Award:  Susan T. Rydell Outstanding Contribution to Psychology Award
Recipient:  Steven P. Gilbert, Ph.D., ABPP, LP

 
From left to right: Steven P. Gilbert and Duane Ollendick

Steven P. Gilbert, Ph.D., ABPP, LP
The Susan T. Rydell Outstanding Contribution to Psychology Award recognizes an MPA member who has made distinguished contributions to the field and discipline of psychology in the State of Minnesota.  Steven P. Gilbert, Ph.D., ABPP, LP, was president of MPA in 1999, but his involvement in MPA did not stop there.  He has remained an ardent supporter of and advocate for MPA since that time.  Particularly, he has remained involved with the Membership Committee, most recently as chair of the committee.  As any number of Steve’s interns will attest to, his supervision and teaching abilities are top notch.  His direction of the Counseling Center at Minnesota State University – Mankato continues to make this training site a highly-desired placement.  Steve’s many years of service to the University have been invaluable, and his reputation in the greater Mankato area as a highly skilled clinician is second to none.  Along with being a clinician (ABPP), Steve has continued to contribute academically, as he continues to publish well researched, thought out, and reflective manuscripts pertaining to the population he serves.

Susan T. Rydell, Ph.D., the award’s namesake, attended the awards program.  She was the first recipient of the award in 1992.

 
Susan T. Rydell

Award:  Donald G. Paterson Undergraduate Award in Psychology
Recipient:  Selena Wang, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus

 
From left to right, MPA President Steve Girardeau and Selena Wang

Selena Wang, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus
This year, the Minnesota Psychological Association is proud to announce Ms. Selena Wang as the recipient of the Donald G. Paterson Undergraduate Award in Psychology.  This award is given to college seniors planning a career in psychology, which Selena is with her acceptance to a graduate program and fellowship at The Ohio State University.  Selena exhibits a passion for psychology that is exemplified through her many research contributions through a diverse range of departments at the University of Minnesota including the social psychology department, individual differences unit, and currently through the industrial and organizational unit.  Selena continues to pursue her values of diversity and social justice through her education and research in psychology and plans to continue this in graduate school.  MPA is proud to recognize Selena for her hard work and dedication to the field of psychology, her leadership within her undergraduate program, in class, and on campus.  We look forward to continued contribution and growth for Selena within the field of psychology.

Award:  Distinguished Elders in Psychology (two award winners)
Recipients:  Steven P. Gilbert, Ph.D., ABPP, LP and Jack O’Regan, Ph.D., ABPP, LP

 
From left to right, Steven P. Gilbert and Janet T. Thomas

Steven P. Gilbert, Ph.D., ABPP, LP
Steven P. Gilbert, Ph.D., ABPP, LP, received his B.S. in psychology from Tufts University in 1972, his M.S. in experimental psychology from Northeastern University in 1974, and his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.  He earned the ABPP Diplomate in Counseling Psychology in 1991.  Dr. Gilbert joined MPA 27 years ago and has been actively serving the organization continuously since that time.  Initially, he served as member and Chair of the Ethics Committee. His tireless and creative efforts over 17 years on the Membership Committee are also noteworthy.  As member and chair of the Healthy Workplace Award Committee for over 15 years, Dr. Gilbert worked to broadly disseminate the call for nominations, refine criteria for the award, and raise the consciousness of Minnesota employers about what constitutes a healthy workplace.  Most notably, he served on MPA’s Executive Committee during, preceding, and following his presidency.  Clearly, Dr. Gilbert’s numerous contributions to MPA have been consistent, generous, and worthy of recognition. 

 
From left to right, Jack O'Regan and MPA Secretary and Diversity Committee Co-Chair Yasmine Moideen

Jack O’Regan, Ph.D., ABPP, LP
Jack O’Regan, Ph.D., ABPP, LP, attended two St. John’s Universities, one in Minnesota for his bachelor’s degree in psychology and one in New York for his master’s degree in clinical psychology.  He then joined the Peace Corps and taught physiological and experimental psychology at the University of Ghana (he happened to have one course in each subject area). After returning to the U.S., he completed his Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Missouri – Columbia. After working at a mental health center in St. Cloud and a hospital in LaCrosse, he then joined Argosy University and served in many positions with that university, including Psy.D. Program Director of Training, Psy.D. Program Chair, Campus VP of Academic Affairs, University Dean of the College of Professional Psychology & Behavioral Sciences, and ending as Psy.D. Program Professor (teaching courses in cognitive, projective, and personality assessment).  Dr. O’Regan also obtained an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.  Dr. O’Regan served as MPA president in 1998.  Prior to that, he served several years on MPA’s Annual Convention Committee.  He has also served as Chair of MPA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award Committee.  Since retiring from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology, Dr. O’Regan has continued his private practice, conducting Social Security Disability Evaluations and Veterans’ PTSD/Mental Health evaluations.

