The American Psychosomatic Society has presented its Herbert Weiner Early Career Award to Jennifer Sumner, PhD, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. The Weiner award recognizes promising early career researchers who have contributed significantly to the field of psychosomatic medicine. Sumner’s research focuses on how stress and trauma contribute to accelerated aging and risk for chronic disease.
The Nevada System of Higher Education has presented a Regents Teaching Award to psychology professor Rebecca Bevans, PhD, for her hard work and dedication to her students and teaching at Western Nevada College (WNC) in Carson City. Among her accomplishments, Bevans improved enrollment among homeschooled students transitioning to college through her work as the homeschool coordinator for the WNC system.
The National Association of School Psychologists has named April Turner, PhD, NCSP, the 2022 School Psychologist of the Year. Turner is the school psychological services supervisor at the Maryland State Department of Education in Baltimore. She previously served as a school psychologist in the Baltimore City Public Schools for nine years. Turner has improved service delivery through data-based decision-making, fostering family engagement, building school psychologists’ leadership skills, and addressing the impacts of trauma and racial inequities on students and staff. She was also instrumental in organizing a support group for school psychologists of color.
President Biden has appointed University of Michigan psychologist Robert Sellers, PhD, to serve on the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science. The committee evaluates nominees for the Medal of Science, which recognizes outstanding scholars in the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, social, and behavioral sciences. Sellers is the vice provost for equity and inclusion and the chief diversity officer at the University of Michigan.
Louisiana State University (LSU) has presented Julia Buckner, PhD, with a Rainmaker Award. The award recognizes faculty who excel in their teaching and research responsibilities while applying their work to the world beyond academia. Buckner is a psychology professor and director of LSU’s Anxiety and Addictive Behaviors Laboratory and Clinic. She is also a clinical supervisor at LSU’s Psychological Services Center and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The National Academy of Education has elected three new psychologists to its membership. The new members are Okhee Lee, PhD, of New York University, Gale Sinatra, PhD, of the University of Southern California, and Matthias von Davier, PhD, the executive director of the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College. Members are selected for outstanding scholarship related to education.
The U.S. Navy has named Lt. Neal McNeal, PhD, the 2021 Medical Service Corps Research Psychology Officer of the Year. McNeal is a research psychologist at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) in Groton, Connecticut. The honor recognizes his work and research at the Naval Medical Research Unit–San Antonio (NAMRU–SA), where he studied long-term care for injured service members and pain management. At NSMRL, McNeal is exploring mental health stigma and how physical and psychological factors combine to influence well-being and people’s ability to cope with stress.