Mentor Award in Developmental Psychology
Submissions accepted September 1–December 1, 2026.
The Developmental Psychology Mentor Award honors individuals who have contributed to developmental psychology through the education and training of the next generation of research leaders in developmental psychology. Our interest is in recognizing individuals who have had substantial impact on the field of developmental psychology by their mentoring of young scholars.
We invite developmental psychologists to nominate individuals who have played a major mentoring role in their own careers or in the career of others. As the list of past recipients shows, this award is usually given to senior scholars—those with 15 or more years of experience engaged in consistent mentoring.
The membership of Division 7 will present the award at that year’s APA Annual Convention. Winners do not need to attend APA's convention to receive awards.
Nominees should be individuals who have played a major mentoring role in the careers of young scholars. As the list of past recipients shows, this award is usually given to senior scholars—those with 15 or more years of experience engaged in consistent mentoring.
Membership in APA’s Division 7 is required to earn an award. The individual must be a member of Division 7 by November 1 of the year they are nominated.
Membership in APA’s Division 7 is required to earn an award.
Nomination materials should include:
- a nomination letter,
- the candidate's CV, and
- letters of support (typically 10 or more) from those who consider the candidate a mentor.
2027 Award Timeline
- September 1, 2026: Call for award nominations
- December 1, 2026: Due date for award nominations
Please email nomination materials.
2026: Kathy Hirsch-Pasek & Monique Ward
2025: Martha Alibali
2024: Gail S. Goodman and Koraly Pérez-Edgar
2023: Patricia Bauer and Nora Newcombe
2022: Ann Masten
2021: Elizabeth Spelke
2020: Peter A. Ornstein and Richard Aslin
2019: E. Mark Cummings
2018: Alison Gopnik and Michael Chandler
2017: Henry Wellman
2016: Nathan Fox
2015: Paul Harris
2014: Susan Carey
2013: Alan Sroufe, PhD
2012: Susan Gelman
2011: Susan Goldin-Meadow
2010: Marshall Heith, Ken Rubin
2009: No award
2008: Dante Cicchetti
2007: No award
2006: Jacquelynne Eccles
2005: Jerome Kagan
2004: Ed Zigler, Ellen Markman
2003: Rochel Gelman
2002: John Flavell
2001: No Award
2000: Norman Garmezy
1999: Wendell Jeffrey
1998: Mary Ainsworth, Herbert Pick