Annual Awards

Division 56 gives seven awards annually for meritorious contributions to the field of trauma psychology. The Division also awards Fellow status to those members who have made unusual and outstanding contributions to trauma psychology. We encourage you to visit our Fellows' websites listed below to learn more about their work.

To nominate a colleague for one of these awards please submit electronically a copy of the nominee's CV with a nominating letter describing the candidate's suitability to the Awards Chair. Nominations are due by April 30th. Self-nominations are accepted.

Award for Outstanding Contributions to Practice in Trauma Psychology

This award recognizes distinguished contributions to psychological practice. It may be given for the development of a highly effective intervention, for contributions to practice theory, or for a sustained body of work in the field of trauma psychology practice.

2024 Ilene Serlin
2023 Carmen P. McLean
2022 E. Alison Holman
2021 Eric Kuhn
2020 Carl Shubs
2019 Lillian Comas-Diaz
2018 Richard B. Gartner
2017 Tyson D. Bailey
2016 Ani Kalayjian
2015 Marylene Cloitre
2014 None
2013 Allan N. Schore
2012 Mary R. Harvey
2011 Lenore E. A. Walker
2010 Barbara Rothbaum, JoAnn Difede, Greg M.Reger and Albert "Skip" Rizzo
2009 Francine Shapiro
2008 Laurie A. Pearlman and Karen W. Saakvitne
2007 Christine Courtois

Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Science of Trauma Psychology

This award recognizes distinguished contributions to scientific research. It may be given in recognition of a particular discovery or for a sustained body of research and scholarship.

2024 None
2023 Rebecca K. Blais
2022 Robert H. Pietrzak
2021 Victoria Banyard
2020 Amy Ai
2019 Bethany Brand
2018 Karen J. Saywitz
2017 Sherry Hamby and Bryan Marx
2016 Tery Keane
2014 Fran Norris
2013 Daniel and Lynda King
2012 Bonnie L. Green
2011 Jennifer J. Freyd
2010 John Briere
2009 Jennifer Vasterling
2008 Paula P. Schnurr
2007 Dean Kilpatrick

Award for Outstanding Service to the Field of Trauma Psychology

This award recognizes sustained contributions of leadership in the field of trauma psychology.

2024 Anne DePrince
2023 Maryam Kia-Keating
2022 Donald E. Edmondson
2021 Anne DePrince
2020 To Wing Ching Timothy
2019 Phyllis Cohen
2018 Mark C. Russell
2017 Sylvia Marotta-Walters
2016 Kathleen Kendal-Tackett
2015 Joan Cook
2014 Steve Gold
2013 Terence M. Keane
2012 Kristy Straits-Troster
2011 Roxane Cohen Silver
2010 Judith Armstrong
2009 Farris K. Tuma
2008 Sandra G. Wartski
2007 Judith Alpert

Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Field of Trauma Psychology

This award recognizes a senior distinguished psychologist who has made outstanding contributions to science, practice, advocacy, and/or education/training over the course of his/her career. These contributions would be at such a level that they have advanced the field of trauma psychology.

2024 Ani Kalayjian
2023 Terence Keane
2022 Steven N. Gold
2021 Richard Gartner
2020 Roxane Silver
2019 Laurie Anne Pearlman
2018 Christine Courtois
2017 Gail E. Wyatt
2016 Constance Dalenberg
2015 Laura S. Brown
2014 Stevan Hobfoll
2013 Patricia A. Resick
2012 Yael Danieli
2011 Judith Lewis Herman
2010 Edna Foa
2009 Charles Figley

Award for Outstanding Contribution to Trauma Psychology by an Early Career Psychologist

This award recognizes psychologists in the early stages of their careers who have shown outstanding achievement or who have made outstanding contributions to the study of psychological trauma. Nominees' contributions may be in the areas of clinical practice/research and writing or basic/applied empirical research. Nominees should have earned their degree no more than 10 years prior to the year in which they are nominated.

2024 Matthew Yalch
2023 Philip Held
2022 Sarah R. Lowe
2021 Sierra Carter, Dana Garfin, Isha Metzger, Lauren Ng
2020 Wilson Brown, Blair Wisco, and Michelle Desir
2019 Allison Zalta
2018 Rebecca K. Blais
2017 Glenna Stumblingbear-Riddle
2016 Brian Hall
2014 Erika J. Wolf
2013 Paul Frewen
2012 Lisa DeMarni Cromer
2011 Judith Pizarro Andersen

Award for Outstanding Dissertation in the Field of Trauma Psychology

This award recognizes the most outstanding dissertation defended in the prior academic year on a topic in the field of trauma psychology. Quantitative qualitative and theoretical dissertations are all welcome.

