Be your authentic self as a leader

Minority Fellowship Program Leader Spotlight

Candice Hargons, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Emory University

Alumna, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS) Fellowship

What was your biggest takeaway from your MFP experience?

I was so affirmed by joining a community of brilliant scientists and practitioners of the global majority in psychology. What I learned was less important at the time than how we connected.

How did you apply your MFP learnings to your life and your career?

The network from MFP helped launch my career. I worked with Della Mosley, one of my cohort members, and became her mentor and academic advisor as she completed her PhD. We were able to do amazing work transforming the University of Kentucky.

What's the best leadership advice you've ever received?

Be willing to lose your seat to do what's right and just. And succession plan so when your time is up, you've trained others to keep going.

What advice would you give to aspiring psychology leaders from underrepresented communities?

Be your authentic self as a leader. You come in with gifts that are necessary in psychology right now. But always be willing to learn and grow.

What can you share with MFP alumni and prospective MFP participants about what you learned about yourself through the program?

It was confirmed that we're not imposters. We are inheriting what our ancestors built, even though it was stolen and co-opted for a while. Being healers and scientists is in our heritage.