Miguel Perez Garcia, PhD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for pioneering research in cross cultural and social justice neuropsychology in Spain.
On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the American Psychological Association, APA President Antonio E. Puentea gave Miguel Perez Garcia the first Presidential Citation to a psychologist from Spain.
Miguel represents the best of what Latin and Iberoamerican psychology has to offer. As a graduate and then as a post-graduate student, he ventured into a specialty in psychology that had recently been established in the United States but was not considered viable in any Spanish-speaking country. In studying with others in Spain as well as Puente in the United States, Garcia began an illustrious career at the Universidad de Granada in Spain, one of the leading if not the leading psychological program in Spain, rising from the position of lecturer to Catedratico (or full professor) in short order. In doing so, Garcia established one of the premier neuropsychological laboratories in the Spanish-speaking world producing not only a slew of significant research published in high impact journals but a large cadre of students that have gone on themselves with great success as far away at Africa and Palestine.
His recent pioneering research in cross cultural neuropsychology has been eclipsed with his powerful and impactful social justice neuropsychology. His research in the neuropsychological concomitants of PTSD with long term trauma exposure as well as his studies on the neuropsychology of battered women and their perpetrators is world class and to be cited for years to come.
Finally, Garcia has been the founder and organizer of the Spanish Neuropsychological Society which has been formed from a group of widely disperate neuropsychological groups across Spain. His recent effort in making neuropsychology Spain's first specialty will have significance not only for that specialty but all of the profession of psychology in Spain.
For these accomplishments as well as his gentle and affable nature, APA is pleased to grant Garcia the 2017 Presidential Citation.