone that our Annual Conference on Teaching (ACT) is just around the corner, taking place this October in St. Louis! ACT is always a highlight of the year for me - a vibrant space where we can gather in person, exchange transformative pedagogical ideas, celebrate our successes, and support one another as educators, and perhaps more importantly, as human beings doing increasingly difficult work. If you haven't registered for ACT yet, I encourage you to do so by September 15 (to take advantage of the regular registration rates) and join us for what promises to be another exceptional gathering, thanks to Garth Neufeld and his outstanding steering committee!

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to our society, to the discipline, and above all, to your students. May your syllabi be clear, your discussions lively, and your semester deeply fulfilling.

Here’s to an exciting, energizing, and successful fall term!

With all best wishes,

Drew Christopher
STP President

Read past letters from the STP President