MPA Awards

Career Contribution Award

2004 Renamed the Kenneth D. Herman, Ph.D., J.D. Career Contribution Award

The Kenneth D. Herman PhD, JD Career Contribution Award aims to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of psychology as a science as a profession, and as a means of promoting human welfare.

Ezra Saul Psychological Service Award

Ezra Saul was an early president of MPA.  The award recognizes the promotion and acceptance of psychological services in Massachusetts.

Allied Professional Award

1997 Renamed the Stanley R. Berkowitz Allied Professional Award

The Stanley R. Berkowitz Allied Professional Award aims to recognize individuals who have played a significant role in advocacy and support of mental health issues.  Such individuals have supported psychologists in their profession by assisting in advocating for the welfare of their clients and the practice of mental health and treatment.

Humanitarian Award        

An award for outstanding contributions to the humanitarian goals of society, through service and activism, and to the enhancement of its educational, psychological, and social process.

Legislator of the Year

An award given to recognize the outstanding efforts in the legislature on behalf of psychology, mental health and/or public welfare.

Special Recognition Award

An award to recognize members of the public who have made exceptional contributions to the enhancement of psychology as a science and a profession.

Teacher of the Year

An award for undergraduate or graduate professors who:

1. Have demonstrated influence in promoting an interest in the field of psychology to students;

2. Have developed effective teaching methods and/or courses;

3. Are concerned with professional identify as a teacher of psychology as evidenced professional activity within and outside the university.

Special Public Recognition Award

An award to recognize members of the public who have made exceptional contributions to the enhancement of psychology as a science and a profession.

Media Award

The Media Award aims to recognize journalists, authors, and filmmakers who played a significant role in advocacy and support of mental health issues.  Such individuals have supported psychologists in their profession by reporting on issues pertinent to the practice of psychology and the many individuals suffering from mental illness.

Corporate Recognition Award

The Corporate Recognition Award recognizes corporations for their efforts to create products that improve mental health well-being and/or create and foster a healthy environment for their employees to facilitate mental health well-being.

Distinguished Service Award

2018 Renamed the Eric A. Harris, Ed.D., J.D. Distinguished Service Award

This award recognizes individuals who have provided extraordinary service to the advancement of psychology, and who has made significant contributions to, and an impact on, MPA.

Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award

This award aims to recognize workplaces for their efforts to create and foster a healthy environment for their employees, to facilitate mental health well-being.

Presidential Citation

This is a special award to honor MPA members who have made significant contributions to the association and to the profession of psychology.

Outstanding Committee Leadership Award

This award aims to recognize MPA members serving on committees who have played a significant role in promoting MPA by addressing issues pertinent to the organization.  Such issues include: increasing membership, advocating for ethnic minority affairs, developing education programs, advocating for psychology as a discipline, and facilitating best care practices for mental health clients.

APA Outstanding Citizen Psychologist Award

This award recognizes individuals who utilize their knowledge and expertise as psychologists to evoke positive change in their community that ultimately improves human welfare.

Early Career Award

Established to honor an individual in the early stages of their career who has made noteworthy contributions to the field of psychology. Contributions may include involvement in the development, scientific evaluation, and/or dissemination of evidence-based treatments; improvement in treatment delivery systems; development of and/or scientific study of novel pedagogical strategies aimed to enhance training in psychology; advocacy on behalf of underserved communities; consultation; or other activities advancing psychological knowledge and/or practice. Nominees should be no more than ten years post-doctorate; the nominee does not have to be an MPA member; those who took a professional leave of absence for family/medical reasons can be granted an additional year of eligibility. Such applicants should indicate the leave of absence in their cover letter in order to be granted the eligibility extension.