To nominate a dissertation please send a copy of the candidate's CV, a copy of the dissertation, abstract, and a copy of a manuscript or publication derived from the dissertation to the Awards Chair. Nominations are due by May 15th.

2024 Norah Fahad Aldawsari
2023 Whitney Livingston
2022 Krista Engle
2021 Sabrina Liu
2020 No applicants, no winner
2019 Viann Nguyen-Feng
2018 Megan K. Maas
2017 Jennifer M. Gomez
2016 Sarah Campbell
2015 Elizabeth Verbeck
2014 Darryl Etter
2013 Courtney Welton-Mitchell
2012 Kelly Young-Wolff
2011 Denise H. Sandole
2010 Erica Wolf
2009 Michael Baratta
2008 Meredith E. Charney
2008 Carolyn Allard

Award for Media Contributions to the Field of Trauma Psychology

This award recognizes the creators of media presentations for lay audiences that educate the public in a scientifically sound manner about the psychology of trauma.Any kind of work available in any form is eligible (e.g., written word, film, video, web, graphics). Fiction and non-fiction representations are equally welcome. Nominations should include the names of the creator(s) of the work being nominated, as well as either a sample of the work being nominated, or a web address for the nominated work, or both.

2024 No longer awarded separately. See Award for Outstanding Service to the Field of Trauma Psychology
2023 Erin Hambrick
2022 David C. Rozek
2021 Amanda Zelechoski, Lindsay Malloy
2020 Joan Cook and Jennifer Gomez
2019 Maria Sachetti and Bryann DeBeer
2018 Jennifer J. Freyd
2017 Thema Bryant-Davis
2016 Gerald Young
2014 Julia Hoffman
2013 Jessica L. Hamblen - AboutFace, Alex Kotlowitz - This American Life
2012 Sonja V. Batten - Department of Veteran's Affairs Make the Connection Team
2010 Garry Trudeau - Doonesbury, Nicholas Kristof and Sheyl WuDunn - Half the Sky

Early Career Awards for Ethnic Minority Psychologists in Trauma Psychology

This award recognizes those psychologists from ethnic/racial minority background who have made outstanding contributions in the study and practice of trauma psychology within 10 years of graduating from doctoral programs. Nominees' contributions may be in the areas of clinical/practice, research/writing, basic/applied research, or other professional contributions (e.g., governance/leadership) and are more heavily weighted toward nominees who have made contributions in traumas affecting or are associated with ethnic minority status/issues.

2020 No longer awarded separately. See Award for Outstanding Contribution to Trauma Psychology by an Early Career Psychologist
2019 Delishia Pittman
2018 Angela Narayan
2017 Guler Boyraz
2016 Jack Tsai
2014 Betty S. Lai
2013 Christine L. Chee

Presidential Award

This award is given at the discretion of the President to an individual who has made unusual and outstanding contributions to the Division of Trauma Psychology.

2021 Ayli Carrero Pinedo
2020 Della Mosley and Pearis Bellamy
2019 Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
2018 Terrence M. Keane
2017 George Rhoades and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
2016 Shaka Senghor
2015 Nnamdi Pole
2014 None
2013 Frank Putnam
2012 Lynn Brem - Division 56 Website

List of Division 56 Poster Award Winners

Division 56 Poster Awards for the APA 2020 Conference

Trajectories of PTSD symptoms after a natural disaster in South Korea – Junwon Lee, M.A., Dongil Kim, Ph. D., Jusuk Song, B.A., Chanhoon Park, B.A. Seoul National University, South Korea

Typical university crime alert emails contribute to mail student agreement with rape myths - Adams-Clark, Alexis - Alexis Adams-Clark, M.S., Carly Smith, Ph.D., Prachi Bhuptani, M.A., Jennifer J. Freyd, Ph.D University of Oregon

Examining patterns of adverse childhood experiences as predictors of psychological symptoms in early childhood school age and adolescents - Whaling, Kelly, University of California, Santa Barbara

Callous and emotional traits moderate the relationship between trauma exposure and Traumatic symptoms - Kathryn McGill, M.A. & Tres Stefurak, Ph.D., Clinical & Counseling Psychology University of South Alabama

Post traumatic outcomes for veterans who have caused serious harm or death to others - Marvin Cabral, M.A.; Antonella Bariani, M.A.; & Carolyn B. Allard, Ph.D., ABPP, Alliant International University (CSPP)

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