Dorothy W. Cantor

In 1996, Dorothy Cantor became the first person with a Psy.D. degree and the first woman clinician to lead the American Psychological Association, the world's largest association of psychologists. Under her leadership, the APA developed the landmark document, Your Mental Health Rights, which was distributed to President Bill Clinton, all members of Congress, as well as healthcare provider organizations. Many of the points contained in this document were ultimately included in the federal government's Patients' Bill of Rights. Cantor, who has a private practice in Westfield, has also been president of the American Psychological Foundation since 2001. At that time the foundation had one small endowment but has since raised upward of $15 million, which supports innovative research and programs that enhance the power of psychology. Cantor is also a board member of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, a past-president of the New Jersey Psychological Association, and co-founder of Women in Psychology for Legislative Action. Her quick rise to prominence in the psychologist community has led Rutgers' Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology to great heights in the field. She remains active with the GSAPP Alumni Organization and mentors many young psychologists.