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REGISTRATION OPENS AUG 1!
Your Voice Matters in Psychology’s Future
OPA is committed to supporting the next generation of psychologists through mentorship, leadership development, networking, and professional education opportunities.
Designed to Help You Connect, Learn, and Grow
Whether you are an undergraduate student, graduate student, intern, postdoctoral fellow,
or early career psychologist, OPA 2026 is designed to help you build relationships,
explore professional pathways, and elevate your role in the future of psychology.
First-time presenters are encouraged to apply. OPA welcomes student projects at all stages of development, including research studies, quality improvement initiatives, advocacy projects, clinical innovations, community programs, and educational initiatives.
Why Attend?
- Connect with practicing psychologists across Oklahoma
- Explore career paths and specialties
- Learn about internship and licensure pathways
- Gain exposure to advocacy and leadership opportunities
Student Presentations
Share research, innovative practice ideas, advocacy efforts, quality improvement projects, or community-based work with psychologists and students from across Oklahoma.
Professional Development
- Internship preparation
- Navigating licensure
- Building professional identity
- Ethics in training
- Career pathways in psychology
Present a Poster, a Lightning Thesis, or Both
OPA invites undergraduate students, graduate students, interns, postdoctoral fellows, and early career professionals to submit student presentations for the 2026 Annual Conference.
This year’s conference theme — Elevate Your Voice: The Collective Practice of Care — highlights the importance of collaboration, innovation, advocacy, research, and leadership in advancing psychological science and mental health care throughout Oklahoma and beyond.
Poster Presentations
Poster presentations provide an opportunity to share research, innovative practice initiatives, quality improvement projects, advocacy efforts, and community-based work in an interactive format.
OPA has historically welcomed most eligible poster submissions that meet submission requirements.
Lightning Thesis Presentations
The OPA Lightning Thesis Showcase challenges presenters to communicate the significance of their work in three minutes using a single visual slide.
Designed to strengthen communication, leadership, and advocacy skills, the Lightning Thesis format encourages students to clearly and effectively explain their work to a broad professional audience.
Because presentation time is limited, Lightning Thesis presentations may be competitively selected from submitted applications.
Eligibility
Presentation submissions are welcome from students, trainees, and early career psychologists.
Undergraduate Students
Graduate Students
Doctoral Trainees
Interns
Postdoctoral Fellows
Early Career Psychologists
Projects may be submitted individually or as group collaborations. If selected to present, at least one presenter must register for and attend the conference.
Important Dates
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Presentation Application Opens | June 15, 2026 |
| Submission Deadline | October 1, 2026 |
| Acceptance Notifications | October 15, 2026 |
| Conference Dates | November 13–14, 2026 |
Awards & Recognition
OPA plans to recognize outstanding student presentations during the conference. Select students may be asked to present on site at the conference on Friday, November 13, in addition to the Lightning Thesis Showcase.
Benefits of Participating
Build Your CV
Strengthen graduate school, internship, fellowship, and career applications.
Gain Experience
Practice communicating your work clearly to psychologists, faculty, supervisors, and peers.
Grow Your Network
Connect with mentors, future colleagues, and psychology leaders across Oklahoma.
Submission Review Process
Student submissions will be reviewed based on the quality, clarity, and relevance of the proposed presentation.
Relevance
Connection to psychology, behavioral health, training, practice, research, education, or advocacy.
Clarity
Clear organization, purpose, and description of the work.
Professional Quality
Originality, innovation, presentation quality, and alignment with conference themes and educational goals.
Questions?
For questions regarding student presentations or submissions, please contact:
Dr. Beth Melles
Co-Chair of Division of Research and Training
drat@okpsych.org
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