SPSSI FELLOWS

Recognition of outstanding contributions to the psychological study of social issues and to SPSSI is conferred through the granting of SPSSI Fellow status, which is an honor valued by many members. Depending on a SPSSI member's current status, there are three different ways to become a Fellow of SPSSI.

1. SPSSI members who belong to APA but are not currently APA Fellows in any division can be considered for APA Initial Fellow status if they meet both the APA and SPSSI requirements listed below.
2. SPSSI members who are already APA Fellows through another division can be considered for SPSSI Fellow status if they meet the SPSSI requirements listed below.
3. SPSSI members who do not belong to APA can be considered for SPSSI Fellow status if they meet the SPSSI requirements listed below.

The Process in Brief:
Potential Fellows must be nominated (self-nominations are welcome), and then must submit additional application materials. Nominees who are not already APA Fellows must submit supporting letters (including evaluation worksheets and forms) from at least three current Fellows. For nominees who are already APA Fellows in another division, such letters are optional but encouraged.

These procedures are further explained in the various documents that can be downloaded from the Forms and Resources page.

Eligibility: APA and SPSSI each have requirements for members to be elected as Fellows.

The APA requires potential Fellows to meet all of the following criteria:
1.  Membership in APA for at least one year.
2.  Five or more years of acceptable post-doctoral experience.
3.  Current engagement in the advancement of psychology.
4.  Evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of Psychology. 

The APA Fellows Committee has usually interpreted  “unusual and outstanding contributions” to mean those who have had demonstrable national impact in the field of pschology. They suggest that the evidence for this cirterion might be provided by specific examples of work that has had a strong impact through:

• highly-cited publications
• community service
• documented innovations
• presentation of papers, chairing of symposia, conducting of workshops
• holding office in psychological organizations
• influencing legislation
• receiving major awards or grants

For a more detailed discussion of this criterion, see the Manual for Nominating Fellows of APA, especially pages 4-8.

SPSSI further requires potential Fellows to meet the following criteria:
1.  Member of SPSSI/Division 9 for at least 1 year.
2.  Evidence of outstanding contributions or performance in at least one of the following areas:

• Application of the methods of psychology and social sciences to research on socially relevant issues
• Dissemination (including teaching) of relevant research information bearing on social issues
• Application of research results to the resolution of social issues
• Outstanding contribution to the resolution of social issues at the action level
• Major contributions to SPSSI as an organization.

Nominations:
SPSSI invites nominations for potential Fellow status in the American Psychological Association (APA), or in SPSSI independent of APA. Nominations may be made by any current SPSSI member or Fellow. Self-nominations are also welcome.  

The deadline for receipt of nominations for 2010 is November 2, 2009. Nominations can be emailed to Fellows Committee Chair Margaret Bull Kovera with the words "2010 Fellow Nomination" in the subject line. The Nomination should include the nominee’s name, professional affiliation, and contact information (including their e-mail address), and a brief statement concerning the nominee’s eligibility, based on the requirements listed below. In addition, please indicate the nominee’s current APA membership status (i.e., member, Fellow, or nonmember).

Application Materials:

• for SPSSI members who belong to APA but are not currently APA Fellows in any division
• for SPSSI members who are already APA Fellows through another division
• for SPSSI members who do not belong to APA

Note: Materials should be submitted in hard copy by mail, and uploaded via this website in electronic format. All hard-copy materials should be submitted by the nominee in a single packet. Endorsers should seal the signed original and one photocopy of their letter, evaluation worksheet, and evaluation form in an envelope, with their signature across the seal, and forward the envelope to the applicant for submission to SPSSI in this packet. In addition, evaluation forms and letters should be uploaded and sent electronically  to SPSSI via this webpage.

Application Deadline:

The deadline for receipt of all application materials for 2010 selection (nominee’s materials and endorser letters) is January 4, 2010. Please send application and all supporting materials both electronically (via email to Fellows Committee Chair Margaret Bull Kovera and in hard copy form (via post/express delivery). Three hard copies of all applications materials should be sent to:

Prof. Margaret Bull Kovera
Department of Psychology
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
City University of New York
445 W. 59th Street
New York, NY 10019  USA 

SPSSI Fellows Selection Committee:

The 2010 SPSSI Fellows Committee Chair is Margaret Bull Kovera. Committee members are Susan Sorenson and Daryl Wout.