Reminder: APA Division 16 Call for Award Nominations
Lindsay Fallon
I hope many of you are enjoying NASP!
This is a reminder that APA’s Division 16 (School Psychology) is now accepting nominations for several major professional awards. These awards honor school psychology graduate students, researchers, practitioners, and other professionals who have contributed meaningfully to the field. We hope you will nominate yourself or others! For many awards, a CV is all that is required, however additional supporting documents may make for the strongest nomination. Award categories are as follows:
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Research Awards
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Anti-Racism Awards
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Service, Practice, and Mentorship Awards
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This year, we have a new service award for early career professionals which emphasizes quality of professional service contributions (description below). Please note that nominations for all awards must be received by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 to be considered. Independent committees comprised of past honorees will determine the winner for each award.
This year’s winners will be recognized at the APA Convention in Washington DC this August. Please click the name of the award below for additional details and nomination instructions. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Thank you!
Lindsay Fallon
Division 16 Vice President for Education, Training and Scientific Affairs (VP-ETSA)
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Research Awards
Outstanding Dissertation Award
2025 winners: Katie Valentine, Ph.D. (Michigan State University) & Alex Latham, Ph.D. (UW-Madison)
This award honors a school psychology scholar who has completed a dissertation that merits special recognition because of its potential to contribute to the science and/or practice of school psychology. Nominations should be submitted by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 via this form.
2025 winners: Lisa Aguilar, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota) & Garret Hall, Ph.D. (Florida State University)
This award honors an early career (within 7 years of receiving the doctoral degree) school psychology scholar whose research has nourished school psychology as a profession and merits special recognition. Nominations should be submitted by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Tom Oakland Mid-Career Scholarship Award
2025 Winners: Cixin Wang, Ph.D. (University of Maryland) & Steve Kilgus, Ph.D. (UW-Madison)
The Tom Oakland Mid-Career Scholarship Award honors a mid-career (7 to 20 years from receiving the doctoral degree) scholar whose extraordinary scholarly pursuits significantly contributed to the field of school psychology. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Senior Scientist in School Psychology Award
2025 Winner: Shannon Suldo, Ph.D. (University of South Florida)
This award honors an advanced career scholar (>20 years post-doctoral degree) who has sustained a program of research of exceptional quality, contributing meaningfully and extensively to the scientific knowledge base of school psychology training and practice. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Anti-Racism Awards
Outstanding
Commitment to Anti-Racism: Student Award
2025 Winner: Jaida Lilly (University of Montana)
This award honors a graduate student who is making significant efforts to advance anti-racism scholarship, service, and/or practice in school psychology. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Outstanding Commitment to Anti-Racism: Emerging Professional Award
2025 Winner: Kamontá Heidelburg, Ph.D. (The Ohio State University)
This award honors an early career professional (<10 years post-doctoral degree) who is making significant efforts to advance anti-racism scholarship, service, and/or practice in school psychology. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Outstanding Commitment to Anti-Racism: Committed Professional Award
2025 Winner: Enedina Vázquez, Ph.D. (The University of Iowa)
This award honors a mid to late career professional (>10 years post-doctoral degree) who is making significant efforts to advance anti-racism scholarship, service, and/or practice in school psychology. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Service, Practice and Mentorship Awards
Outstanding Early Career Service Award
This *NEW* award honors a professional or academic school psychologist (< 7 years post-doctoral degree) who has demonstrated exceptional contributions to the field of school psychology through a program of service that merits special recognition. This contribution may center quality of service over quantity of service commitments and may feature contributions to a training program, department, university, professional organizations, national committees, and/or journal editorial service. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Jean Baker Mid-Career Service Award
2025 Winner: David Hulac, Ph.D. (University of Northern Colorado)
This award honors professional or academic school psychologist (7 to 20 years post-doctoral degree) who has demonstrated extraordinary professional service that has contributed meaningfully to the field of school psychology. Service may feature contributions to a training program, department, university, professional organizations, national committees, and/or journal editorial service. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM EST on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Jack Bardon Distinguished Service Award
2025 Winner: Tammy L. Hughes, Ph.D., ABPP (Duquesne University)
This award honors a professional or academic school psychologist (>20 years post-doctoral degree) who has demonstrated extraordinary, sustained professional service that has contributed meaningfully to the field of school psychology. Service may feature contributions to a training program, department, university, professional organizations, national committees, and/or journal editorial service. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Outstanding Contributions to Practice Award
2025 Winner: Markeda Newell, Ph.D. (Loyola University of Chicago)
This award honors a professional or academic school psychologist who has demonstrated exceptional contributions to the field through innovations in practice. This includes creation and dissemination of assessments, interventions, or practice models; encouraging best practices through advocacy, policy, and legislative work; development of innovative preservice or in service training or supervision programs. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM on March 15, 2026 via this form.
Contributions to Mentorship Award
2025 Winners: Brea M. Banks, Ph.D. (Illinois State University) & Desireé Vega, Ph.D. (University of Arizona)
This award honors a professional or academic school psychologist (e.g., university trainer, field supervisor) who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to mentoring trainees. Their mentorship has been outstanding and sustained, creating access and opportunity for mentees to provide outstanding school psychological services to clients or to advance the science of school psychology. Nominations should be submitted electronically by 11:59PM on March 15, 2026 via this form.
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Lindsay Fallon, Ph.D., BCBA-D (she/her)
Licensed Psychologist
Director, Center for Social Development and Education
Professor, School Psychology
Department of Counseling, School Psychology & Sport
College of Education and Human Development
University of Massachusetts Boston