2016 Minnesota Psychological Association's Annual Convention Award Winners

Award:  Susan T. Rydell Outstanding Contribution to Psychology Award (two award winners)

Winners:  Rochelle Brandl, Ph.D., L.P. and Mary Tatum Howard, Ph.D.


From left to right: Robin McLeod, Rochelle Brandl and Robert Van Siclen

Rochelle Brandl, Ph.D., L.P.
Dr. Rochelle Brandl is the former Director of the Fraser Child and Family Center.  Under her leadership, Fraser grew from a small, specialized program to a multi-site and multi-specialty enterprise serving thousands of children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum.  During her tenure, Fraser led in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for this very diverse and challenging population.  Fraser not only led in the treatment of children with Autism, but in the growth of public understanding of and commitment to those children. 


From left to right: BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Mary Howard and Susan Rydell

Mary Tatum Howard, Ph.D.
Dr. Mary Tatum Howard is a living example of the application of all aspects of psychology.  She is a teacher, scholar, scientist, mentor, practitioner, and advocate.  Dr. Howard received her B. A. in Sociology and English from West Virginia State College, her M.A. in Personnel and Guidance from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota.  Her lifetime of contributions include leadership with activities ranging from the presidency of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) to service in the Peace Corps and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).  She has worked for many years as a psychologist with the Veteran’s Administration in St. Cloud, MN, where she has focused on trauma, addiction and women’s issues as core areas of interest.

The breadth of Dr. Howard’s accomplishments and contributions was recognized with a Wellstone Lifetime Achievement Award in October, 2009.  The 2011 National Multicultural Conference honored her with a Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association, thereby having the historical designation as the first Minnesotan to ever be recognized as a Distinguished Elder by APA.  Dr. Howard served for many years as a member of the Governing Council of the Minnesota Psychological Association, representing the interests of rural communities, and is a Distinguished Elder of MPA, a recipient of MPA’s Community Service Awards, and is a founding member and Elder of the Minnesota Association of Black Psychologists.  She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. Dr. Howard is an ACPA Diamond Honoree.

Award:  Distinguished Elders in Psychology (two award winners)

Winners:  Eli Coleman, Ph.D. and Jay McNamara, Ph.D.


Eli Coleman, Ph.D.

Eli Coleman, Ph.D.
Dr. Eli Coleman is director of the Program in Human Sexuality and Chair in Sexual Health at the University of Minnesota.  He has written articles and books on a variety of sexual health topics, including compulsive sexual behavior, sexual orientation, and gender dysphoria.  He is founding editor of the International Journal of Transgenderism and International Journal of Sexual Health.  He is also past president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, World Professional Association of Transgender Health, and International Academy of Sex Research.  Dr. Coleman has been a sexual health consultant to the World Health Organization and received numerous awards, including the World Association for Sexual Health Gold Medal and Society for Sex Therapy & Research (SSTAR) Masters and Johnson Award.  In 2013, he was elected president of SSTAR for a two-year term.


From left to right, Robin McLeod, Jay McNamara and Harriett Haynes

Jay McNamara, Ph.D., L.P.
Dr. Jay McNamara has practiced as a consultant for the past fourteen years at McNamara Consultation Services. Before transitioning to industrial/organizational psychology in 1991, Dr. McNamara was a gifted clinician in Alaska and then in the Twin Cities. He has taught, trained and supervised many graduate students, holding adjunct faculty appointments at four universities and providing informal, invaluable consultation to colleagues, as well.  Dr. McNamara has served MPA since 1988 as member, chair or co-chair of the Annual Meeting Committee and the Psychologically Healthy Work Place Award Committee and has presented at the Annual Meeting on ethics, personnel assessment, and performance psychology. 

Award:  Leadership in Diversity Award

Winner:  Willie B. Garrett, MS, L.P., Ed.D.


From left to right: Robin McLeod, Willie B. Garrett and Harriett Haynes

Willie B. Garrett, MS, L.P., Ed.D.

Dr. Willie B. Garrett is a Licensed Psychologist and consultant with over 35 years of experience serving children, teens, and adults.  His clinical practice interests include trauma recovery, depression and anxiety, transracial adoption, multicultural issues, homelessness, ADHD, group therapy, and gifted and talented children of color.  He has a specialty in organization development as a consultant and trainer and has worked on issues of performance improvement, regulatory compliance, diversity, ethics, critical incident stress debriefing, work stress and employee assistance programs.  He has a keen awareness of his obligation to serve and respect people of all backgrounds and to build a better world through understanding and cooperation.  This awareness is reflected in his professional activities and in his years of service to the Minnesota Psychological Association in numerous roles of support and positions of responsibility and leadership.  We honor him for his loving and dedicated leadership in our communities.

