Recommendations for the Distinguished Psychologist of the Year Award are presented by the Awards Committee to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors for approval at the first board meeting of the year. The award is then presented by the president of the Division.
Guidelines for the selection of the recipient of the Distinguished Psychologist of the Year Award:
- Distinguished, sustained service in the practice of psychology. While no specific length of service is required, a minimum of 15 to 20 years should be the norm.
- The candidate is licensed and devotes a significant portion of time to the delivery of services.
- Evidence of having received local, state, or national recognition.
- The achievement of recognition by an appropriate specialty board.
- Having served on local, state, or national boards, committees, and/or a Division of APA.
- The publication of theoretical, scientific, and/or research articles, books, monographs, and assessment devices which have made a demonstrable impact on the practice or thinking of colleagues.
- The recipient of honors from other professional organizations.
- Significant contribution in the areas of the training and/or teaching of colleagues.
- Distinguished contribution to public welfare as a psychologist.
Award History — Distinguished Psychologist of the Year Award
- 1981 Herbert J. Freudenberger
- 1982 Marvin Metsky
- 1983 Stanley R. Graham, PhD
- 1984 Jack G. Wiggins
- 1985 Evelyn Hill
- 1986 Robert Weitz
- 1987 Stanley Moldawsky
- 1988 Arthur L. Kovacs
- 1989 Mathilda Canter
- 1990 George D. Goldman
- 1991 Karen Zager
- 1992 Michael F. Enright
- 1993 Sandra Haber
- 1994 Richard H. Mikesell
- 1995 No award given
- 1996 Dorothy W. Cantor, PsyD
- 1997 Karen Shore
- 1998 Michael Murphy
- 1999 T. Richard Saunders
- 2000 Norine Johnson, PhD
- 2001 Alan Entin, PhD
- 2002 Carol Goodheart, EdD
- 2003 Ronald Levant, EdD, ABPP
- 2004 Norma Simon, EdD
- 2005 Bonnie Markham, PhD, PsyD
- 2006 Jean Carter, PhD
- 2007 Jeffrey Barnett, PsyD, ABPP
- 2008 Melba Vasquez, PhD, ABPP
- 2009 Robert Resnick, PhD
- 2010 Jeff Magnavita, PhD, ABPP
- 2011 Lillian Comas-Diaz, PhD
- 2012 Laura Barbanel, EdD, ABPP
- 2013 Nancy Molitor, PhD
- 2014 Helen Coons, PhD, ABPP
- 2015 I. Bruce Frumkin, PhD, ABPP
- 2016 Lisa Grossman, JD, PhD, ABPP & Jeffrey Younggren, PhD, JD, ABPP
- 2017 June Ching, PhD, ABPP
- 2018 Lori Thomas, JD, PhD
- 2019 David Shapiro, PhD, ABPP
- 2020 Gerald Koocher, PhD, ABPP
- 2021 No award given
- 2022 No award given
- 2023 June Feder, PhD