Dr. Jennifer F. Kelly Elected to National Register of Health Service Psychologists Board of Directors

The National Register Board of Directors elected Dr. Jennifer F. Kelly to a four-year term effective January 1, 2026.   

In response to her election, Dr. Kelly remarked, “I am truly honored to be selected to serve on the Board of the National Register. I remain committed to advancing the Register’s mission, and I view this appointment as a meaningful opportunity to continue contributing to the profession at a national level. I am especially passionate about supporting the next generation of psychologists, advocating for systemic reforms, and enhancing the visibility and impact of health service psychologists across healthcare settings. I look forward to working alongside such dedicated and distinguished colleagues.”  

Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist and board-certified clinical health psychologist.  Dr. Kelly is the founding director of the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Medicine, where her work focuses on the dynamic interplay between physical and emotional health. A native of Gulfport, Mississippi, she earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University.

A committed advocate for the profession, Dr. Kelly served as president of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2021, during which her presidential initiatives underscored psychology’s essential role in advancing health and racial equity. She is also a past president of the Georgia Psychological Association. For 25 years, she also served as the association’s Federal Advocacy Coordinator. Most recently, she served on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee on Expanding Behavioral Care Workforce Participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace Plans.

Dr. Kelly has also demonstrated leadership within her home city of Atlanta. She is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Atlanta and has served on the Boards of 3Keys (formerly Project Interconnections), which provides housing and support services for individuals experiencing homelessness with mental illness, and CHRIS 180, an organization dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of Atlanta’s children, youth, and families.

Her leadership, scholarship, and sustained advocacy have earned her numerous distinctions, including the 2024 APA Raymond D. Fowler Award and the 2023 Society of Health Psychology Nathan W. Perry, Jr. Award for Career Service to Health Psychology

Dr. Kelly joined the National Register in 2025.