IPA Awards Categories and Histories

IPA Service Award Recipients
The IPA Service Award recognizes individuals who are not IPA members, or eligible for IPA membership, and who have rendered outstanding service to IPA or to the citizens of Iowa in a manner consistent with the goals of the association.

Previous recipients:
    2022: Dr. Darbie Little-Cooper
    2021: Maxwell Mowitz
    2019: Hayward Draper
    2019: Laura Steffensmeier, Iowa Psychology Board
    2019: Sharon Dozier, Iowa Psychology Board
    2016: Rep Linda Miller
    2016: Sen Joe Bolkcom
    2014: Rep Dave Heaton
    2014: Sen Pam Jochums
    2012: Charles Palmer, IDHS
    2008: Rep. Mark Smith, Iowa Legislature
    Maureen Rank, Former IPA Executive Director
    Senator Tom Harkin, U.S. Senate
    2006: Sharon Kendall-Dunn, Private Citizen
    2005: Vic Moss, Private Citizen
    Rep. Betty Grundberg, Iowa Legislature
    Rep. Greg Ganske, U.S. House of Representatives
    2004: Ann Seals, Private Citizen
    Michael Hammes, Heritage National Health Plan
    Senator Elaine Szymoniak, Iowa Legislature
    2004: Senator Charles Grassley, U.S. Senate
    2002: Rep. James Leach, U.S. House of Representatives
    Don Ziska, VAMC, Knoxville


IPA Phil Laughlin Meritorious Achievement Award Recipients
The IPA Phil Laughlin Meritorious Achievement Award is intended to honor an IPA member for outstanding service to the association. All IPA members are eligible to be considered for this award except those currently serving on the IPA Executive Council.

Previous recipients:

    2024: Benjamin Tallman, Ph.D.
    2023: Sally Oakes Edman, Ph.D.
    2022:Kevin Krumvieda, Ph.D.
    2021: Warren Phillips, Ph.D.
    2020: Jim Thorpe, PsyD
    2019: Stewart Ehly, Ph.D.
    2018: Norm Scott, Ph.D.
    2014: Warren Phillips, Ph.D.
    2013: No nominee
    2012: Robert R. Hutzell, Ph.D.
    2011: Don Damsteegt, Ph.D.
    2010: Michele Greiner, Ph.D.
    2009: Eva Christiansen, Ph.D.
    Dave McEchron, Ph.D.
    Joyce Keen, Ph.D.
    2008: Carole Kazmierski, Ph.D.
    Hope Solomons, Ph.D.
    Phil Lonning, Ph.D.
    2007: Elizabeth Lonning, Ph.D.
    Deems Ortega, Ph.D.
    Samuel Graham, Ph.D.
    2006: David Christiansen, Ph.D.
    Philip Laughlin, Ph.D.
    Richard Whittlesey, Ph.D.
    2005: Ann Ernst, Ph.D.
    John Tedesco, Ph.D.
    Arthur Benton, Ph.D.
    2004: Jane Anderson, Ph.D.
    Mary E. Jerkins, Ph.D.
    Rick Jennings, Ph.D.
    2003: Sheila Pottebaum, Ph.D.
    Thomas Bartsch, Ph.D.
    Ursula Delworth, Ph.D.
    2002: James Marchman, Ph.D.
    Thomas Hannum, Ph.D.
    Scott Shafer, Ph.D.


Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award Recipients
The Psychologically Healthy Workplace program is supported by the American Psychological Association and was created to recognize businesses and organizations which have demonstrated a commitment to the psychological health and the well-being of their employees. The Iowa Psychological Foundation recognizes the close interaction of psychological health and work performance in its mission: "The IPF promotes awareness and application of psychological principles to enhance the quality of life and healthy behavior for all Iowans." The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards will be given for newly created programs that have been implemented in the year 2003. The award will be available for large and small businesses and for nonprofit organizations.

