Committee on Socioeconomic Status Leadership Awards: Emerging and Distinguished Psychologists

APA’s Committee on Socioeconomic Status (CSES) invites nominations, including self-nominations, for the CSES Leadership Awards. CSES Leadership Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of psychologists, students of psychology, and organizations which have made significant contributions to the understanding of socioeconomic status and the lives and well-being of the socioeconomically disadvantaged by:

• promoting scientific understanding of the impact of poverty and SES on health, education, and human welfare

• developing applications of psychology that address the effects of SES on psychological development and well-being

• advocating for social policy that will alleviate or reduce disparities among SES groups

Distinguished (even-numbered years): Psychologists or friends of psychology who have more than 15 years beyond their terminating degree achievement, a longstanding influence on SES-related issues, and are recognized leaders in their area of expertise.

Emerging (odd-numbered years): Psychologists or friends of psychology who have 15 or fewer years beyond their terminating degree achievement, have made a substantial contribution to SES in psychology and demonstrate promising professional achievement.

All nominations and supporting materials must be submitted through our online form. Nominations that are incomplete, and or arrive after the deadline, will not be considered. 

Materials needed for applications are as follows:

Distinguished (2026)

• A letter of nomination indicating the nominee a distinguished leader; and both describes and supports the individual’s leadership activities, contributions, and scope of influence that advance knowledge for and about SES: Nomination letters should be no more than two pages long, double spaced
• A current curriculum vitae of the nominee
• two letters of support from individuals familiar with the nominee’s work and service to the discipline
  
  

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2024

• William Ming Liu, PhD (Distinguished)
• Kipp Pietrantonio, PhD (Emerging)

2023

• Rashmita Mistry, PhD (Distinguished)
• Patton Garriott, PhD (Emerging)

2022

• Cindy Juntunen, PhD (Distinguished)
• Blake Allan, PhD (Emerging)

2021

• Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, ABPP (Distinguished)
• Mindi Thompson, PhD, HSP (Emerging)

2019

• Ann Masten, PhD (Distinguished)
• Matthew A. Diemer, PhD (Emerging)

2018

• Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, EdM, PhD (Distinguished)
• Mesmin Destin, PhD (Emerging)

2017

• Laura C. Smith, PhD (Distinguished)
• Michael Kraus, PhD (Emerging)

2016

• David L. Blustein, PhD (Distinguished)

• Roberta Downing, PhD (Emerging)

2015

• David R. Williams, PhD (Distinguished)

• Paul Piff, PhD (Emerging)

2014

• Vonnie McLoyd, PhD (Distinguished)

• Wendy Williams, PhD (Emerging)

2013

• Heather Bullock, PhD (Distinguished)

• Bryan Kim, PhD (Emerging)

2012

• Bernice Lott, PhD (Distinguished)

• Lawrence Yang, PhD (Emerging)

2011

• No emerging or distinguished awards given.

2010

• Nancy Adler, PhD (Distinguished)
• Edith Chen, PhD (Emerging)

2009

• Susan Saegert, PhD (Distinguished)

• Hirokazu Yoshikawa, PhD (Emerging)

2008

• Edmund Gordon, PhD (Distinguished)

• William Liu, PhD and Pamela Morris, PhD (Emerging)