APA recognizes Nancy Budwig, Jerry Rudmann, and Martha Zlokovich with Presidential Citations

Nancy Budwig, PhD, is awarded a presidential citation in recognition of her dedication and commitment to, and her stewardship of, the APA/Clark University Workshop for High School Teachers over the last two decades.  Since the very first workshop in 2005 to the concluding workshop this summer, Budwig has selflessly donated her time and expertise to serve as the organizer, host, and presenter at this annual workshop.  The workshop has become APA’s signature professional development event for high school psychology teachers, serving as a model for how other higher educational institutions can support teachers in delivering a high-quality learning experience.  Budwig’s hard work and consummate hosting and planning have ensured the overall success of the workshop.  Since 2005, approximately 425 teachers have attended this workshop; these teachers have most likely reached tens of thousands of students over the last 19 years.  Attending teachers give glowing reviews of the workshop each summer, many noting is has been the best professional development experience they have had.  Budwig’s time, energy, and dedication to the teaching profession are credited with the workshop’s success. Dr. Lee Gurel’s generous gifts to support this workshop to the American Psychological Foundation and Clark University have truly been a game changer for the teaching of high school psychology.  Budwig is commended for her years of support of this impactful professional development opportunity, which has furthered the mission of the Association by preparing the discipline of psychology for the future. 

Jerry Rudmann, PhD, is presented with this APA Presidential Citation in recognition of his exceptional leadership and dedication to promoting excellence in the teaching and learning of psychology.

Throughout his career as an educator, Rudmann has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to teaching, supporting, and uplifting community college students.  As the Executive Director of Psi Beta since 2005, Rudmann has served as a champion for students at 2-year institutions across the nation, recognizing their academic achievements and working to develop high-quality service-learning projects and research opportunities to enrich their academic experience. In this role, Rudmann also helped to create a community for educators from 2-year institutions that encourages networking and promotes professional development. 

For more than two decades, Rudmann also has contributed significant time and expertise in service to APA.  Most notably, as a three-time member of APA’s Board of Educational Affairs Task Force on Psychology Major Competencies, Rudmann was part of a national effort to define the set of optimal expectations for performance by undergraduates engaged in the study of psychology. He also played a key role in an APA initiative aimed at transforming the introductory psychology course in the service of improving society’s understanding of psychology as a broadly applicable science and attracting diverse talent to the discipline.  

Rudmann is commended for his significant contributions to APA, his leadership of Psi Beta, and his unwavering dedication to the students and teachers of psychology.

Martha Zlokovich, PhD is awarded this APA Presidential Citation for her distinguished career as an educator, advocate, and national leader in psychology education.

Zlokovich dedicated the first 17 years of her career to teaching psychology at Southeast Missouri State University. In that role, she became increasingly more involved with Psi Chi, the Honor Society in Psychology, first serving as faculty advisor to her campus chapter, then assuming the role of Midwestern Region Vice-President, and eventually serving as National President. In 2008, Zlokovich left her academic position to become the second Executive Director of Psi Chi. During her tenure, the honor society transitioned into an international organization, installed over 100 new chapters, expanded the awards and grants budget, and doubled the number of annual scholarships provided to undergraduate and graduate students.

Over the course of her career, Zlokovich also emphasized the importance of forging strong relationships among psychological organizations. She participated in key meetings convened to foster linkages between the honor societies, the regional psychological associations, and APA and to encourage discussion focused on identifying, and responding to, emerging issues in psychology education.  

In recognition of her years of service as an advocate for the faculty chapter advisors and members of Psi Chi, her efforts to cultivate and maintain collaborative relationships among psychological organizations, and her unwavering commitment to excellence in the teaching and mentoring of psychology students, it is an honor to present her with this Presidential Citation.