WPA DEI Award

Submit Your Nomination Today!

Applications are due July 15.

The annual award will be presented each Fall during the WPA’s Annual Meeting. A plaque will be presented to the award winner. 

Award for Outstanding Contribution in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Psychology
Do you know a doctoral-level psychology professional who has devoted exceptional time and/or energy to the causes of historically oppressed or marginalized people and/or communities this past year (2025)? 

The Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Psychology award presented by the Wisconsin Psychological Association; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, seeks to recognize excellence in psychology practice, research, service and/or advocacy with themes central to the promotion of cultural diversity, social justice and equity.  

Eligibility: Individuals working within the state of Wisconsin in the field of psychology, to include psychological practice, research, service, and/or advocacy who hold a doctoral-level degree in psychology. 

Nomination Process: Nominations may come from self or others by completing the form below. Submission should include and be limited to the following: coming soon!

2025 Recipient

2024 Recipient

2023 Recipient

2022 Recipient

Margaret Bernauer Student Research Award

Margaret Bernauer, Ph.D. was one of only five women who were elected as President of the Wisconsin Psychological Association in its first 50 years (1950 to 1999. After her death, she was honored by the WPA by naming the Student Poster Awards, now sponsored by the Wisconsin Psychology Foundation, in her honor.  Margaret was the chief psychologist for the Milwaukee Public Schools, the largest school system in the state, which likely employed more psychologists (1976) than any other entity other than, perhaps, the Dept. of Corrections or the VA system. She was president at a time of significant transition. e.g. the growing emergence of clinical psychologists entering private practice, turf wars among psychologists and academics over psychology licensing laws, and competition and some animosity between psychology and psychiatry as to whether medical supervision was required for autonomous insurance billing.

Psychological assessment had historically always been a strength and area of expertise but now there was now the rising practice of new psychotherapy techniques being developed and practiced by especially clinical psychologists (psychoanalysts were largely medical professionals). About the same time The Individuals with Disabilities (IDEA) was signed into law in 1975. It required that all eligible children with disabilities must receive “a free appropriate public education” in “the least restrictive setting”. This opened the whole field of learning disabilities, ADHD, and special needs and many psychologists expanded their sophistication in the understanding and assessment of intellectual and social/economic factors previously given less focus.

2025 Recipients

Graduate Awards

First Place On-Campus Crimes, Fear of Crime, and Somatization among International Students Kritika Rajeev Chauhan, Florida Institute of Technology

Second Place What wellness means for first-year, first-generation college students with chronic pain Bergen Hermanson, Marquette University Co-authors: Rosalyn Phetteplace, Marquette University, Department of Counseling Education and Counseling Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.S.; Warda Sahib, Marquette University, Department of Counseling Education and Counseling Psychology, Counseling Psychology PhD

Undergraduate Awards

First Place Assessing the Development of the Computerized Vegas Odds Test, Third Edition Victoria Zeisig, Marquette University

Second Place Understanding Parents Self-Stigma: Exploring Associations with Sociodemographic Factors and Mental Health Literacy Elyse Smith, Marquette University Co-authors: Dr. Lindsay E. Holly, PhD, Marquette University, Psychology Department

Third Place Older Adults Display Differential Frontal Lobe Activation in Inhibitory Control Tasks Sarah Rogers, Marquette University Co-authors: Christian Otteman (B.A., Marquette University, Neuroscience PhD Graduate Program), Mary Polking (B.S., Marquette University, Neuroscience PhD Graduate Program), Kristy A. Nielson (PhD, Psychology Department, Marquette University)

2024 Recipients

Graduate Awards

First Place Intersectionality and interactions with dominant narratives in the life stories of three Black lesbian women Betsy Miller, Marquette University Co-authors: Ashley Dirkmaat, Marquette University, Psychology; Siani Brown Carr, Marquette University, Psychology

Second Place What wellness means for first-year, first-generation college students with chronic pain Katrina Welbourn, University of Wisconsin-Madison Co-authors: Alberta M. Gloria, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison Counseling Psychology

Third Place Using the Judgment of Line Orientation Calamia System with Children Kyle Rentmeester, Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology

Undergraduate Awards

First Place Exploring the Impact of Intergenerational Trauma on the Black Community Through the Lens of Black Psychotherapists Alma-Alija, Tolson, Marquette University

Second Place Factors Associated with Instructor Willingness to Accommodate College Students with Invisible Disabilities Veronika Durek, Marquette University

Third Place Adverse Childhood Experiences and Intellectual Disabilities: A Population-Based Comparison Sarah Hurst, Marquette University Co-authors: Dr. Astrida Kaugars