Award:  Leadership in Diversity Award
Recipient:  Frank B. Wilderson, Jr., Ph.D., LP

 
From left to right, Frank B. Wilderson, Jr. and MPA Secretary and Diversity Committee Co-Chair Yasmine Moideen

Frank B. Wilderson, Jr., Ph.D., LP
Dr. Frank B. Wilderson, Jr., Ph.D., LP, is this year’s recipient of the MPA Leadership in Diversity Award.  Dr. Wilderson is a professor emeritus in the Department of Educational Psychology and co-director of the Center for Research on Correctional Education at the University of Minnesota.  He received his B.A. in education from Xavier University in Louisiana and his M.A. and Ph.D. in child development and educational psychology from the University of Michigan.  He is now retired after 39 years at the University of Minnesota where he held multiple positions.  He was a faculty member, becoming the first chair of the Department of African-American Studies; he was an Assistant Dean; and, he was the first African American among the University’s vice presidents, serving for 14 years in that role.  Dr. Wilderson has been called a role model for those seeking leadership on multicultural issues, and his many career achievements attest to this.  He was a founding member of the Association of Black Psychologists, and he worked as a consultant for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Turning Point, and Twin Cities Rise.

Award:  Outstanding Graduate Faculty in Psychology Award
Recipient:  Lisa Habedank Stewart, Ph.D.

 
From left to right, Lisa Habedank Stewart and Teaching Awards Committee Member Jessie Breyer

Lisa Habedank Stewart, Ph.D.
Lisa Habedank Stewart, Ph.D., from Minnesota State University Moorhead, is the recipient of the 2017 Award for Outstanding Graduate Faculty in Psychology.  Dr. Stewart is an alumna of Gustavus Adolphus College and received her Ph.D. in school psychology from the University of Oregon.  She has been a member of the MSU Moorhead faculty since 1999.  Dr. Stewart’s nominator stated that she “may have been hired to teach graduate students in school psychology, but she is committed to providing the best possible learning experiences to her graduate students—and educators throughout the region—because they in turn will be impacting the lives of children for many years to come.”  One of those former students states, “The hours in her classroom often left my head swirling because every minute of instruction was packed with information, activities, and discussion that stretched my thinking and built my capacity.”  A second former student said, “After several years in practice in multiple states, it became clear that despite the relatively short time we spent in Dr. Stewart’s courses, the knowledge she imparted was impressive.  Compared to other school psychologists across the nation, my knowledge of data-based decision-making and assessment by far exceeded the standard.”

Award:  Walter D. Mink Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award
Recipient:  Jeremy Loebach, Ph.D.

 
From left to right, Jeremy Loebach and Teaching Awards Committee Member Jessie Breyer

Jeremy Loebach, Ph.D.
Jeremy Loebach, Ph.D., from St. Olaf College, is this year’s recipient of the Walter D. Mink Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher Award.  Dr. Loebach received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and his Ph.D. in biological psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.  He joined the St. Olaf faculty in 2009.  Courses taught by Dr. Loebach include Principles of Psychology, Biopsychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, and the Psychology of Hearing.  His letter of nomination states, “Jeremy is a fantastic colleague and an outstanding teacher/scholar.”  One St. Olaf student commented that, although he is a music major, through his work in Dr. Loebach’s Speech and Cognition lab, he now plans to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. degree.  And a senior psychology major states Professor Loebach, “is by far the most influential professor I have had during my college career.”

Award:  Outstanding Teaching of Psychology in Community/Two-Year Colleges Award
Recipient:  Andy Tix, Ph.D.

 
From left to right, Andy Tix and Teaching Awards Committee Member Jessie Breyer

Andy Tix, Ph.D.
The 2017 recipient of the Award for the Outstanding Teaching of Psychology in Community/Two-Year Colleges is Dr. Andy Tix from Normandale Community College.  Prior to joining the Normandale faculty in 2002, Dr. Tix had completed his Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Minnesota and his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin.  He was the 2015 recipient of an Outstanding Educator Award from the Minnesota State College and University system and was the sole recipient of the Normandale Community College Distinguished Faculty Award in 2014.  In addition to teaching introductory psychology and abnormal psychology, he has developed popular courses on the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality and the Psychology of the Holocaust.  In a letter supporting the nomination of Dr. Tix, one student commented, “Andy embodies excellence.  He has a passion for education and bettering his students.”  A second former student commented, “In my years after Normandale, Dr. Tix has continued be a mentor and inspiration.”  And a third student identified two traits that stand out in Dr. Tix’s classes: “the first concerns the communities that he builds in his classes, and the second has to do with critical thinking about psychology as science.”

Award:  Presidential Medallion
Recipient:  Immediate Past President Robin McLeod, Ph.D., LP

 
From left to right, current MPA President Steve Girardeau and Immediate Past President Robin McLeod

As is customary, Robin McLeod, the 2016 MPA President, was awarded a presidential medallion to recognize her service as MPA President.  

Congratulations to all of our winners!  

From left to right, Lisa Habedank Stewart, Jeremy Loebach, Andy Tix, Jack O'Regan, Frank B.
Wilderson, Jr., Steve Gilbert, Selena Wang, Robin McLeod and Steve Girardeau