TPA Awards

Do you know a TPA member who has made significant contributions to the field of psychology? Nominate them for a TPA award to celebrate their achievements!

Award nominations will be open until August 1, 2025.

Past TPA Award Winners

 Requirements:

  • The submitter and the nominee must be current TPA members.
  • The nominee must hold a doctoral degree in psychology and be a licensed psychologist.
  • Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Award Categories
  • Psychologist of the Year: This award is given to a psychologist who is recognized as having made a significant impact on the field of psychology within the state of Texas. The award may be given for overall service and enhancement of the field or for a specific activity or event. The award might be given for any of the professional or scientific contributions recognized by other awards. It might be awarded for a particularly notable book, research publication, legislative activity, treatment intervention, or service accomplishment.
  • Robert McPherson, Ph.D. Legislative Action Award: This award is given to the member who demonstrates commitment to the advancement of the profession of psychology at all three levels: local, state, and national. Efforts may include grassroots advocacy, legislative testimony, organizing political engagement, supporting or helping draft legislation, and leading initiatives that benefit the profession and public.
  • Outstanding Contribution to Education: This award recognizes a truly distinguished contribution by a psychologist in the area of education. Outstanding contributions might be in the areas of teaching; design of teaching methodologies, curriculum, or behavioral management techniques; psychological research specific to the area of education; leadership in educational development; reform and design of training programs; or successful grant awards and projects that benefit education.
  • Outstanding Contribution to Science: This award recognizes a psychologist who has made a significant contribution in the discovery and development of new information, empirical or otherwise, to the body of psychological knowledge. Contributions might include new theories or integration of existing theories of knowledge in ways that enhance understanding, prediction, or transformation of human behavior. It might also include research that develops procedures, methodologies, or technical skills that improve the ability to provide direct, practical, or more immediate solutions to psychological problems.
  • Outstanding Contribution to Public Service: This award recognizes a psychologist who has made outstanding contributions on behalf of the public. These contributions might have resulted in a significant benefit to the general public or might have made a major contribution to a special population. This award may also be bestowed upon a psychologist who has distinguished him/herself through activities that are legislative, legal, regulatory, political, or organizational that has resulted in direct benefits to the public.

 Submit Your Nomination