Each year MPAF seeks nominations for the following awards and scholarship, reviews nominees, and selects a candidate to receive the award at the annual MPA conferences in April and October.

 

The Michigan Psychological Association Foundation is NOW ACCEPTING nominations for the 2023 Annual Meeting!

WHO CAN NOMINATE? Anyone familiar with the nominee’s demonstration of the criteria outlined for the most applicable award, distinction, or recognition.

WHEN TO NOMINATE? Now! We are accepting nominations for award recipients to be announced at MPA's 2023 Annual Meeting!
 
WHERE TO NOMINATE? Click HERE: https://forms.gle/d3ggAM4bm52Bqgfx5

MORE QUESTIONS? Contact our MPAF Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Brandi Pritchett-Johnson at [email protected] 

Professional Awards:

BETH CLARK SERVICE AWARD

The Beth Clark Service Award is given to an MPA member who has demonstrated volunteerism, activism, and/or advocacy with great initiative, perseverance, integrity, selflessness and good will in the service of MPA or other worthy causes related to the mission of MPA. A psychologist eligible for the Beth Clark Service Award must reside in Michigan, be a member in good standing of the Michigan Psychological Association,and be considered by his or her peers as a person exhibiting the qualities outlined in the criteria.  If awarded, the recipient must be willing to contribute a featured article on the MPA website. A 1-year MPA membership and a $250 donation will be gifted to the recipients chosen cause or organization in his/her/their honor.
 

DISTINGUISHED PSYCHOLOGIST AWARDS

The Distinguished Psychologist Award honors a psychologist who has made outstanding contributions to psychology in Michigan.  Such contributions may be academic, applied, or otherwise reflect the qualities of dedication, competence, and high ethical standards and social justice for the field of psychology.  A psychologist eligible for the Distinguished Psychologist Award must reside in Michigan and be considered by his/her/their peers as having made outstanding contributions to psychology in Michigan.  Outstanding contributions may include distinct and extraordinary accomplishments with recognizable impacts in teaching, scholarship, and/or clinical practice. One award is designated for each of the following three categories:
  • Early career contributor (>10 years)
  • Mid-career contributor (10-19 years)
  • Fellow contributor (20+ years)
If awarded, each recipient will be designated as an expert panelist during an upcoming MPA seminar." Each recipient will also receive a 1-year MPA membership and designation as an “expert to watch” on the MPA website. 
 

PRESIDENTS DISTINCTION

The President’s Award honors an academic department, organization, or agency for outstanding contributions to the MPA, the field of psychology within the great state of Michigan, regionally, or nationally. Contributions may be professional, academic, policy related, or related to advocacy. These contributions can be reflected in their clinical practice, research and scholarship, outreach and community engagement, or interdisciplinary practices across health disciplines. To be eligible for this distinction the entity must be in good standing ethically and legally and must be based in Michigan. If awarded, the recipient must be highlighted as a honorary sponsor during the 2023 MPA seminar. The recipient will be awarded one, 1-year MPA memberships and a $500 donation to their department, organization, or agency for research or clinical training purposes.
 

THE EMERGING PIONEER RECOGNITION

The Emerging Pioneer Recognition will honor of a psychologist who has demonstrated great responsiveness and innovation with respect to clinical practice and intervention, methodology, research design, and/or teaching and training/supervision. Given the changing demand and evolving needs of our communities due to the impact of COVID-19, persistent cultural and racial injustices, and global uncertainty; emphasis on equity and access to care is of MPA’s greatest priority.

We intend to recognize an emerging pioneer who has made noticeable contributions to the every-changing needs of our field. A psychologist eligible for The Emerging Pioneer Recognition must make notable and directly observable contributions to the state of Michigan. *It is not required that they reside in the state of Michigan. If awarded, the recipient must be willing to contribute a featured article on the MPA website and serve as a keynote speaker during an upcoming MPA Seminar. The recipient will be awarded a 1-year MPA membership and provided a $500 stipend in support of their continued evolutionary work.

HONORS RECOGNITION: 2023 WELLNESS CHAMPION

The Honors Recognition will honor of a psychologist who represents the embodiment of self-care, health, and wellness both as it relates to self and others. The recipient of this recognition will be named our 2023 Wellness Champion. The 2023 Wellness Champion exemplifies the psychologist’s personal commitment to be a living example of physical, mental, and/or spiritual health and wellness as well as the competent commitment to cultivate work/life balance.
 
Given the changing demand and evolving needs of our communities due to the impact of COVID-19, persistent cultural and racial injustices, and global uncertainty; care for ourselves as contributors to the field of psychology can greatly interfere with our own personal wellness. MPAF wishes to bring the true essence of our field to life, by recognizing our 2023 Wellness Champion as an inspiration for all to remember to include ourselves in the movement for health and wellness.
 
A psychologist eligible for the Honors Recognition must reside in Michigan and make notable and directly observable contributions to the state of Michigan and be considered by others as exemplary in his/her/their efforts to not only talk-the-talk of wellness but walk-the-walk as well. If awarded, the recipient must be willing to provide a featured article on MPA website. The recipient will be awarded a 1-year MPA membership and provided a $250 stipend in support of their own wellness.  

Student Awards:

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION SCHOLARSHIP

Each year the MPAF awards a dissertation scholarship award to a deserving doctoral candidate currently enrolled at a Michigan University. As an active effort to close the gap of underrepresented representation within the field of psychology; the $2000 MPAF dissertation scholarship is awarded to a doctoral candidate that identifies as a Black, Indigenous, or person of color (BIPOC). Funds are unrestricted and intended to support students in their final stages of their dissertation. Previous recipients have focused their research on public health, juvenile mental health, and cultural barriers to seeking help, among other topics. If awarded, the recipient is invited to serve a 1-year term on the MPAF executive board and will serve as the chair of the following year’s scholarship committee.
 

THE MARLENE O’NEIL SCHOLARSHIP

The Marlene O’Neil Scholarship Award is given to a graduate student in the field of psychology who shows outstanding academic performance, has demonstrated a commitment to community service, and shows evidence of strong leadership potential. A student eligible for this award must be:
  1. enrolled in graduate school within the state of Michigan
  2. seeking a master’s or doctoral degree in the field of psychology
  3. a student member in good standing of the Michigan Psychological Association
  4. nominated by a member in good standing of the Michigan Psychological Association.
The award recipient will receive a scholarship in the amount of $500 and be recognized at the MPA annual convention awards ceremony. 
The scholarship is funded entirely by contributions from generous donors. Contributions may be sent to Michigan Psychological Association Foundation, 37637 Five Mile Rd., #399, Livonia, Michigan 48154.