Nomination Submissions

The Call for Nominations for the Society for the Psychological Study of Race, Ethnicity and Culture Awards

Nominations are due by Friday, May 5, 2023 (11:59 pm PST)

Nominate a deserving colleague or mentor for one of the 13 Society for the Psychological Study of Race, Ethnicity and Culture Awards (APA Division 45); we also encourage self-nominations. The awards will be presented at during the APA Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.

Awards Nomination Process

The Division 45 Member Awards nomination process includes the following:

  1. Write a letter of nomination describing the nominee’s achievements; include letter in packet
  2. Two letters of support are required in addition to the nomination letter
  3. Include copy of nominee’s CV
  4.  Provide contact information (postal mailing address & email address) for both the nominee and the nominator

Awards Requirements

All nominees must be members of APA and Division 45.  Nominees can join APA and the division before the nomination date.

Awards Submission

For all Awards, a single electronic PDF file consisting of all required supportive materials must be emailed to APA Division 45 Awards Committee Chair, Kevin Cokley (kcokley@umich.edu) by Friday, May 5, 2023 (11:59 pm PST).

List of APA Division 45 Awards

Emerging Professional – Contributions to Service Award

This award is given to an individual who has made outstanding service contributions in the promotion of ethnic minority issues within 10 years of graduation.

Emerging Professional – Contributions to Research Award

This award is given to an individual who has made outstanding research contributions in the promotion of ethnic minority issues within 10 years of graduation.

Previous candidates for this award may have made contributions within educational, research, or practice domains.

Charles and Shirley Thomas Award

This award was created in honor of the significant contributions made by Charles and Shirley Thomas in the area of student mentoring and development, as well as their contributions toward making psychology responsive and relevant to the needs of the African American community. Candidates for this award should demonstrate significant contributions to the education and training of students of color as well as a professional presence within ethnic minority communities.

Asuncion Miteria Austria & John Robinson Distinguished Mentoring Award

The Asuncion Miteria Austria & John Robinson award was created in honor of their distinguished contributions to the governance of the American Psychological Association and their outstanding mentoring of ethnic minority psychologists into governance roles. Candidates for this award should demonstrate significant achievements and participation in the governance of the American Psychological Association on a national level, as well as the mentoring of ethnic minority psychologists to assume roles in governance. Self-nominations are encouraged.

Distinguished Career – Contributions to Service Award

This award was created to honor the contributions of a senior person in the field of psychology who has made significant contributions in the area of service with ethnic minority populations. Candidates for this award should have been in the field 15 or more years, and have made contributions in the development or delivery of services that are focused on ethnic minority populations.

Distinguished Career – Contributions to Research Award

This award was created to honor the contributions of a senior person in the field of psychology who has made significant contributions in research related to ethnic minority populations. Candidates for this award should have been in the field 15 or more years, and have made scholarly contributions in writing, publishing, and disseminating information on ethnic minority populations and issues, thereby substantively contributing to the current understanding of ethnic minorities.

Joseph E. Trimble & Jewell E. Horvat Distinguished Professional in Native/Indigenous Psychology

The Joseph E. Trimble and Jewell Horvat award was created to honor significant contributions to Native and Indigenous psychology and making psychology responsive and relevant to the needs of Native and Indigenous communities. Candidates for this award should demonstrate significant contributions to Native and Indigenous psychology.

This award will be given to a senior level contributor to the field of Native and Indigenous psychology who inspired their former students to create benefits for indigenous communities through their scholarship, practices, and leadership. Small stipends accompany the awards.

Joseph E. Trimble & Jewell E. Horvat Outstanding Student in Native/Indigenous Psychology

The Joseph E. Trimble and Jewell Horvat award was created to honor significant contributions to Native and Indigenous psychology and making psychology responsive and relevant to the needs of Native and Indigenous communities. Candidates for this award should demonstrate significant contributions to Native and Indigenous psychology.

This award will be given to a promising graduate student who has demonstrated a commitment to achieving an admirable balance between community development and potential leadership in the field of psychology. This award is presented to an outstanding student who is distinguished in terms of professional and/or community service efforts.

Toy Caldwell-Colbert Student Contributions to Service Award

This award is presented to an outstanding student who is distinguished in terms of professional and/or community service efforts.

Distinguished Student Research Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding psychological research on ethnic minority issues conducted primarily by a graduate student, including – but not limited to — dissertation research. Candidates whose goals and professional development are consistent with a career involving the psychological study of ethnic minority issues will be given preference for this award. The award will be presented at the Division 45 Award Ceremony during the APA Convention. Awardees are presented with an engraved plaque and an honorarium.

Eligibility Requirements:

Nominees must be matriculated graduate students (including pre-doctoral interns), and must be student affiliates of Division 45 at the time that their nomination materials are submitted.

The Barbara Smith & Jewell E. Horvat Graduate Student Award for Research on Queer Individuals of Color

Named after the American lesbian feminist and socialist, Barbara Smith, and made possible by a generous award from the Horvat family, this award is intended for individuals who are 10 years or less post-PhD at the time an application is submitted. It aims to recognize an individual who is a graduate student at the time of application for this award, and who have conducted research on psychological matters among individuals who identify as members of both, a sexual minority as well as a racial/ethnic minority group. This award carries a $500 monetary award and a plaque to be presented at the Division 45 business meeting during the APA annual convention.

The Barbara Smith & Jewell E. Hovat Early Career Award for Research on Queer Individuals of Color

Named after the American lesbian feminist and socialist, Barbara Smith, and made possible by a generous award for the Horvat family, this award is intended for individuals who are 10 years or less post-PhD at the time an application is submitted. It aims to recognize an individual who has conducted published research on psychological matters with individuals who identify as members of both, a sexual minority as well as a racial/ethnic minority group. This award carries a $500 monetary award and a plaque to be presented at the Division 45 Business Meeting during the 2023 APA Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.