Award:  Outstanding Graduate Faculty in Psychology Award

Winner:  Deniz S. Ones, Ph.D.


From left to right: Robin McLeod, Stacy Davies (accepting for Dr. Ones) and Jack Rossmann

Deniz S. Ones, Ph.D.
Dr. Deniz Ones, Hellervik Professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, is the recipient of the 2016 Award for Outstanding Graduate Faculty in Psychology.  After completing her undergraduate work at Augustana College (Rock Island, Illinois), Dr. Ones received a Ph.D. in Business Administration at the University of Iowa.  She was a member of the faculty at the University of Houston for three years and then accepted an appointment in the psychology department at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 1996.  She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses related to I/O psychology.  The author of her letter of nomination states, "Professor Ones' mentorship means unwavering and unconditional support of students without concern for her own time, convenience, and goals.............She routinely spends days that extend until after midnight with graduate students in her office and labs."  One of those former graduate students said, "Having worked closely with Deniz, I know that she lives for her role as a researcher, mentor, and educator."

Award:  Walter D. Mink Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award

Winner:  Joan M. Ostrove, Ph.D.


From left to right: Robin McLeod, Joan M. Ostrove and Jack Rossmann

Joan M. Ostrove, Ph.D.
Dr. Joan Ostrove is the chair and a professor of psychology at Macalester College.  Prior to joining the Macalester faculty in 1999, she completed a B.A. degree at Williams College and Master's and Ph.D. degrees in psychology at the University of Michigan.  In addition to teaching introductory psychology and an interdisciplinary first year course called “Minding the Body,” she regularly teaches intermediate level courses in the Psychology of Gender and the History of Psychology and an advanced seminar entitled “Lives in Context.”  Her nomination letter states that "course evaluations include lavish praise for her warmth, accessibility, intelligence, expertise, and passion."  One of her students stated, "I always feel like I'm learning new ways to think about the world every time I go to class," and a second student said, "she balanced both holding high expectations for and being supportive of her students."

Award:  Donald G. Paterson Undergraduate Award in Psychology

Winner:  Caroline David, Gustavus Adolphus


From left to right: Robin McLeod, Caroline David and CJ Swanlund

Caroline David, Gustavus Adolphus
Caroline exemplifies the outstanding undergraduate qualities which the Paterson Award recognizes and celebrates. This award is given to outstanding college seniors planning a career in psychology which, Caroline is doing by continuing her education in psychology as she awaits to hear back from universities as well as being offered a position at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Developmental Psychology Program.  Caroline exhibited a passion for the psychological field with her senior thesis research looking at the relationship between stress sensitivity and empathic tendency and her participation in Psy Chi psychology honors society. She also has shown continued growth and education in other life areas including her mastery of the French language and a dual citizenship between France and the United States as well as participation in music on campus including a wind ensemble and the Gustavus handbells. MPA is proud to recognize Caroline for her hard work and dedication to the field of psychology, her leadership within her undergraduate program in class and on campus, and her pursuit of higher education within the field of psychology. We look forward to continued contribution and growth for Caroline within the field of psychology. 

Award:  Community Involvement Award

Winner:  Harriett Copher Haynes, Ph.D., L.P.


From left to right: Robin McLeod, Harriett Copher Haynes and Scott Palmer

Harriett Copher Haynes, Ph.D., L.P.
Dr. Haynes is known for her volunteer work for MPA, which has been legion. She has served MPA as President of the Association, Treasurer, Ombudsperson, and Chair of the MPA Women’s Division, as well as serving on other committees. This, by itself, is a truly impressive body of service. Dr. Harriett Copher Haynes’ received this award for volunteer work in the community. Dr. Haynes was employed for many years at the student counseling center at the University of Minnesota, serving as Center director for many years. While engaged in this demanding position, Dr. Haynes found the time to provide a variety of services to the University and larger community. She provided presentations and consultations on topics ranging from addressing diversity, counter sexist, counter racist issues, crisis response for students, faculty and staff, addressing sexual violence/transforming a rape culture, volunteer mediation, women's issues and development, Multicultural Curriculum development, performing grievance reviews, and managing organizational change. Dr. Haynes also provided significant service to other community organizations. She has served as the voice of psychology and diversity on the children’s subcommittee and the Governor’s Mental Health Council. She also served organizations such as Save Our Hungry Children, Dakota Communities for the Developmentally Disabled, and the Association for Retarded Citizens. But what is even more remarkable, is the person and attitude that Dr. Haynes has brought with her to this service. She has been the voice, sometimes quiet, often with good humor, always with great command, of: reason, fairness, conscience, compromise, and equality. Dr. Harriett Copher Haynes has brought many gifts, in a most engaged and personal way, to MPA and the communities we serve.

