APA honored four individuals with Cynthia D. Belar Education Advocacy Distinguished Service Awards at its 2015 Education Leadership Conference:
- Mark A. Reinecke, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Northwestern University, received an award for his advocacy on behalf of the Graduate Psychology Education program, especially his ongoing contact with the Illinois congressional delegation.
- Paul M. Robins, PhD, a professor of clinical psychology in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, received an award for not just being a committed advocate himself but for mentoring interns to develop advocacy skills of their own.
- Jill Brimmer, a legislative assistant to Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Tim Medeiros, a legislative assistant to Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.), won awards for their work on the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act reauthorization of 2015. These "friends of psychology" awards recognize congressional staffers who as "unsung heroes" work tirelessly behind the scenes, said Tammy Hughes, PhD, chair of APA's Board of Educational Affairs.
— Rebecca A. Clay
