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Welcome to the homepage of the Ohio Psychological Association of Graduate Students. With more than 300 members, OPAGS is an active organization uniting graduate students throughout the state of Ohio. OPAGS is supported by the Ohio Psychological Association, with the OPAGS chair serving as a voting member of its Board of Directors. Additionally, OPAGS members may serve on OPA committees. There are numerous benefits to membership in OPAGS. Members are encouraged to become involved and learn about our profession at the state level.

This website is designed to provide you, the graduate student, with important and current information about your organization. Included on the website is information about membership, your executive council, your campus representatives, OPAGS committees, and a schedule of upcoming events. Please feel free to contact any member of the OPAGS Executive Council or the staff at the OPA Central office with questions or concerns.

History of OPAGS
OPAGS was originally the vision of Michael Ranney, Executive Director of the Ohio Psychological Association (OPA). We remain one of only a handful of graduate student psychological associations in the United States .

In August of 2000 the first student Summit was held in Columbus, Ohio . At that meeting Michael Ranney presented and discussed his vision for the development of OPAGS. Michelle Rone, who was then the Chair of the APAGS Advocacy Coordinating Team, was instrumental in the development of OPAGS. In September 2001, a draft of the by-laws were considered by a newly elected OPAGS Board, headed by Jackie Scheff of Xavier University . It remains a work in progress as OPAGS evolves, and we anticipate a new draft will be ready for approval by OPAGS at the Student Summit this year.

In July 2002, the First Annual OPAGS Summer Workshop proved a successful beginning to our networking and educational efforts. Plans are underway to make this an annual event, along with many other projects and goals for the coming year.

During the 2002-03 year, OPAGS received national recognition as the Outstanding State Provincial Student Organization. Briget Lanktree, 2002-03 OPAGS Chair, Michael Ranney, OPA Executive Director, and Nichole Wood-Barcalow, APAGS State Advocacy Coordinator, accepted the award in Washington, DC in March during the awards luncheon at the APA State Leadership Conference. This recognition included a $1500 monetary award. OPAGS, the first recipient of this award, will also be recognized at the APA Convention in Toronto.

Click to enlarge photo.

July 2003 saw the Second Annual OPAGS Summer Workshop, with a variety of guest speakers as well as elections for the 2003-04 Executive Council.