The American Psychological Association has named Jennifer B. Blossom, PhD (she/her/hers), the recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Rural Psychology Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to mental health care, research, and advocacy in rural communities.
Blossom is an assistant professor and clinical psychology faculty member at the University of Maine, where she also serves as codirector of the Psychological Services Center. As principal investigator of the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (C-CAP) Lab, Blossom leads community-engaged research aimed at improving access to evidence-based mental health care for youth and families in rural and underserved areas. Her projects include the development of suicide prevention programs, scalable interventions for childhood anxiety and depression, and statewide training initiatives for primary care and mental health providers.
A passionate educator and mentor, Blossom trains the next generation of psychologists to provide culturally responsive care to diverse rural populations. Her efforts have expanded clinical training and treatment access across Maine, a state with some of the most acute mental health workforce shortages in the nation. She also regularly contributes to public policy initiatives, serves on statewide advisory boards, and collaborates with community organizations to advance equitable behavioral healthcare.
The APA Excellence in Rural Psychology Award is presented annually to an individual who demonstrates outstanding service to rural and remote populations and who exemplifies the importance of psychological advocacy, research, education, and practice in these regions.