SDPA Past Awards

SDPA Awards & Recognition

SDPA presents a number of awards each year to deserving recipients. The recipients are honored at one of SDPA's events, such as the Fall Conference or the Year-End Celebration. If you wish to nominate a candidate for an award, please complete the form above and submit to our SDPA Office Manager. 

2025 Award Winners


  • Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award - Alan Lincoln, Ph.D., MSCP, BCBA-D
  • Fellow Award - Joseph Severino, Ph.D.
  • Legislative Award - Senator Catherine Blakespear
  • President's Award - Tami Magaro
  • Distinguished Graduate Student - Tylyn Nakamura
  • Media Award - Deanna Mackey, General Manager, KPBS
  • Local Hero Award - Tracie Jada O'Brien


2024 Award Winners


  • Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award - Glenn Lipson, Ph.D. ABPP
  • Legislative Award - Terra Lawson-Remer San Diego County Board of Supervisors (District 3)
  • Media Award - Jade Hindmon KPBS Midday Edition
  • Local Hero Award - Patrick Gilligan
  • Fellow Award - Jeff Jones, Ph.D. and Ruth Samad, Psy.D.
  • President's Award - Darlene Townes, Psy.D.
  • Dr. Cynthia A. Cotter Distinguished Volunteer Award - Veronica Garza 

2023 Award Winners


  • Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award - Debra M. Kawahara, Ph.D. 
  • Legislative Award - Sara Jacobs, U.S. Congresswoman D-CA 51st District 
  • Media Award - Caroline Garcia, NBC 7 San Diego 
  • Local Hero Award - Carolyn Kulhanek, Serving San Diego 
  • Fellow Award - Mariela Shibley, Psy.D.  and Kenneth Dellefield, Ph.D. 

2022 Award Winners


  • Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award - Mary Harb Sheets, Ph.D.
  • Legislative Award - Akilah Weber, M.D. California State Assembly Member 79th District
  • Media Award - Paul Sisson, San Diego Union Tribune
  • Local Hero Award - Sheila Brown, San Diego Rescue Mission
  • Fellow Award - John Lee Evans, Ph.D. 

2021 Award Winners


  • Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award - Neil Ribner, Ph.D.
  • Legislative Award - Chris Ward, State Assembly
  • Media Award - Steve Atkinson, ABC 10 News
  • Local Hero Award - Steph Johnson, Voices of the City Choir
  • Fellow Award - Glenn Lipson, Ph.D., ABPP 

2020 Award Winners


  • Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award - Steven Jones, Ph.D.
  • Legislative Award -Scott Peters, Member, U.S. House of Representatives, California’s 52nd District   
  • Media Award - Cassie Carlisle, ABC 10 News
  • Local Hero Award -Ruth Henricks, Special Delivery San Diego
  • Fellow Award - Cynthia A. Cotter, Ph.D.
  • Student of the Year Award - Ana Urena-Rosario, MSEd, NCSP


2019 Award Winners


  • Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award - Katherine Di Francesca, Ph.D.
  • Legislative Award - San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher
  • Media Award - Voice of San Diego, Kayla Jimenez and Ashly McGlone
  • Local Hero Award - Joe Gilbreath
  • Fellow Awards - Richard Schere, Ph.D. and Annette Conway, Psy.D. 


2018 Award Winners


  • Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award - Rosa Grunhaus Belzer, Ph.D.
  • Legislative Award - California Assembly Member 79th District Dr. Shirley Weber
  • Local Hero Award - Bertha Loaiza
  • Fellow Award - Katherine S. Quinn, Ph.D.
  • President's Award - Mary Mulvihill, Ph.D.
  • Shining Stars Award - A.W. Richard Sipe (posthumous) and Marianne Benkert Sipe 


2017 Award Winners


  • Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Awards - Kenneth Dellefield, Ph.D., Christauria Welland, Psy.D., and Katherine Quinn, Ph.D.
  • Legislative Award - San Diego City Councilmember - Georgette Gomez
  • Fellow Award - Janet Farrell, Ph.D. 
  • Media Award - Maureen Cavanaugh
  • Altruism Awards - Patti Diaz, David Almada, and Bruce Ray