Award:  President's Citation for Exemplary Service

Winner:  Susan T. Rydell, Ph.D., L.P.


From left to right: Susan Rydell and Robin McLeod

Susan T. Rydell, Ph.D., L.P.
Dr. Susan Rydell is the namesake for the highest award offered by the Minnesota Psychological Association.  As one of our super volunteers, Dr. Rydell has volunteered in virtually every possible capacity.  She has focused her contributions on bringing new psychologists into the profession and into MPA. She is a legendary professor at Metropolitan State who has exposed her students to current practicing psychologists and has encouraged them to enter the field.  Moreover, she has always and relentlessly focused on diversity issues and has spent her career educating and mentoring students who through life circumstances were not able to attend traditional four year schools right after high school. She has seen the potential in all people she has encountered.  Her contributions to MPA continue to add almost incalculable value. She continues to support our continuing education program and the annual convention with a consistent level of energy and dedication.  It is difficult to imagine what we would do without her continuing contributions to the field of psychology and to the profession of psychology. 

Award:  2015 Presidential medallion

Winner:  Scott Palmer, Ph.D., L.P.


From left to right: Scott Palmer and Robin McLeod

Scott Palmer, Ph.D., L.P.
Dr. Scott Palmer was recognized for his outstanding service as 2015 President of MPA.

Award:  Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year Award (two awards)

Winners:  Shannon Goecke-Watson and Cynthia (CJ) Swanlund

For the first time, in 2016 MPA gave two new awards to graduate students at our annual convention:  An award for graduate students who are actively engaged in MPA committees, task forces, and governance; and, an award for students who present research in poster sessions at the annual convention.  MPA has several graduate students who have stepped into leadership roles within MPA over the past few years, and our association is committed to recognizing their significant contributions to the growth of our association.  


Shannon Goecke-Watson

Shannon Goecke-Watson

2016 MPA Graduate Student Award in Service:  Shannon Goecke-Watson, MA is a Psy.D. candidate from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.  Shannon has served MPA for several years as an active participant of the Membership Committee.  In that role, she represented and advocated for student members, providing guidance to the committee on how to attract and retain student members.  She also always stepped forward when committee work needed to be done.  Ms. Goecke-Watson also worked hard with other committee members to make MPA’s Newly Licensed Psychologist Welcoming Reception a reality.  And finally, she most recently coordinated the MPA annual convention student programming track. 

 

 
From left to right: Cynthia (CJ) Swanlund and Robin McLeod

Cynthia (CJ) Swanlund
2016 MPA Graduate Student Award in Governance:  Cynthia J. Swanlund, B.A. is a Psy.D. Candidate from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.  CJ Swanlund stepped into MPA governance as the co-chair of the Student Division.  Rather than holding this position simply as resume material, CJ took on the mission of advocating for the interests of students in ways that changed how leadership perceived and responded to student concerns.  Under Ms. Swanlund’s leadership, MPA designed and launched a special programming track at the 2014 annual convention that included a panel of five doctoral students who spoke about their experiences with the pre-doctoral internship process, an informational session on how to prepare for the EPPP exam, and a “Speed-Mentoring Session,” modelled after the concept of “speed-dating,” in which students had the opportunity to sit briefly with several different potential mentors as they tried to find the best fit for their interests in psychology.  This convention programming track was so successful in drawing students to MPA, that it has become a standard part of the annual convention moving forward.  CJ exemplifies what it means for students to become part of governance within MPA.

 

 

 

Share this post:

Comments on "2016 Minnesota Psychological Association's Annual Convention Award Winners"

Comments 0-5 of 1

Linda Muldoon - Wednesday, June 08, 2016
1000676568

I enjoyed reading in depth the citations for the various winners. Our organization is awash with talent.

Please login to comment