Foundation Spotlight: Promoting Humanistic I-O Psychology

Milton D. Hakel, SIOP Foundation President

I am delighted to announce the endowment of the Lefkowitz Fund within the SIOP Foundation. Created as an “incubator fund” a year ago, it has reached its full $75,000 endowment target. Its proceeds will support the Joel Lefkowitz Early Career Award for Humanistic Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

The Lefkowitz Fund has been established to promote a humanistic perspective within I-O psychology by recognizing SIOP members who have recently produced work that best exemplifies those values by advancing the dignity of and respect for workers; promoting economic and social justice, or the organization’s concern for the common good; enhancing organizations as fulfilling places in which to work; or otherwise reflecting a humanistic perspective in a work organization. It further aims to help shape I-O careers in that direction by limiting the award to those in the first 12 years of their careers.

Why focus on early career SIOP members? The prosocial, employee-centered, humanistic perspective in I-O psychology has been becoming evident only recently. For example, the topic of “ethical issues” did not exist as a listed category for submissions to the SIOP annual conference until 2003. It is still early to tell whether the humanistic perspective will become an important, salient, and enduring characteristic of I-O. If it takes root it will be because it is adopted and promoted by relative newcomers to the field. Consequently, the award is aimed at publicizing such work, and recognizing and encouraging young I-O psychologists for producing noteworthy instances of it. The 12-year post-PhD eligibility interval was set to reflect the potentially greater difficulty in accomplishing qualifying projects.

The Lefkowitz Award will honor SIOP professional-level Members or Fellows in recognition of an applied humanistic I-O project or program, research, or theoretical presentation. Nominations may be made by any individual member of SIOP. Nominations will consist of a letter of nomination or self-nomination and supporting documentation. Documentation submitted in support of nominations may be single authored or have multiple authors, including one or more peer-reviewed publications or books. Think about eligible projects and nominees so that when the annual awards call is issued in March, you can respond.

Think also about how you can shape I-O psychology and the future world of work. Check out the wonderful array of awards, scholarships, and grants listed at http://www.siop.org/Awards/allawards.aspx, and consider ways you can contribute. I-O psychologists have always supported each other’s work, and now is a good time to act on your scientist-practitioner-humanist values, as has Joel Lefkowitz and so many others. Start an incubator fund, contribute or make a pledge at http://www.siop.org/foundation/donate.aspx.

Your calls and questions to the SIOP Foundation are always welcome. Join us in building the Lefkowitz Fund or any of the endowments.

Milt Hakel, President, mhakel@bgsu.edu

Rich Klimoski, Vice-President, rklimosk@gmu.edu

Nancy Tippins, Secretary, nancy@tippinsgroup.com

Leaetta Hough, Treasurer, leaetta@msn.com

Adrienne Colella, Communications Officer, acolella@tulane.edu

Mirian Graddick-Weir, Trustee, mgraddickweir76@gmail.com

Bill Macey, Trustee, wmacey9@gmail.com

John C Scott, Trustee, JScott@APTMetrics.com

The SIOP Foundation
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Bowling Green, OH 43402-1355
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E-mail: LLentz@siop.org