Previous Recipients:
        
    2011: Iowa Disability Determination Service Bureau
    2010: Des Moines University
    2009: Village Northwest Unlimited
    2007: Mercy Medical Center
    2005: Great River Health Systems
    2004: Hospice of Central Iowa; Metal Craft, Inc.; Russell Construction
    2003: Schafer Systems; Broadlawns; UI Worklife Program; Iowa Hospital Association
    2002: Alliant Energy; Communications Data Service; Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa; Schafer Systems

Ann Ernst Public Service Award Recipients
The Ann Ernst Public Service award honors a psychologist, active or retired, who has made on a pro bono basis, significant contributions of a psychological nature that have benefited society as a whole. The contribution(s) may have been a single major contribution or reflect a consistent history of volunteer service to the community at large.

Previous Recipients:

    2023: Elizabeth A Lonning, PsyD
    2020: Suzanne Zilber, Ph.D.
    2018: Dr. Robert Hutzell and Dr. Holly Sanger
    2017: Sam Graham, Ph.D.
    2016: Gregorio Febbraro, Ph.D.  (Posthumous)
    2013: Philip R. Laughlin, Ph.D.
    2012: Phyllis Hansell, Ed.D.
    2010: Darshan Singh, Ed.D.; Michael Rosmann, Ph.D.
    2008: Charles McDonald, M.A.
    2006: Ann Ernst, Ph.D.

Michelle Greiner Early Career Psychologist Service Award
This award honors an early career psychologist who has made significant contributions, of a psychological nature, and that have benefited our field at the local or national level. The contribution(s) may have been a single major contribution or reflect a consistent history of service to the field of Psychology and/or the community at large. Recipients of this award must be someone who is an active member and has demonstrated active participation in the Iowa Psychological Association during their career. The letter of nomination will be distributed to Executive Council. They, in turn, may select a person to receive the award, which may be given annually at the Fall (or Spring) Conference.  The Elections/Honors Task Force and the Executive Director will be responsible for ordering an appropriate award.

Previous Recipients:

    2020: Brittany Neef, Psy.D.
    2019: Benjamin Tallman, Ph.D. and Joyce Goins-Fernandez, Ph.D.
    2018: Dr. Kayla Davidson
    2016:  Amanda Johnson, Ph.D., and Jennifer Kauder, Ph.D.

Karl F. Heiser APA Presidential Award for Advocacy

The Karl F. Heiser Award honors those psychologists who have given voluntarily of their time to define the discipline of psychology statutorily by state and federal laws and regulations through advocacy. Such laws and regulations include, but are not limited to, licensure, freedom of choice, Medicare, Medicaid, Workers Compensation, disability determination,
mandatory mental health/substance abuse coverage, civil commitment, hospital practice, prescriptive authority, child protection and elder protection, etc. Advocacy efforts that have stopped the passage of laws inimical to psychology may also be recognized.

Previous Recipients:
    2016:  Elizabeth Lonning, Psy.D.; Brenda Payne, Ph.D., and Gregorio Febbraro, Ph.D.  (Posthumous)  
    2006:  Rachel Heiss
    2000:  Sheila Pottebaum
    1996:  Dave McEchron
    1995:  Deems Ortega, Ph.D.
    1993:  Rick Jennings Ph.D. & Craig Rypma
   

APA Division 31 (State, Provincial and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs Psychologist of the Year

Previous Recipients:

     2016:  Elizabeth Lonning, Psy.D.


IPA won the 2010 Outstanding State, Provincial, or Territorial Psychological Association Award in recognition of superior performance in promoting graduate student development, involvement, and joint APAGS STPA membership. This was awarded by The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS), the Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice (CAPP), and Division 31 (State Psychological Association Affairs).

IPA Diversity Leadership Award

The IPA Diversity Leadership Award is awarded annually at the IPA Spring Conference. This award recognizes an IPA member who has consistently engaged in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives for the betterment of the practice of psychology and/or their community. Nominations shall detail the nominee’s DEI efforts as well as the impact their efforts have had on the population they were serving. Demonstration of leadership may have involved utilizing a new strategy, setting a new course or direction, marshaling resources or people toward an effort, or finding common ground among competing interests. All current IPA non-student members are eligible for this award. Recognition for student diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts is provided through the Diversity and Social Justice Committee's Diversity Service Award for Graduate Students. The Executive Council will determine the recipient of the IPA Diversity Leadership Award by majority vote based on review of nomination letters.

Previous Recipients:

    2023: Joyce Goins-Fernandez, Ph.D.