2023 Recipients

Graduate Awards

First Place Evaluating the Relationship Between Anxiety and Depression in People with Chronic Headaches and the Extent of Caregiver Burden in their Support Person Sanjli Mehta, Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Second Place The Role of Sexism on Women's Career Aspirations and Self-Doubt Mary Tait, Marquette University Co-authors: Debra Oswald, PhD; Marquette University

Undergraduate Awards

First Place Class Participation: Does Activating Background Knowledge Increase Engagement Patricia Martin, Alverno College

Second Place Impact of COVID-19 Symptoms Reporting on Cognitive Functioning in College Students Angela Nowak, Marquette University Co-authors: Leona Kondic, Marquette University Department of Psychology, Psychology & Cognitive Science; Victoria Zeisig, Marquette University Department of Psychology

Third Place Impact of COVID-19 and Emotional Functioning in an Undergraduate Population Halle Hetrick, Marquette University Co-authors: Olga Patryarcha, Marquette University, Psychology Department; Mary Simons, M.S., Marquette University, Psychology Department, Clinical Psychology Graduate Program; Laura McGuigan, B.S., Marquette University, Psychology Department, Clinical Psychology Graduate Program

Fourth Place Effect of an Audience on Recycling Intentions of Individualists and Collectivists Oliver Ignazzitto, Carroll University Co-authors: Dr. Tara Schmidt, Carroll University, Life Sciences, Psychology

2022 Recipients

Graduate Awards

First Place Anhedonia Predicts Quality of Life in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Craig Miller, Marquette University

Second Place The Impact of Pastors' Ministry Work on Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellness Matthew Evans, Marquette University

Undergraduate Awards

First Place The Biopsychosocial Impact of Maintaining a Daily Practice of Contemplative Prayer Henry Licht, Marquette University

Second Place Examining Type I Diabetes, Sleep Quality, and Gender Differences Brynn Mesec, Marquette University

Third Place How Does Existing in a Triple-Intersectional Space Relate to Microaggression Experiences? Deziray Moore, Marquette University

Click here to view recipients from previous years.

WPF Graduate Scholarship Winners

2025 Recipients

Anthony Kuchan, Ph.D. Award
Norma Faviola Reyes, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Clinical Psychology Program 

Richard Hurlbut, Ph.D. Award
Esmeralda Lezama Ruiz, Marquette University, Clinical Psychology Program 

Asher Pacht, Ph.D. Award
Laura McGuigan, Marquette University, Clinical Psychology Program

2024 Recipients

Anthony Kuchan, Ph.D. Award
Joonwoo Lee, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Counseling Psychology Program 

Richard Hurlbut, Ph.D. Award
Louis Lindley, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Counseling Psychology Program 

Asher Pacht, Ph.D. Award
Karen Alvarez, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Clinical Psychology Program

2023 Recipients

Anthony Kuchan, Ph.D. Award
Kathryn Barber, Marquette University, Clinical Psychology Program 
Award sponsorship for 2023 by Joseph Collins, Ed.D.

Richard Hurlbut, Ph.D. Award
Yesenia Uribe, UW-Madison, Counseling Psychology Program 
Award sponsorship for 2023 by Mark Marnocha, Ph.D.

Asher Pacht, Ph.D. Award
Gabriella Gaus Hinojosa, UW-Madison, Counseling Psychology Program

2022 Recipients

Anthony Kuchan, Ph.D. Award
Ansley Kenney, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Clinical Psychology Program
Award sponsorship for 2022 by Joseph Collins, Ed.D.

Richard Hurlbut, Ph.D. Award
Gabriel Ezema, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Counseling Psychology Program
Award sponsorship for 2022 by Mark Marnocha, Ph.D.

Asher Pacht, Ph.D. Award
Julia Harris, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Clinical Psychology Program

2021 Recipients

Anthony Kuchan, Ph.D. Award
Jessica Krukowski, Marquette University, Clinical Psychology Dept
Award sponsorship for 2021 by Joseph Collins, Ed.D.

Richard Hurlbut, Ph.D. Award
Elizabeth (Ashley) Stinson, UW-Milwaukee Clinical Psychology Dept
Award sponsorship for 2021 by Mark Marnocha, Ph.D.

Asher Pacht, Ph.D. Award
Lauren Grocott, UW-Milwaukee Clinical Psychology Dept.

2020 Recipients

Asher Pacht, Ph.D. Award
Amy Lang, M.S., UW-M Psychology Dept/Clinical Psychology

Richard Hurlbut, Ph.D. Award
Carli Gurholt, 4th yr. Ph.D. program, Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology

2019 Recipients

Lucas Mirabito
Lauren Mascari