NLPA 2010 Conference Awards Call

This is the first call for nominations to be awarded at the 2010 NLPA Conference in November 2010. The following awards will be presented:

1. NLPA - Cynthia de las Fuentes Dissertation Award

The purpose of this award is to support students in finishing their dissertation project. This award includes $500 through a generous donation by Dra. Cynthia de las Fuentes who is a private practitioner in Austin Texas.

Criteria for the award include:

• Focusing on issues related to Latino/a Psychology theory, 

research, or practice.

• Contributing in a substantive way to the advancement of knowledge related to Latino/a Psychology.

2. NLPA - Distinguished Student Service Award

This award is conferred upon a graduate student who has made outstanding service contributions to the US Latina/o community. This award includes $500 through the generous donation of NLPA executive board members. Service contributions can include activities such as the development of creative educational programs or other novel activities in the advancement of service, working to increase funding for agencies, working on legislation regarding mental health, involvement in policy-related issues, and initiating outreach programs.

Note: Nominees for student awards must be matriculated graduate students (including pre-doctoral interns) and must be student members of NLPA at the time their nomination materials are submitted. For the dissertation award a letter from the chair of the dissertation is required. For the service award a letter from the academic advisor or training director verifying good standing is required.

3. NLPA - Star Vega Distinguished Service Award

This award is conferred upon a psychologist who has distinguished him or herself through service to the Latino/a community). The award is named in honor and memory of Dr. Star Vega. Dr Star Vega, Practitioner, Professor of Psychology, and advocate for all psychologists, died Saturday April 24, 2004 at the young age of 55 due to leukemia. Dr. Vega was core faculty in 

the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at Phillips Graduate Institute. She was also the 2002 President of the California Psychological Association, the first Latina to occupy this position.

The next two awards make direct reference to the NLPA Mission. The 

NLPA mission statement reads:

• Generating and advancing psychological knowledge.

• Fostering the effective application of psychological knowledge 

for the benefit of the Hispanic/Latino population.

• Valuably contributing to the field of Latina/o psychology.

• Promoting the educational and professional advancement of Latina/o psychologists.

• Fostering communication with members of Latina/o communities at all levels for their mutual education.

• Promoting an awareness and understanding of issues that Latina/o psychologists and mental health professionals might have as related to their educational and professional experiences.

4. NLPA - Distinguished Professional Early Career Award

This award is conferred upon a psychologist whose contributions have advanced an agenda congruent with NLPA's mission. Early career is defined as 10 years or less since earning a doctoral degree.

5. NLPA - Distinguished Professional Career Award

This award is conferred upon a psychologist whose contributions have advanced an agenda congruent with NLPA's mission.

Note: While persons who are not members of NLPA may be nominated to the awards, all awardees would need to be members of NLPA beforethe bestowing of an award.  In other words, nominees selected to receive an award would need to join the organization before the conferment of the award.

Submission requirements: Nominations should include a copy of 

nominee's curriculum vitae and two letters of support documenting

how the nominee fulfills the criteria for the award. Nominations 

and supporting documents must be received no later than August 1,

2010.Nominations and supporting materials will only be accepted 

ELECTRONICALLY at: floresly@missouri.edu.

Awards will be announced and granted during NLPA's National 

Conferencia to be held November 12-13, 2010 at the Westin Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.

http://www.nlpa.ws/conference

Please contact me if you have any questions regarding nominations.

Lisa Y. Flores, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Educational, School & Counseling Psychology

16 Hill Hall

University of Missouri

Columbia, MO  65211

Phone:  573-884-9724