Washington, D.C., August 24, 2021 — Rawle Andrews, Jr., Esq., has been named executive director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) effective September 27, 2021. Andrews comes to APAF from AARP, where he served for 15 years, most recently as vice president and a member of the national leadership team overseeing the organization’s field operations in the seven largest and most diverse states in the country, including the states of California, Florida, New York and Texas.

The APAF is the charitable foundation of the American Psychiatric Association. As executive director, Andrews will oversee its efforts to raise awareness about mental health, overcome barriers to access, invest in the future leaders of psychiatry, support research and training to improve care and lead partnerships to address public challenges in mental health.

“Rawle Andrews’ record of results and action, coupled with his passion for health equity, will make him an excellent leader for the APA Foundation,” said APA CEO and Medical Director and APAF Board Chair Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “He joins a strong organization that does so much to improve our nation’s mental health, and I’m excited to see what the Foundation will achieve with him at the helm.”

“I am honored and humbled to be joining the APA Foundation at such a dynamic time in this country and beyond. I am also grateful to Amy Porfiri for her service as the Foundation’s interim leader during the pandemic. Mental health awareness and the need for medical help are growing exponentially. Working together, our Board, staff, fellows and community partners will continue to meet this moment with focus, determination and consistency while introducing the Foundation to new communities where our neighbors in need live, learn, work, worship and play,” said Andrews.

During his 15-year tenure at AARP, after joining as Managing Attorney, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Andrews led business, financial and external affairs for the Maryland state office. He then was named a vice president in 2011, and moved into his current role in 2015, where he launched a new strategic business unit which represents nearly half of AARP’s membership.

A psychology major at Texas Southern University and an honors graduate of the Howard University School of Law, Andrews spent 16 years practicing law before joining the AARP management team. He was honored with the D.C. Bar’s Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award in 2006, and the Distinguished Healthcare Leadership Award by the National Association of Healthcare Services Executives in 2018. Andrews serves as President-Elect of the Bar Association of D.C., an adjunct professor at Howard Law, a member of the Board of Directors of the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust, and as national chair of the public policy committee for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Amy Porfiri, M.B.A., has been serving as the organization’s interim executive director and will return to her position as the foundation’s managing director.

American Psychiatric Association Foundation

The American Psychiatric Association Foundation is the philanthropic and educational arm of APA. The APA Foundation promotes awareness of mental illnesses and the effectiveness of treatment, the importance of early intervention, access to care, and the need for high-quality services and treatment through a combination of public and professional education, research, research training, grants, and awards.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,400 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information please visit www.psychiatry.org.